Frank Vincent Zappa (1940-1993) was an American composer, guitarist, singer, bandleader and producer. He was one of the most prolific musicians of his time, releasing over fifty albums of original material and spanning virtually every musical genre over a thirty-five year career. Born on 21st December 1940 in Baltimore, Maryland, Zappa's earliest influences were 1950s pop and rock (such as
doo-wop and
rhythm and blues), and 20th-century classical composers including
Igor Stravinsky and
Edgard Varèse.