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FZ chronology

1940-64 | 1965-69 | 1970-72 | 1973-75 | 1976-80 | 1981-84 | 1985-93 | 1994 et sq.

1956-58

1951-56 | Top | Notes & Comments | 1958-61

1956	Zappa family moves to Lancaster, CA FZ enters Antelope Valley High School
December 21, 1956	FZ talks with Edgard Varèse's wife by phone
January 1957	FZ talks with Edgard Varèse
June 22, 1957	Shrine Exposition Hall, LA, CA The Blackouts (from left to right, standing): Johnny Franklin—sax Terry Wimberly—piano FZ—drums Joe Adams—host Carter Franklin—? Steve Wolfe?—sax Elwood Jr Madeo—guitar (seated): Ernie Thomas—trumpet Charlie Reid Jr—? Sonny (Freddy Louis)—guitar Wayne Lyles—percussion & vocals Jerry Reutter—baritone sax
c. 1957	FZ enters Antelope Valley Junior College, Lancaster, CA, for one semester
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, clockwise): Jerry Reutter—baritone sax Ernie Thomas—trumpet Terry Wimberly—piano Johnny Franklin—tenor sax FZ—drums Wayne Lyles—percussion & vocals
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—sax  Johnny Franklin—tenor sax Carter Franklin FZ—drums + Jim Sherwood—"The Bug" dancer
c. 1957-58	Lancaster, CA The Blackouts (as remembered by Denny Walley): Henry Strawberry—vocals Chuck Spencer—vocals ?—vocals Terry Wimberly—piano Wally Salazar—guitar Fred Salazar—baritone sax FZ—drums
1958	William Ballard lets FZ conduct the school orchestra
c. 1958?	Wayne Lyles—voice Terry Wimberly—voice Elwood Jr Madeo—voice FZ—voice	The Blackouts [64]
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. 1958	Antelope Valley Junior College, Lancaster, CA Webcor recorder Don Van Vliet—vocals FZ—guitar Bobby Zappa—rhythm guitar Jerry Ullberg—voice*	Lost In A Whirlpool (Van Vliet/FZ) [64] The Search For Tom Dooley*
June-July, 1958	FZ enters Idyllwild School Of Music And The Arts, Idyllwild, CA, for a summer course

1958-61

1956-58 | Top | Notes & Comments | 1961-64

c. 1958-62

Lancaster, CA The Omens including: Terry Wimberly—piano Alex Snouffer—lead guitar Wally Salazar—guitar Fred Salazar—sax   David Grieco—trumpet Frank Lynch—trombone Stan Mitchell Pete Lovio—tenor sax Gary Burkey—alto sax Jim Sherwood—baritone sax Pat Prue—drums Don Van Vliet—vocals Sharva Maynard—vocals

Late 1958	Zappa family moves back to Claremont, CA
December 22, 1958		Waltz #1
1959	FZ commissioned to write the Run Home, Slow score
c. spring, 1959	FZ enters Chaffey Junior College, Alta Loma, CA, and spends six weeks studying harmony
1960	FZ and Kay Sherman move to Ontario, CA
c. 1960	Terry Kirkman—various instruments FZ—guitar + Warren Peters—guitar
Late 1960	FZ meets Paul Buff and begins to work at Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA
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
January, 1961	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA: FZ—guitar Danny Helferin—piano* Chuck Foster—trumpet Tony Rodriquenz—alto sax*, trumpet Caronga Ward—bass* Chuck Glave—drums	Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance (Never On Sunday) * [64] It's From Kansas (High Steppin') [04]
c. May, 1961	Ontario, CA The Boogie Men: (from left to right:) Al Surratt—drums FZ—lead guitar Doug Rost—rhythm guitar Kenny Burgan—sax + (not on the picture:) Terry Kirkman—guitar Gary
May, 1961	The Masters Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Paul Buff—piano Ronnie Williams—drums, bass FZ—lead & rhythm guitar	Breaktime (Williams/Buff/FZ)
June, 1961	The Masters Sixteen Tons (Travis) / Breaktime (Williams/Buff/FZ) (7", Emmy E 1008)
mid. 1961	FZ takes Don Preston to an audition for a lounge band	Oh No
1961	Zappa family (except FZ & Bob) moves to Sarasota, FL
June, 1961	FZ hired to write The World's Greatest Sinner soundtrack

1961-64

1958-60 | Top | Notes & Comments | 1965

c. 1961-62 (during three months)	Pomona, CA The Blackouts?: Rex Jakabosky—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?: (from left to right:) Jim Sherwood—baritone sax Dwight Bement—tenor sax Ronnie Williams—guitar Johnny Franklin—guitar or bass FZ (or Al Surratt?)—drums Alex Snouffer—guitar
c. 1961-62	Lancaster, CA The Blackouts?: (from left to right:) Ronnie Williams—guitar FZ—guitar Rex Jakabosky—guitar Dwight Bement—tenor sax Johnny Franklin—baritone sax Al Surratt—drums
November, 1961-early 1962 [ten months]	Tommy Sandi's Club Sahara, San Bernardino, CA Joe Perrino & The Mellotones (from left to right): FZ—guitar Mike Dineri—sax Joe Perrino—bass Tommy Hernandez—drums
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	Ronnie Sings? [64]  Kenny's Booger Story [64]  Ronnie's Booger Story [64]
c. 1962	Glenn Glen Sound, LA	The World's Greatest Sinner O.S. (post-production)
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 + Putter—bass
June, 1962	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Paul Buff—guitar, organ, drums Dave Aerni—bass Mike Dineri—sax	The Cruncher (Aerni/Buff)
June 15-17, 1962	Young Musicians Foundation awards, Schoenberg Hall, UCLA	unknown composition
c. Summer 1962	The Sportsman, Pomona FZ meets Ray Collins
c. September, 1962	Channel 7, ABC Don Preston, FZ and the rest audition for a TV program
Late 1962	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Produced & engineered by FZ Buddy And The Crickets	It's Gonna Work Out Fine (McCoy/McKinney) Jezebel (Shanklin)
Late 1962	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Produced & engineered by FZ	Straight Ahead (unknown) [PBP]
December, 1962	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Produced by Dave Aerni Engineered by FZ The Tornadoes	The Swag (Grant/Wray) Raw-Hide (Grant/Wray)
December, c. 1962	Ontario, CA Kay—voice FZ—voice	Mormon Xmas Dance Report [75]

January, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Produced by Dave Aerni Engineered by FZ The Tornadoes	Moon Dawg (Weaver) The Inebriated Surfer (Sanders)
January, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA FZ—guitars, vocals, harmonica	Why Don't You Do Me Right? (Demo) [PBP]
January, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA FZ—guitars, bass, drums	Waltz [PBP]
January, 1963	Original Sound, LA, 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	Memories Of El Monte (FZ/Collins)
c. 1963	prob. Ontario, CA Ray Collins—voice Al Surratt—voice FZ—voice	Prelude To "The Purse" [75] The Purse [75] Suckit Rockit [75]
1963	Rented Webcor tape recorder	The Moon Will Never Be The Same [75] Mousie's First Xmas [75]
February 1, 1963	The Hollywood Tornadoes Moon Dawg (Weaver) / The Inebriated Surfer (Sanders) (7", Aertun 45-102)
February 20, 1963	The Penguins Memories of El Monte (FZ/Collins) / Be Mine (Day/Nelson) (7"', OS 27)
Early 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Produced & engineered by FZ Mike Dineri—sax*	Smoky Night (unknown)* [PBP] Sun Dog (unknown) [PBP] Cucamonga Surf (unknown)* [PBP]
March, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Ray Collins—vocals Paul Buff—bass, snorks FZ—guitars, drums, percussion	How's Your Bird?
March, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Ray Collins—vocals Paul Buff—fuzz bass, bass, percussion, organ FZ—guitars, drums, vocals	Fountain Of Love (FZ/Collins) [64] Any Way The Wind Blows [64]
March, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Paul Buff—organ Allison Buff—vocals FZ—guitars, drums, bass, percussion	Take Your Clothes Off (Never On Sunday) [04]
prob. March, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Ray Collins—vocals Paul Buff—bass, drums, saxes FZ—guitars, backing vocals	The World's Greatest Sinner
March 14, 1963 (aired March 27)	The Steve Allen Show, Channel 5 The Steve Allen Playhouse, LA FZ—bicycle Steve Allen—bicycle Johnny Jacobs—poetry + Instrumental Ensemble Pre-recorded Tape	Concerto For Two Bicycles
March, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Ray Collins—vocals Paul Buff—all instruments	Deseri (Collins/Buff) [Grandmothers Looking Up Granny's Dress, 1982]
April, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA FZ—lead & rhythm guitars Paul Buff—drums	Can't Stand Up [PBP]
April, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA FZ—lead vocals, guitars, drums Paul Buff—bass Ray Collins—backing vocals	Masked Grandma [PBP]
April, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA FZ—guitars, bass, drums	Walkin' Out [PBP]
April, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Bob Guy—lead vocals FZ—guitar, drums, sped-up vocals Paul Buff—bass, snorks, sped-up vocals, sound effects	Dear Jeepers Letter From Jeepers
April, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Ray Collins—vocals Paul Buff—piano, drums, fuzz bass, saxes FZ—guitar	Love Of My Life [PBP]
April, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Ray Collins—vocals Mary Gonzales—vocals	Love Of My Life [87]
April, 1963	Pal Recording 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	Everytime I See You (FZ/Collins)
April 8, 1963	Baby Ray & The Ferns How's Your Bird? / The World's Greatest Sinner (7", Donna 1378)
April 22, 1963	Bob Guy Dear Jeepers / Letter From Jeepers (7", Donna 1380)
April 22, 1963	The Heartbreakers Everytime I See You (FZ/Collins) / Cradle Rock (Gallegos) (7", Donna 1381)
May, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Brian Lord—lead vocals FZ—lead & rhythm guitars, drums, vocals Paul Buff—opening vocal, bass, sax, sound effects Ray Collins—vocals	The Big Surfer
May, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Ray Collins—lead vocal FZ—guitar, drums, lead vocal Paul Buff—piano, organ, bass, sax	Hey, Nelda (FZ/Collins) Surf Along With Ned & Nelda (FZ/Collins)
May 4, 1963	5th Contemporary Musical Symposium Mount St. Mary's College, LA recorded by Carlos Hagen FZ	Piece #2 Of Visual Music (1957) For Jazz Ensemble And 16mm Projector
May 19, 1963	The Experimental Music Of Frank Zappa Mount St. Mary's College, LA recorded by Carlos Hagen FZ—conductor, zither Malcolm McNab—trumpet Peter Arcaro—trumpet, brass section conductor Philip Barnett—oboe, English horn Barry Brisk—woodwinds section conductor	Variables II for Orchestra Variables I for Any Five Instruments Collage 1 For A String Group Accompanied With Woodwinds Opus 5, for Four Orchestras (parts on Mount St. Mary's Concert Excerpt [64]) The Collage 2 Rehearsalism Three Pieces of Visual Music with Jazz Group
May, 1963	Brian Lord & The Midnighters The Big Surfer / Not Another One (Aerni/Buff) (7", Vigah! V-001)
May 27, 1963	Brian Lord & The Midnighters The Big Surfer / Not Another One (Aerni/Buff) (7", Capitol 4981)
June, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Paul Buff—guitar, drums, saxes Dave Aerni—bass	Heavies (Aerni/Buff) (intro heard in Nasal Retentive Calliope Music) [03]
June, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA FZ—guitars, bass, drums Paul Buff—saxes	Grunion Run
June, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Produced by Dave Aerni Engineered by FZ The Tornadoes	Vaquero (Tomsco/Petty) The Tornado (Aerni) Shootin' Beavers (Sanders) Bumble Bee Stomp (Rimsky-Korsakov/Sanders/Delaney/White) Johnny B. Goode (Berry) Malagueña (Dark Eyes) (Trad./Sanders/Lecuona)
June, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Produced by Curry & Irvin Engineers—FZ & Dave Aerni The Rhythm Surfers	502 (Like Getting Pinched On A 502) (The Rhythm Surfers) Big City Surfer (The Rhythm Surfers) Steel Wheels (Aerni)
June, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Ron Roman—vocals	Love Of My Life (FZ/Aerni)
June, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Mr. Clean—lead vocals, backing vocals, harmonica Dorothy Berry & The Sweethearts—background vocals** Paul Buff—fuzz bass, bass, electric piano FZ—guitars, drums, percussion, vocals	Mr. Clean** [75] Jessie Lee
June, 1963	Ned & Nelda Hey, Nelda (FZ/Collins) / Surf Along With Ned & Nelda (FZ/Collins) (7", Vigah! V-002)
July 15, 1963	The Hollywood Persuaders Tijuana (Buff) / Grunion Run (7", OS 39)
July 15, 1963	Mr. Clean Mr. Clean / Jessie Lee (7", OS 40)
July 26, 1963	The Tornadoes Bustin' Surfboards (LP, Josie JOZ 4005)
July 29, 1963	Ron Roman Tell Me (Williams) / Love Of My Life (FZ/Aerni) (7", Daani 101)
c. 1963	Sin City Boys: Ray Collins—vocals FZ—guitar, vocals	Joe, The Puny Greaser (Puff, The Magic Dragon) Streets Of Fontana aka Sweeping Streets (Streets Of Laredo aka Cowboy's Lament)
c. 1963	The Troubadour Loeb & Leopold: Ray Collins—vocals FZ—guitar, vocals
c. summer 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Don Van Vliet—vocals FZ—guitar	Slippin' And Slidin' (Penniman)
c. 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA FZ—guitar Doug Moon—acoustic guitar	Speed-Freak Boogie (Cookin' Turnips) [68]
c. summer 1963 or c. March, 1964	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Don Van Vliet—vocals FZ—guitar ?	Cheryl's Canon (?) Evil (Burnett) The Grund (?) Vicious Intentions (?)
c. 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA FZ—guitar, vocals Floyd—vocals ?—piano ?—drums	Why Don't You Do Me Right? [75]
September, 1963	The Rhythm Surfers 502 (Like Getting Pinched On A 502) (The Rhythm Surfers) / Big City Surfer (The Rhythm Surfers) (7", Daytone D-6301)
September 19, 1963	Dot Records reject The Soots' master with "Any Way The Wind Blows" and "Slippin' And Slidin'" among others
Fall 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Allison Buff—lead vocals FZ—backing vocals, drums Paul Buff—bass, piano	I'm Losing Status At The High School [PBP]
October, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Johnny Barakat And The Vestells FZ—backing vocals	Jezebel (Shanklin) [PBP]
December, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Produced by Curry & Irvin Engineer—FZ Conrad & The Hurricane Strings: Conrad Couwenberg—guitar Ed Sigarlaki—guitar Don Sigarlaki—bass Patrick Couwenberg—drums	Hurricane (Sigarlaki) (intro heard in Bit of Nostalgia) [04] Sweet Love (Sigarlaki)
December, 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Produced by Curry & Irvin Engineer—FZ The Cordells	Happy Time (Lessard) I Love How You Love Me (Kolber/Mann)

January, 1964	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Produced by Curry & Irvin Engineer—FZ The Decades	Lonely Drummer (Irvin) The Phantom Strikes Back (Irvin)
1964	The Decades Lonely Drummer (Irvin) / The Phantom Strikes Back (Irvin) (7", Daytone D-1306)
January, 1964	Conrad & The Hurricane Strings Hurricane (Sigarlaki) / Sweet Love (Sigarlaki) (7", Daytone 6401)
January, 1964	The Cordells Happy Time (Lessard) / I Love How You Love Me (Kolber/Mann) (7", Daytone 6402)
May, 1964	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Produced by Curry & Irvin Engineer—FZ The Woody Waggers	The Sahara Hop (Irvin/Irvin) Three Guns (Irvin/Irvin)
June, 1964	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Produced by Curry & Irvin Engineer—FZ The Decades	Dance Forever More (Davis) Louie The Loop (Irvin)
1964	The Decades Dance Forever More (Davis) / Louie The Loop (Irvin) (7", Daytone D-6403)
1964	The Woody Waggers The Sahara Hop (Irvin/Irvin) / Three Guns (Irvin/Irvin) (7", Daytone D-6407/6408)
c. 1964	Run Home, Slow (OS) Original Sound, LA, CA Engineered by Paul Buff FZ—guitar Chuck Foster—trumpet Ron Myers—trombone Chick Carter—flute, tenor sax, baritone sax Don Christlieb—bassoon Pete Christlieb—tenor sax Chuck Domanico—bass John Guerin—drums	Run Home Slow Theme [68] Run Home Slow Theme [64] Run Home Cues #2 [64]  Run Home Cues #3 [64]  The original Duke Of Prunes [68] Right There The Little March

August 1, 1964	FZ buys Pal Recording Studio from Paul Buff and renames it as Studio Z
August 1, 1964	Studio Z, Cucamonga, CA Don Van Vliet Laurie Stone Ray Collins Jim Sherwood Bob Narciso	Opening Night At Studio Z [68]
1964	FZ moves to Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA
c. September, 1964	FZ sets up the plot & scenery for Captain Beefheart vs. The Grunt People
c. 1961-1964	Pal Studio/Studio Z, Cucamonga, CA	Little Umbrellas [#115]
c. 1964	Studio Z, Cucamonga, CA	Duodenum [04] Theme From Lumpy Gravy [85]
c. 1964	The Sinners And Saints Tavern, Ontario, CA The Muthers: FZ—guitar, vocals Paul Woods—bass Les Papp—drums	Power Trio From The Saints 'N Sinners [68] The Muthers/Power Trio [75]
1964	I Was A Teen-age Malt Shop (Rock Opera) Studio Z Cucamonga, CA FZ—piano, guitar, bass, drums, vocals Don Van Vliet—vocals Jim Sherwood—acoustic guitar Vic Mortensen—drums	Charva [64] [68] The Birth of Captain Beefheart [68] I Was A Teen-age Malt Shop [68] Ned The Mumbler Ned Has A Brainstorm (aka Toads Of The Short Forest)
c. Halloween, 1964	Studio Z, Cucamonga, CA (To be aired on KSPC, Pomona College, Claremont, CA)	Excerpt from 'The Uncle Frankie Show' [68]
c. late 1964	Studio Z, Cucamonga, CA Don Van Vliet—vocals FZ—guitar Janschi—bass or rhythm guitar? unknown—bass? Vic Mortensen—drums	Tiger Roach (Van Vliet/FZ) [64] Metal Man Has Won His Wings (Van Vliet/FZ) [68] I'm Your Nasty Shadow (?)
c. late 1964	Studio Z, Cucamonga, CA (To be aired on KSPC, Pomona College, Claremont, CA)	The Uncle Frankie Show [75]
December 2, 1964	KNXT (CBS) rejects the I Was A Teen-age Malt Shop outline

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