Frank Zappa

classic rock  experimental  jazz  progressive rock  rock   ... see all
Frank Vincent Zappa (21st December 1940 - 4th December 1993) was an American composer, guitarist, singer and satirist. In his 35-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 twenty-four-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.

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