Frank Zappa

Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 - December 4, 1993) was an American composer, guitarist, singer and satirist. In his 33-year musical career, Zappa proved to be one of the most prolific musician-composers of his era, releasing over 75 albums during his lifetime, almost all of which consisted of original compositions. An obsessive recordist, later albums were often recorded live on portable 24 track tape machines. 'The Man From Utopia', 'Broadway the Hard Way' and 'Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch' are all examples of this 'live' take on the studio album. He was also a renowned electric guitarist and a gifted producer-engineer who self-produced almost every recording he made after his 1966 début making use of techniques such as collage and xenochrony.