Frank Zappa (1940-1993) was an American musician, composer, bandleader, and social commentator. He was a highly prolific artist who released over 60 albums throughout his career, spanning a wide range of musical genres including rock, jazz, fusion, avant-garde, and classical.

Zappa was born in Baltimore, Maryland and grew up in California. He began playing music at a young age and was particularly drawn to the guitar. In the 1960s, he formed the band The Mothers of Invention, which became known for their unconventional, experimental approach to rock music.

Zappa's music was characterized by its complexity, humor, and social commentary. He was known for his virtuosic guitar playing and his ability to seamlessly blend diverse musical styles into his compositions. He was also a skilled orchestrator and conductor, and worked with a wide range of musicians and ensembles throughout his career.

In addition to his music, Zappa was a vocal critic of censorship and an advocate for artistic freedom. He testified before the U.S. Congress in 1985 about the dangers of censorship in the music industry, and founded the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) to fight against censorship efforts.

Zappa passed away in 1993 at the age of 52 due to complications from prostate cancer. He left behind a legacy as one of the most innovative and influential musicians of the 20th century, whose music continues to inspire and challenge listeners to this day.

Born Frank Vincent Zappa, December 21, 1940, Baltimore, Maryland; died December 4, 1993, Los Angeles, California.  For Vance Masters, who has been very patient... ;-) -GSH

• Frank Zappa - guitar/vocals
• Others...

• Frank Zappa - guitar/vocals
• Captain Beefheart - harmonica/vocals - b. Don Van Vliet, January 15, 1941, Glendale, California.

• Frank Zappa - guitar/vocals
• Ray Collins - vocals
• Roy Estrada - bass
• Dave Coronada - sax
• Jimmy Carl Black - drums

• Frank Zappa - guitar/vocals
• Ray Collins - vocals
• Roy Estrada - bass
• Jimmy Carl Black - drums
• Elliot Ingber - guitar

1. "Freak Out!" (1966)

• Frank Zappa - guitar/vocals
• Ray Collins - vocals
• Roy Estrada - bass
• Jimmy Carl Black - drums
• Bunk Gardner - sax
• Jim "Motorhead" Sherwood - guitar
• Don Preston - keyboards
• Billy Mundi - drums

1. "Absolutely Free" (1967)
2. "Lumpy Gravy" (1967)
3. "Tis the Season to be Jelly" (live) (1991) - recorded in 1967.

• Frank Zappa - guitar/vocals
• Ray Collins - vocals
• Roy Estrada - bass
• Jimmy Carl Black - drums
• Bunk Gardner - sax
• Jim "Motorhead" Sherwood - guitar
• Don Preston - keyboards

1. "We're Only in It for the Money" (1968)
2. "Cruising with Ruben & The Jets" (1968)
3. "Uncle Meat" (2-CDs) (1969)
4. "Ahead Of Their Time" (live) (1993) - recorded in 1968.

• Frank Zappa - guitar/vocals
• Ray Collins - vocals
• Roy Estrada - bass
• Jimmy Carl Black - drums
• Bunk Gardner - sax
• Jim "Motorhead" Sherwood - guitar
• Don Preston - keyboards
• Lowell George - guitar - b. 1945; d. June 29, 1979, Arlington, Virginia - formerly with The Factory.
• Art Tripp III - drums

1. "Burnt Weeny Sandwich" (1970)
2. "Weasels Ripped My Flesh" (1970)

• Frank Zappa - guitar/vocals
• Ian Underwood - keyboards
• Howard Kaylan - vocals - formerly with The Turtles, and toured with Mark Volman as The Phlorescent Leech & Eddie (aka, Flo & Eddie).
• Mark Volman - vocals - formerly with The Turtles, and toured with Howard Kaylan as The Phlorescent Leech & Eddie (aka, Flo & Eddie).
• Jim Pons - bass
• George Duke - keyboards
• Aynsley Dunbar - drums - b. January 10, 1946, Liverpool, England - formerly with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, The Jeff Beck Group, and Bonzo Dog Band.

1. "Fillmore East - June 1971" (live) (1971)
2. "Just Another Band from L.A." (1972)
3. "The Grand Wazoo" (1972)
4. "Over-Nite Sensation" (1973)
5. "Piquantique - Stockholm 1973" (live) (1991)
6. "Studio Tan" (1978)
7. "Zappa in New York" (live) (1978)
8. "Orchestral Favorites" (1979)
9. "Sleep Dirt" (1979)
10. "Saarbrucken 1978" (live) (1991)
11. "Unmitigated Audacity" (live) (1991)
12. "Playground Psychotics" (2-CDs) (1995)
13. "Roxy & Elsewhere" (live) (1995)

1. "Hot Rats" (1969)
2. "Chunga's Revenge" (1970)
3. "200 Motels" (2-CDs) (1971)
4. "Waka/Jawaka" (1972)
5. "Apostrophe (')" (1974)
6. "Bongo Fury" (1975) (with Captain Beefheart)
7. "One Size Fits All" (1975)
8. "Zoot Allures" (1976)
9. "Sheik Yerbouti" (1979)
10. "Joe's Garage, Act I" (1979)
11. "Joe's Garage, Acts II and III" (1979)
12. "Joes's Garage, Acts I, II and III" (2-CDs) (1995)
13. "Tinseltown Rebellion" (1981)
14. "You Are What You Is" (1981)
15. "Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar" (3-CDs) (1981)
16. "Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch" (1982)
17. "Baby Snakes soundtrack" (1983)
18. "The Man From Utopia" (1983)
19. "Them or Us" (1984)
20. "Thing-Fish" (2-CDs) (1984)
21. "Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger" (1984)
22. "Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention" (1985)
23. "Jazz from Hell" (1986)
24. "Guitar" (2-CDs) (1988)
25. "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 1" (live) (2-CDs) (1988)
26. "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 2" (live) (2-CDs) (1988)
27. "Broadway the Hard Way" (1988)
28. "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 3" (live) (2-CDs) (1989)
29. "Any Way the Wind Blows" (live) (2-CDs) (1991)
30. "The Ark" (1991)
31. "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 4" (live) (2-CDs) (1991)
32. "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 5" (live) (2-CDs) (1992)
33. "You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6" (live) (2-CDs) (1992)
34. "The Yellow Shark" (1993)
35. "Civilization Phaze III" (1995)
36. "London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. 1 & 2" (2-CD box set) (1995)
37. "Does Humor Belong in Music?" (live) (1995) - recorded in 1984.
38. "The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life" (live) (2-CDs) (1995) - recorded in 1988.
39. "Make A Jazz Noise Here" (live) (2-CDs) (1995) - recorded in 1988.
40. "Francesco Zappa" (1995)
41. "Cucamonga" (1998) - releases of very early Frank Zappa.

1. "Stricktly Commercial: The Best of Frank Zappa" (1995)
2. "Lather" (3-CD box set) (1996)
3. "The Lost Episodes" (1996)
4. "Have I Offended Someone?" (1997)
5. "Stricktly Genteel: A Classical Introduction to Frank Zappa" (1997)
6. "Mystery Disc" (1998)

• Frank Zappa: The REAL Frank Zappa Home Page
• St. Alphonzo's Pancake Homepage - an incredible piece of work from Robbert Heederik (thanks, Lance Hallam, for the tip!).
• The Zappa Discography
• Frank Zappa MIDI Files
• Frank Zappa Links ("Links from Hell")