Frank Zappa (Mothers of Invention)

Name: Frank Vincent Zappa
Born/Died: 21st December, 1940 (Baltimore, Maryland, USA) - 4th December, 1993

Profile: He was an American composer, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, electronic, orchestral, and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed album covers. Zappa produced almost all of the more than 60 albums he released with the band "Mothers of Invention" and as a solo artist.

History: In his teens, he acquired a taste for percussion-based avant-garde composers such as Edgard Varèse and 50's rhythm and blues music. He began writing classical music in high school, while at the same time playing drums in rhythm and blues bands — he later switched to electric guitar.

After a brief period working in the advertising industry, he wrote the music for several less-then-celebrated movies. His soundtrack to Run Home Slow earned him the money to buy a small recording studio where he recorded a band called the "Omens" - whose members went on to form both the "Mothers of Invention (MoI)" and "Captain Beefheart's Magic Band".

Zappa's break came in 1966 when Tom Wilson, heard Zappa's band playing in LA and wanted to record them. The result was the "MoI"'s ground breaking debut album "Freak Out" and followed "Absolutely Free" in 1967.

After the first two "MoI" albums, Zappa released his first solo record: "Lumpy Gravy". The album that followed "Hot Rats", was the first to feature the extended guitar soloing that has since become a trademark. It also contains some of his most highly rated guitar playing.

Zappa was a highly productive and prolific artist and he gained widespread critical acclaim. Many of his albums are considered essential in rock and jazz history, and he is regarded as one of the most original guitarists and composers of his time; he remains a major influence on musicians and composers. He had some commercial success, particularly in Europe, and for most of his career was able to work as an independent artist.

Influences: Johnny Guitar Watson, Guitar Slim, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Matt Murphy, Jeff Beck, John McLaughlin and Brain May (Queen)

Axology: Gibson ES-5, Gibson Les Paul, Gibson SG, Fender Stratocaster and Marshall 100-watt heads; Mu-Tron Bi-Phase

Signature song(s): Inca Roads - Frank Zappa (One Size Fits All, 1975)

Link(s):

http://www.zappa.com (Official website)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPoPRIo8Wmk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UavcwTd-B8A&feature=related