Frank Zappa

Frank Vincent Zappa was born December 21, 1940, and grew up absorbing 20th-century classical modernism, rhythm and blues, and doo-wop in equal measure. He started writing classical pieces in high school while drumming in R&B bands, then switched to guitar and formed the Mothers of Invention. Their 1966 debut Freak Out! married satirical rock songs to extended sound collages, setting the template for what he'd do for the next 27 years: improvisation, sonic experiments, and lyrics that mocked religion, schools, and politicians with surgical precision. He called the through-line across his 60-plu…