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.

His work spanned virtually every contemporary musical genre (including avant-garde, rock, doo-wop, jazz, jazz fusion and contemporary classical), and was often noted for its blend of high art, rock opera, absurdity, scatological humour, and for its hilariously caustic social satire. He was also noted as a spotter of talent and his various groups included such musical luminaries as Lowell George, Jean-Luc Ponty, Al Di Meola, Terry Bozzio, Chad Wackerman, George Duke, Mike Keneally, Adrian Belew and Steve Vai as well as giving the lord of shock rock, Alice Cooper, his first break in music. His untimely death cut short plans to move into politics after his campaign against record censorship from the PMRC and a short posting as culture and trade representative for Czechoslovakia in 1989.