Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa was a multifaceted musician, skilled in playing many instruments. He was known for creating music hybrids and wrote songs with satirical lyrics.

Early Accomplishments

His first passion was the drums which he fell in love with after becoming a huge fan of Varèse’s work and gotten his first snare drums at 12. He became the drummer of a local crew called The Blackouts.

He started playing the guitar after getting his first one when he was 17 and started writing, composing and arranging classical music for his high school orchestra before graduating in 1958.

Best Known For

Known specifically for his eccentric music sort and long guitar solos, Frank played with the band, The Mothers of Invention and released over 60 albums with the band and as Zappa. 

These includes Freak Out! in 1966, Over-Nite Sensation in 1973, Baby Snakes in 1979 and The Man from Utopia in 1983. 

Sexual Orientation

Frank was straight. He met Kathryn Sherman in 1960 and married her months after but this union fell through 4 years later. 

In 1967, he fell in love and got hitched with Gail Sloatman and they enjoyed their union until his death “did them part.”

Family

He was the eldest child of Francis and Rosemarie Zappa and his siblings were Carl, Bobby and sister, Patrice. 

He fathered 4 children with Gail who are Moon, Dweezil, Ahmet and Diva.

Religion 

Despite growing up in a Catholic household, Frank despised organised religion. He lived his life as an atheist.

Worth To Know

He is the only artist to be inducted into both the jazz and rock & roll Halls of Fame. 

He has the jellyfish Phialella zappai named after him. 

He is also honored with an asteroid named Zappafrank. 

He died of prostate cancer in 1993, 17 days before his 53th birthday.