| December 21, 1940 |
Frank Vincent Zappa
is born in Baltimore, Maryland |
|
| c. 1944 |
Zappa family moves to Florida |
|
| c. 1946-47 |
Zappa family moves to Edgewood, MD |
|
| December, 1951 |
Zappa family moves to Monterey, California |
|
| c. 1951-52 |
Zappa family moves to Pacific Grove, CA |
|
| Summer 1953 |
Monterey, CA
Keith McKillop's summer
percussion school |
- Mice (first FZ composition)
|
| 1953 |
Zappa family moves to Claremont, CA |
|
| 1954 |
Zappa family moves to El Cajon, CA
FZ enters Grossmont High School,
San Diego, CA |
|
| 1955 |
San Diego, CA
The Ramblers:
Elwood Jr Madeo--guitar
Stuart Congdon--piano
FZ--drums
(and others) |
|
| April, 1955 |
Grossmont High School, San Diego, CA
While at ninth grade FZ wins county
Fire Prevention Week poster contest
|
|
| c. 1955 |
FZ enters Mission
Bay High School, San Diego, CA |
|
| 1955 |
Zappa family moves to Clairemont, CA |
|
| 1956 |
Zappa family moves to Lancaster, CA
FZ enters Antelope Valley High School |
|
| December 21, 1956 |
FZ talks with Varèse's
wife by phone |
|
| January 1957 |
FZ talks with Varèse |
|
| August 12, 1957 |
Varèse sends a letter to FZ
while he's in Baltimore, MD |
|
| c. 1957-58 |
Lancaster, CA
The Blackouts (as seen in the picture):
Wayne Lyles--percussion &
vocals
Terry Wimberly--piano
Ernie Thomas--trumpet
Dwight Bement--tenor sax?
Johnny Franklin--tenor
sax
FZ--drums |
|
| c. 1957-58 |
Lancaster, CA
The Blackouts (as listed in FZ's book):
Wayne Lyles--percussion &
vocals
Terry Wimberly--piano
Wally Salazar--guitar
Fred Salazar--trumpet
Johnny Franklin--tenor
sax
Carter Franklin
FZ--drums |
|
| c. 1957-58 |
Lancaster, CA
The Blackouts (as listed in Greg Russo's book):
Wayne Lyles--percussion &
vocals
Terry Wimberly--piano
Wally Salazar--guitar
Fred Salazar--trumpet
Ernie Thomas--trumpet
Dwight Bement--tenor sax
Steve Wolfe--sax
Jerry Reuter--sax
Johnny Franklin--tenor
sax
Carter Franklin
FZ--drums
Jim Sherwood--"The Bug"
dancer |
|
| c. 1957-58 |
Lancaster, CA
Antelope Valley High School Big Band:
Wayne Lyles--percussion &
vocals
Terry Wimberly--piano
Wally Salazar--guitar?
Fred Salazar--trumpet?
Ernie Thomas--trumpet
Dwight Bement--tenor sax?
Steve Wolfe--sax?
Jerry Reuter--sax?
Johnny Franklin--tenor
sax
Carter Franklin--?
FZ--drums |
 |
| 1958 |
William Ballard
lets FZ conduct the school orchestra |
- String Quartet, including:
|
| c. 1958 |
Wayne Lyles--voice
Terry Wimberly--voice
Elwood Jr Madeo--voice
FZ--voice |
|
| c. 1958 |
The Blackouts break up |
|
| c. 1958 |
FZ wins California
statewide art contest with his painting "Family Room" |
|
| June 13, 1958 |
FZ graduates from
High School |
|
| c. October 1958 |
FZ enters Antelope
Valley Junior College, Lancaster, CA |
|
| December 22, 1958 |
|
|
| c. December 1958-January 1959 |
Antelope Valley Junior College, Lancaster, CA:
Don Van Vliet--vocals
FZ--guitar
Bobby Zappa--rhythm guitar
Jerry Ullberg--voice* |
|
| c. 1959-62 |
Lancaster, CA
The Omens:
Terry Wimberly--piano
Alex Snouffer--lead guitar
Wally Salazar--guitar
Fred Salazar--trumpet or sax
David Griego--trumpet
Frank Lynch--trombone
Stan Mitchell
Pete Lovie--tenor sax
Gary Burkey--alto sax
Jim Sherwood--baritone sax
Pat Prue--drums
Don Van Vliet--vocals
Sharva Maynard--vocals |
|
| 1959 |
FZ commissioned to
write the Run
Home, Slow score |
|
| March, 1959 |
Zappa family moves to Claremont, CA |
|
| c. spring, 1960 |
FZ enters Chaffey
Junior College, Alta Loma, CA, and spends six months studying harmony |
|
| 1960 |
FZ and Kay
Sherman move to Ontario, CA |
|
| c. 1960 |
Terry Kirkman--various
instruments
FZ--guitar
+
Warren Peters--guitar |
|
| December 28, 1960 |
FZ marries Kay
Sherman |
|
| c. 1961 |
FZ audits a course
on composition by Karl Kohn
at Pomona College, Claremont, CA |
|
| c. 1961 |
FZ rents a white Fender
Telecaster |
|
| May, 1961 |
Ontario, CA
The Boogie Men:
FZ--lead guitar
Doug Rost--rhythm guitar
Kenny Burgan--sax
Al Surratt--drums |
 |
| mid. 1961 |
FZ auditions Don
Preston for a lounge band |
|
| 1961 |
Zappa family (except FZ & Bob) moves to Sarasota, FL |
|
| June, 1961 |
FZ hired to write
The World's Greatest
Sinner soundtrack |
|
| c. 1961-62 (during three months) |
Pomona, CA
The Blackouts?:
Rex Jakabowski--guitar, harmonica,
vocals?
FZ--guitar
Ronnie Williams--guitar
Joe Perrino--piano
Dwight Bement--tenor sax
Al Surratt--drums |
|
| c. 1961 |
FZ buys a Fender Jazzmaster |
|
| c. 1961-62 |
Lancaster, CA
The Blackouts?:
FZ--guitar (not in the picture)
(from left to right:)
Jim Sherwood--baritone sax
Dwight Bement--tenor sax
Ronnie Williams--guitar
Johnny Franklin--guitar
or bass
Al Surratt?--drums
Alex Snouffer--guitar |
 |
| c. 1961-62 |
Lancaster, CA
The Blackouts?:
FZ--guitar
Ronnie Williams--guitar
?--guitar
Dwight Bement--tenor sax
Johnny Franklin--baritone
sax
Al Surratt--drums? |
|
| c. 1961 |
FZ meets Paul
Buff and begins to work at Pal Studio, Cucamonga, CA |
|
| 1961 |
Pal Studio
Cucamonga, CA:
FZ--guitar
Danny Helferin--piano
Chuck Foster--trumpet
Tony Rodriquenz--alto sax
Caronga Ward--bass
Chuck Glave--drums |
|
| 1961 |
Pal Studio
Cucamonga, CA |
|
| November, 1961-early 1962 [ten months] |
Tommy Sandi's Club Sahara,
San Bernardino, CA
Joe Perrino & The Mellotones:
Joe Perrino--piano?
FZ--guitar
Dwight Bement--sax?
? |
|
| November, 1961 |
Chaffey Junior College, Alta Loma, CA ?:
8-piece rock'n'roll band including:
FZ--guitar
Dwight Bement--various instruments
|
The
World's Greatest Sinner O.S. |
| Early December, 1961 |
Chaffey Junior College, Alta Loma, CA:
20-member chamber ensemble |
The
World's Greatest Sinner O.S. |
| December 17, 1961 |
Chaffey Junior College, Alta Loma, CA:
Pomona Valley Orchestra
(55-member) conducted by Fred
E. Graff |
The
World's Greatest Sinner O.S. |
| c. 1961-62 |
Living Room in Ontario, CA
Ronnie Williams--voice
Kenny Williams--voice
FZ--guitar |
|
| 1962 |
The Masters
Pal Studio, Cucamonga, CA
Paul Buff--probably drums,
bass, piano
Ronnie Williams--guitar
FZ--guitar |
|
| 1962 |
The
Masters Sixteen Tons (Travis) / Breaktime
(Williams/Buff/FZ) (Emmy E 1008) |
| c. May, 1962 |
Don Preston's Garage:
Don Preston--keyboards, films,
assorted percussion (including a bicycle)
Bunk Gardner--woodwinds
Buzz Gardner--trumpet
Vic Mio--bass
Jack Lake--percussion
+
FZ--films, percussion |
|
| c. August, 1962 |
Pal Studio
Cucamonga, CA
Paul Buff--guitar, organ*,
drums, saxes
Dave Aerni--bass
Mike Dineri--sax*
FZ--comb* |
|
| c. September, 1962 |
Channel 7
Don Preston, FZ
and the rest audition for a TV program |
|
| December, 1962 |
Pal Studio
Cucamonga, CA
Produced by Dave Aerni
Engineered by FZ
The Tornadoes:
Gerald Sanders--bass
Roly Sanders--guitar
Jesse Sanders--guitar
George White--sax
Leonard Delaney--drums |
- Moon Dawg (Weaver)
- The Inebriated Surfer (Sanders)
- Shootin' Beavers (Sanders)
- The Swag (Grant/Wray)
- Raw-Hide (Grant/Wray)
- Malagueña (Lecuona)
- The Tornado (Aerni)
- Bumble Bee Stomp (Sanders/Delaney/White)
- Vaquero (Tomsco)
- Johnny B. Goode (Berry)
|
| c. 1962 |
prob. Ontario, CA
Ray Collins--voice
Al Surratt--voice
FZ--voice |
|
| December, c. 1962 |
Ontario, CA
Kay--voice
FZ--voice |
|
| 1963 |
Pal Studio,
Cucamonga, CA
Ray Collins--vocals, falsetto
Paul Buff--piano, sax
FZ--guitar, bass, drums |
|
| 1963 |
Pal Studio,
Cucamonga, CA
Ray Collins--vocals
Ronnie Williams--guitar
Paul Buff--bass, guitar, sax?
FZ--drums |
|
| 1963 |
Pal Studio,
Cucamonga, CA
Ron Roman--vocals |
|
| 1963 |
Pal Studio,
Cucamonga, CA
Produced by Art Laboe
The Penguins:
Cleve Duncan--vocals
Walter Saulsberry--vocals
The Viceroys:
James Conwell--vocals
Andrew "Jack" White--vocals
Charles Jones--vocals
Oliver Williams--vocals
Herbert White--vocals
+
FZ--vibes |
|
| 1963 |
Pal Studio,
Cucamonga, CA
Ray Collins--vocals
Paul Buff--snorks, saxes, piano?
Dick Barber--snorks?
FZ--guitars, bass, drums? |
|
| 1963 |
Pal Studio,
Cucamonga, CA
Bob Guy--vocals
FZ--probably all instruments and
sound effects |
|
| 1963 |
Pal Studio
Cucamonga, CA
Benny Rodriguez--vocals
Joe Rodriguez--vocals
FZ--lead guitar
Max Uballez--rhythm guitar
Richard Provincio--piano
Armando Mora--tenor sax
Chris Pasqual--bass
Manuel Mosqueda--drums |
|
| 1963 |
Pal Studio
Cucamonga, CA
Produced by FZ & Paul
Buff
Brian
Lord--vocals
FZ--various instruments & sound
effects
Paul Buff--probably various
instruments & sound effects too |
|
| 1963 |
Pal Studio
Cucamonga, CA
Ray Collins--vocals
FZ--probably all instruments &
backing vocals
?--sax* |
|
| 1963 |
Pal Studio,
Cucamonga, CA
Ray Collins--vocals
Paul Buff--fuzz bass*
FZ--guitars, bass, keyboards, drums |
|
| 1963 |
Pal Studio
Cucamonga, CA
FZ--guitars, bass, drums
Paul Buff--saxes? |
|
| 1963 |
Pal Studio
Cucamonga, CA
Mr. Clean--lead vocals, harmonica?
Dorothy Berry & The Sweethearts--background
vocals
Paul Buff--fuzz bass*
FZ--most instruments, vocals |
|
| 1963 |
|
|
| March 14, 1963 (aired March 27) |
Steve
Allen Show
Channel 5
FZ--bicycle
Steve Allen--bicycle
Johnny Jacobs--poetry
+
Instrumental Ensemble
Pre-recorded Tape |
|
| 1963 |
Ron
Roman Love Of My Life
(FZ/Aerni) / Tell Me (Williams) (Daani 101) |
| April 8, 1963 |
The
Penguins Memories of
El Monte (FZ/Collins) / Be Mine (Day/Nelson) (OS 27) |
| April 8, 1963 |
Baby
Ray & The Ferns How's
Your Bird? / The World's
Greatest Sinner (Donna 1378) |
| April, 1963 |
Bob
Guy Dear Jeepers / Letter
From Jeepers (Donna 1380) |
| April, 1963 |
The
Heartbreakers Everytime
I See You (FZ/Collins) /
Cradle Rock (Gallegos) (Donna 1381) |
| May 19, 1963 |
The Experimental Music of Frank Zappa
Mount St. Mary's College, LA
FZ--conductor, zither
Malcolm McNab--trumpet
Peter Arcaro--trumpet, brass section conductor
Philip Barnett--oboe, English horn
Barry--woodwinds section conductor |
|
| May, 1963 |
Brian
Lord & The Midnighters The
Big Surfer / Not Another One (Aerni/Buff) (Vigah 001) |
| May 27, 1963 |
Brian
Lord & The Midnighters The
Big Surfer / Not Another One (Aerni/Buff) (Capitol 4981) |
| June, 1963 |
Ned
& Nelda Hey, Nelda (FZ/Collins)
/ Surf Along (FZ/Collins) (Vigah
002) |
| July, 1963 |
The
Hollywood Persuaders Tijuana (Buff) / Grunion
Run (OS 39) |
| August, 1963 |
Mr.
Clean Mr. Clean / Jessie
Lee (OS 40) |
| August, 1963 |
The
Rotations Heavies (Aerni/Buff)
/ The Cruncher (Aerni/Buff) (OS 41) |
| c. 1963 |
Sin City Boys:
Ray Collins--vocals
FZ--guitar |
|
| c. 1963 |
The Troubadour
Loeb & Leopold:
Ray Collins--vocals
FZ--guitar |
|
| c. summer 1963 |
Pal Studio
Cucamonga, CA
Don Van Vliet--vocals
FZ--guitar
Alex Snouffer--guitar?
Vic Mortenson--drums? |
- Slippin' And Slidin' (Penniman)
|
| c. summer 1963 or c. March, 1964 |
Pal Studio
Cucamonga, CA
Don Van Vliet--vocals
FZ--guitar
Alex Snouffer--guitar?
Vic Mortenson--drums? |
- Cheryl's Canon (?)
- Evil (Burnett)
- The Grund (?)
- Vicious Intentions (?)
|
| 1963 |
Run
Home, Slow (OS)
Art Laboe's Original Sound Studios, LA, CA
Engineered by Paul Buff
FZ--guitar
Chuck Foster--trumpet
Ron Myers--trombone
Chick Carter--flute, tenor sax, baritone sax
Don Christlieb--oboe
Pete Christlieb--tenor sax
Chuck Domanico--bass
John Guerin--drums |
|
| c. 1963 |
Pal Studio
Cucamonga, CA
FZ--guitar, vocals
Floyd--vocals
?--piano
?--drums
|
|
| c. 1963 |
Pal Studio
Cucamonga, CA |
|
| c. 1963 |
Pal Studio
Cucamonga, CA
FZ--guitar
Doug Moon--acoustic guitar |
|
| September 19, 1963 |
Dot Records reject The Soots' master with "Any Way The
Wind Blows" and "Slippin' And Slidin'" among others |
|
| 1963 |
Pal Studio
Cucamonga, CA
Produced by Curry & Irvin
Conrad & The Hurricane Strings:
Conrad Couwenberg--guitar
Ed Sigarlaki--guitar
Don Sigarlaki--bass
Patrick Couwenberg--drums
|
|
| December, 1963 |
Conrad
& The Hurricane Strings Hurricane
(Sigarlaki) / Sweet Love (Sigarlaki) (Daytone 6401) |
| c. March, 1964 |
Pal Studio
Cucamonga, CA
Don Van Vliet--vocals
FZ--guitar
Alex Snouffer--guitar?
Janschi--bass
Vic Mortenson--drums |
|
| May 10, 1964 |
The name of the band is changed officialy to Mothers
(??) |
|
| 1964 |
FZ moves to Pal
Studio, Cucamonga, CA |
|
| August 1, 1964 |
FZ buys Pal Studio
from Paul Buff and renames it as Studio
Z |
|
| August 1, 1964 |
Studio Z, Cucamonga, CA
Don Van Vliet
Laurie
Ray Collins
Jim Sherwood
Bob Narciso |
|
| c. September, 1964 |
FZ sets up the plot
& scenery for Captain
Beefheart vs. The Grunt People |
|
| c. 1964 |
The Saints 'N Sinners, Ontario, CA
The Muthers:
FZ--guitar, vocals
Paul Woods--bass
Les Papp--drums |
|
| 1964 |
I
Was A Teen-age Malt Shop (Rock Opera)
Studio Z
Cucamonga, CA
FZ--piano, guitar, bass, drums, vocals
Don Van Vliet--vocals
Allison Buff--vocals
Jim Sherwood--acoustic guitar
Vic Mortenson--drums |
|
| c. Halloween, 1964 |
Studio Z, Cucamonga, CA
(To be aired on KSPC, Pomona College, Claremont, CA) |
|
| c. late 1964 |
Studio Z, Cucamonga, CA
(To be aired on KSPC, Pomona College, Claremont, CA) |
|
| December 2, 1964 |
KNXT (CBS) rejects the I
Was A Teen-age Malt Shop outline |
|