Image of Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Frank Vincent Zappa  ( December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American composer, singer-songwriter, 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 The Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist. While in his teens, he acquired a taste for percussion-based avant-garde composers such as Edgard Varèse and 1950s 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. He was a self-taught composer and performer, and his diverse musical influences led him to create music that was often impossible to categorize. His 1966 debut album with The Mothers of Invention, Freak Out!, combined songs in conventional rock and roll format with collective improvisations and studio-generated sound collages. His later albums shared this eclectic and experimental approach, irrespective of whether the fundamental format was one of rock, jazz or classical. He wrote the lyrics to all his songs, which—often humorously—reflected his iconoclastic view of established social and political processes, structures and movements. He was a strident critic of mainstream education and organized religion, and a forthright and passionate advocate for freedom of speech, self-education, political participation and the abolition of censorship. Zappa was a highly productive and prolific artist and gained widespread critical acclaim. Many of his albums are considered essential in rock and jazz history. He is regarded as one of the most original guitarists and composers of his time. He also 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. Zappa was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. Zappa was married to Kathryn J. "Kay" Sherman from 1960 to 1964. In 1967, he married Adelaide Gail Sloatman, with whom he remained until his death from prostate cancer in 1993. They had four children: Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet Emuukha Rodan and Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen. Gail Zappa manages the businesses of her late husband under the name the Zappa Family Trust. Description above from the Wikipedia article Frank Zappa, licensed under CC-BY-SA,full list of contributors on Wikipedia.    


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Born:
Dec 21, 1940 In Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Movie/TV Credits:
58
First Appeared:
In the series Beat-Club 1965-09-25
Latest Project:
Movie Kalvøyafestivalen - 50 år siden første riff 2021-12-13
Known For
Poster of Roxy: The Movie
Poster of The Amazing Mr. Bickford
Poster of Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music?
Poster of Saturday Night Live
Filmography
Movie Kalvøyafestivalen - 50 år siden første riff Self (archive footage) 2021-12-13
Movie The Art of Dissent Self - Subject (archive footage) 2021-10-05
Series Laurel Canyon Self (archive footage) 2020-05-31
Movie Zappa Self (archive footage) 2020-11-27
Movie Echo in the Canyon Self (archive footage) (uncredited) 2019-05-24
Movie Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice Self (archive footage) 2019-09-06
Movie Uncle Howard Self (archive footage) 2017-03-10
Movie Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words Self (archive footage) 2016-05-03
Movie Feats First: The Life and Music of Lowell George Self (archive footage) 2015-03-23
Movie Roxy: The Movie Himself 2015-09-10
Movie Super Duper Alice Cooper Self (archive footage) 2014-04-17
Movie Led Zeppelin Played Here Self (archive footage) 2014-10-11
Movie Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II Himself (archive footage) 2014-09-12
Movie Frank Zappa: A Token Of His Extreme Himself 2013-06-03
Movie From Straight to Bizarre Self 2012-02-21
Movie Hart & Soul - The Hart Family Anthology Self (archive footage) 2010-04-06
Movie Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: In the 1960's Himself 2009-01-20
Movie Frank Zappa: The Broadcast Archives Self 2008-04-01
Movie The Wrecking Crew Self (archive footage) 2008-03-11
Movie Frank Zappa - Live in Paris 1980 Self 2008-06-12
Movie Frank Zappa: The Torture Never Stops Self 2008-05-01
Movie Classic Albums: Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (') Over-Nite Sensation Self (archive footage) 2007-05-01
Movie Fuck Self (archive footage) 2006-11-10
Movie Derailroaded Self (archive footage) 2005-03-01
Movie Frank Zappa: A Token of His Extreme Himself 2005-08-02
Movie Frank Zappa - John, Dan And Me Himself 2004-01-01
Movie Frank Zappa: Phase II - The Big Note Self (archive footage) 2002-06-20
Movie Frank Zappa: The Present-Day Composer Refuses To Die Self (archive footage) 2000-07-02
Movie The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart Himself (archive footage) 1997-08-19
Movie The Revenge of the Dead Indians Himself 1993-01-01
Movie Frank Zappa: Peefeeyatko Self 1991-01-01
Movie Pražákům, těm je hej Self 1991-04-01
Series The Ren & Stimpy Show Unknown 1991-08-11
Movie Decade Self 1989-12-09
Movie Frank Zappa: Live in Barcelona 1988-01-01
Movie The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels Self 1988-01-01
Movie The Amazing Mr. Bickford Self 1987-01-01
Movie Uncle Meat Self / The Imaginary Director 1987-01-01
Movie Video From Hell Self 1987-02-28
Movie Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music? Self 1985-08-26
Series Miami Vice Unknown 1984-09-16
Movie Cocaine Blues Himself 1983-01-02
Movie Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special! Self 1982-06-01
Movie Baby Snakes Self 1979-12-21
Movie Frank Zappa: We Don't Mess Around Self 1978-08-08
Series Saturday Night Live Unknown 1975-10-11
Movie Deep Purple: Made In Japan Self (archive footage) 1972-04-30
Movie Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here Self 1972-05-11
Movie Frank Zappa Self 1971-02-11
Movie 200 Motels Member of Mothers of Invention (uncredited) 1971-11-10
Movie You Are What You Eat 1968-09-24
Movie Head The Critic 1968-11-06
Movie All My Loving Self 1968-11-03
Series Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution Self 1967-04-25
Movie Mondo Hollywood 1967-06-30
Movie The Big T.N.T. Show Self (uncredited) 1966-01-07
Series The Monkees Unknown 1966-09-12
Series Beat-Club Unknown 1965-09-25