Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa was an American composer, lyricist, songwriter, guitarist, vocalist, bandleader, conductor, producer, and filmmaker. Born on December 21, 1940, in Baltimore, Maryland and passed away on December 4, 1993, in Los Angeles, California. Zappa's music combined elements of contemporary classical figures such as Igor Stravinsky and Karlheinz Stockhausen with a love for doo-wop and rock & roll. He was known for his satirical lyrics and wicked sense of humour that delighted fans even when pushing the boundaries of taste.Zappa was a prolific record maker who produced massive amounts of music on his own labels including Bizarre Records, Straight Records, and Barking Pumpkin Records. After unhappy associations with Warner Bros. Records and MGM in the past, he gained control over his old albums in the 80s and began reissuing them through Rykodisc. Throughout his career, Zappa stayed at the forefront of technology investing in equipment and home studio facilities to have full control over production.In 1988 he released his official autobiography and embarked on a world tour before being diagnosed with cancer in late 1991 which ended his live performances. His wife Gail became the figurehead of the Zappa Family Trust (ZFT) until her death in 2015. The ZFT continued producing posthumous releases under their children's guidance.