On this day in 1940, one of the greatest musical pioneers to ever live was born..?

Today is December 21, 2011! And, being one of my latest musical obsessions, I just had to make a thread to honor this historic pioneer of music.

Frank Zappa would be 71 today, but unfortunately he perished on December 4, 1993. He died of terminal prostate cancer.

We know Frank Zappa as this crazy f*cking dude from countless genres of music, and he deserves to be recognized as a musical genius - which he already is, but.. well, yeah. I feel like introducing him to some of you R&Pers who don't recognize the name, if you don't recognize it from my username. ;]

"Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed album covers. Zappa produced almost all of the more than 60 albums he released with the band The Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist." - Wikipedia

He actually released a total of 91 studio albums throughout his career, which lasted around 35 years. Each release would have new, original material on it.. or so I'm told.

Frank Zappa might've been mainly known for his whacky on-stage performances with his weird-asss songs. ;D

"Tittties and Beer"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMyyFFVzD8Q

I really love how all of them start cracking up in this version of the song. It's just so f*cking weird.

"Don't Eat the Yellow Snow"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws5Xeu3BEQk

"Muffin Man"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMEiKX-vALc&feature...

"Plastic People"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoOwQd-1Hrg

"King Kong"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC6Wpu4oL0g

It's hard to incorporate Frank Zappa's work into 10 measly links, so.. I urge you to check more of his stuff out if you like what you're hearing here.

MQ: What is your opinion of Frank Zappa?

MQ2: Favorite Frank Zappa album?

MQ3: Favorite Frank Zappa song?

^ Can be a collaboration of his

BQ: frank zappa krazy?