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American musician, composer, bandleader, and iconoclast known for experimental music blending rock, jazz, classical, and avant-garde elements. Frank Zappa (1940–1993) was a prolific American composer and multi-instrumentalist who released over 60 albums. He founded the band The Mothers of Invention, pioneered studio experimentation, and fiercely advocated for free speech. Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1990, he continued composing until his death at age 52.

• Zappa testified before the U.S. Senate in 1985 against music censorship proposed by the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), famously calling their efforts 'ill-conceived nonsense'.
• In 1971, a fan pushed Zappa offstage during a concert at London's Rainbow Theatre, causing severe injuries including a crushed larynx, fractured skull, and broken leg. His voice permanently deepened as a result.
• Zappa's 1966 debut album with The Mothers of Invention, 'Freak Out!', was rock's first concept double album, satirizing American culture and consumerism.
• Despite no formal training, Zappa composed complex orchestral works like 'The Yellow Shark' (1992), performed by Germany's Ensemble Modern. He conducted his final concerts from a wheelchair months before dying.
• He died from complications of prostate cancer on December 4, 1993. His final project, the posthumously released 'Civilization Phaze III', took over 30 years to complete.