Frank Zappa Biography
Frank Zappa was a highly versatile and prolific American rock composer and producer who is known for complex music that incorporates elements of avant-garde classical music, experimental jazz, and an array of pop forms including, but by no means limited to, doo-wop, reggae, show tunes, lounge jazz, country and western, disco, and rock & roll. Another Zappa trademark are his biting satirical lyrics, sung either by himself in his dry, sardonic voice, or by the skilled singers whom he would hire to perform his more technically challenging vocal lines. He is also known for his improvised guitar solos played over vamped chord progressions that excluded the use of thirds in order to allow greater freedom of note-choice and, therefore, musical expression.