Frank Zappa - Did You Know?
March 16, 2018Music facts, music trivia, interesting stories and much more. Introducing the "Did You Know" page about American musician, composer and filmmaker, Frank Zappa.
Enjoy!
Frank Zappa was an American musician, composer, filmmaker and activist, whose work was characterized by free-form improvisation, nonconformity, sound experiments, musical virtuosity, and satire of American culture.
In a career of over 30 years, Frank Zappa composed pop, rock, jazz, orchestral, jazz fusion and musique concrète works. He also produced almost all of albums that he released (more than 60), along with his band the Mothers of Invention, as well as a solo artist.
Frank Zappa also directed music videos and films, and even designed album covers. Zappa is considered one of the most innovative and stylistically diverse rock musicians of his era.
During his lifetime, Zappa was a very productive and prolific artist. He earned widespread acclaim from critics, as well as fellow musicians, and to this day, he remains a major influence on musicians and composers.
One interesting story about his life comes from the time when he performed. While playing the Rainbow (London) in 1971, a man by the name of Trevor Howell jumped on stage and attacked Zappa.
Frank was knocked into the orchestra, 15 fit below, suffering from cuts, bruises, and broken bones. Zappa also crushed his larynx, which caused his voice to lower by one third for the rest of his life.
In 1995, Frank Zappa was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the in 1997, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2000, Zappa was ranked No. 36 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock, and in 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Zappa at No. 71 on the list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". In 2011, he was ranked No. 22 on the list of "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."
On December 4, 1993, just 18 days before his 53rd birthday, Frank Zappa died, after a long battle with prostate cancer. He died at his home with his wife and children by his side.
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