Frankie Owls

Frankie Owls, the alter ego of Frank John Marino (b. 1981, New York), carries the weight of blues and soul from his Brooklyn beginnings to the world stage. As his mother recalls, at just two years old he was already singing full Stevie Wonder songs on a Big Bird vinyl player — the spark of a lifelong devotion to music. After serving in the USMC, Frankie turned to the guitar, pouring grit, soul, and lived experience into every note — authenticity that can’t be faked.

His name was born when burrowing owls danced to his Delta blues in a Florida driveway, sealing his bond with the music. Now based in Stuttgart, Germany, Frankie blends Delta and Chicago blues with soul, funk, jazz, and the timeless swing of crooners like Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin. His influences range from Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Albert Collins, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, and Curtis Mayfield.

Getting ready to release his own solo album, Frankie can also be found adding guitar magic to other artists’ projects, including playing the guitar parts for AuréLie on her 2021 debut EP, AMOMANA. Anchored by his faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, Frankie Owls creates music that reflects both struggle and redemption. Whether performing solo, fronting one of his bands, or guiding students as an instructor, he keeps the blues alive — timeless, heartfelt, evolving, and rooted in hope and faith.