Frank Vincent Zappa (born December 21, 1940 in Baltimore, Maryland, United … Read Full Bio ↴Frank Vincent Zappa (born December 21, 1940 in Baltimore, Maryland, United States – December 4, 1993 in Los Angeles, California, United States) 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 spanning over a thirty-five year career.
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. His output was divided between adventurous instrumental compositions and succinct, catchy rock songs with ribald, satirical, or comically absurd lyrics. On stage he demanded virtuosity and spontaneity from his musicians, and employed many performers who would later go on to achieve fame in their own rights. He directed and released a number of films featuring himself, his musicians and entourage, including 200 Motels and Baby Snakes.
His career started in 1955. His earliest recordings date from the mid-1960s, and include collaborations with his school friend Captain Beefheart. In 1965 he joined a bar-band called The Soul Giants, quickly dominating its musical direction and rechristening it The Mothers. Their first release (as The Mothers of Invention; the name alteration requested by their record company) was the 1966 double album Freak Out!. The line-up of the Mothers gradually expanded to accommodate Zappa's increasingly ambitious and avant-garde music, but by 1969 he decided to work outside the band structure, focusing on his solo career, and effectively disbanding the Mothers in 1971.
The beginnings of his solo career in the late sixties and early seventies was characterised by a strong free jazz influence, with albums containing little, if any, lyrical content, such as Hot Rats, Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo. Towards the mid-seventies his albums became more rock-orientated, with a combination of Jazz Fusion instrumentation and Rock song structures. This more accessible sound bore reasonable mainstream appeal, especially with the release of the well-advertised albums Over-Nite Sensation and Apostrophe (') (which both went Gold), but Zappa's unpredictably eclectic output never led to solid mainstream recognition. He received uniformly lukewarm reviews from popular music publications such as Rolling Stone throughout his career. In his late seventies' output, the gulf between his humorous songs and more lengthy, complex instrumental music widened, and albums, such as Zappa in New York, Joe's Garage: Acts I, II & III, and Sleep Dirt displayed, by track, both sides firmly segregated.
Zappa saw a second run of success in the early eighties with the release of many albums with predominantly comedic rock songs, but later continued to experiment with virtually every style of music through the eighties, and was productive as ever until his death. His output in this later-career period included two albums of strikingly original classical music with the London Symphony Orchestra, an electronic take on 18th-century chamber music (written by the obscure Italian composer 'Francesco Zappa', no relation), an album of Synclavier compositions (misleadingly titled Jazz From Hell which garnered a Grammy award), a double-CD release of electric guitar instrumental music (the laconically titled Guitar) and a plenitude of official live releases, revisiting fan-favourites as well as showcasing Zappa's talent for reinventing the music of others; his version of Stairway to Heaven becoming a word-of-mouth favourite.
Zappa produced almost all of his own albums, spending many hours in the studio recording and manipulating tracks, and was always at the forefront of emerging technologies; from tape editing, collage, multitrack and overdubbing in the sixties to digital recording, electronic instruments and sampling in the eighties. Conversely, Zappa was also a obsessive self-archivist, recording virtually every one of his live performances, and often using live recordings of new material without needing to enter the studio. The archive of tapes at his family home in Los Angeles continues to be a source of posthumous releases for the Zappa Family Trust. He was also noted as a spotter of talent and his shifting line-up of musicians included Lowell George, Jean-Luc Ponty, Terry Bozzio, Chad Wackerman, George Duke, Mike Keneally, Adrian Belew and Steve Vai, as well as giving Alice Cooper his first break in music and working again with his old collaborator Captain Beefheart when his career was in decline.
In the late 1980s he became active in politics, campaigning against the PMRC's music censorship scheme and acting as culture and trade representative for Czechoslovakia in 1989; and considered running as an independent candidate for president of the US.
His death in Los Angeles, California, on 4th December 1993 came three years after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
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. His output was divided between adventurous instrumental compositions and succinct, catchy rock songs with ribald, satirical, or comically absurd lyrics. On stage he demanded virtuosity and spontaneity from his musicians, and employed many performers who would later go on to achieve fame in their own rights. He directed and released a number of films featuring himself, his musicians and entourage, including 200 Motels and Baby Snakes.
His career started in 1955. His earliest recordings date from the mid-1960s, and include collaborations with his school friend Captain Beefheart. In 1965 he joined a bar-band called The Soul Giants, quickly dominating its musical direction and rechristening it The Mothers. Their first release (as The Mothers of Invention; the name alteration requested by their record company) was the 1966 double album Freak Out!. The line-up of the Mothers gradually expanded to accommodate Zappa's increasingly ambitious and avant-garde music, but by 1969 he decided to work outside the band structure, focusing on his solo career, and effectively disbanding the Mothers in 1971.
The beginnings of his solo career in the late sixties and early seventies was characterised by a strong free jazz influence, with albums containing little, if any, lyrical content, such as Hot Rats, Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo. Towards the mid-seventies his albums became more rock-orientated, with a combination of Jazz Fusion instrumentation and Rock song structures. This more accessible sound bore reasonable mainstream appeal, especially with the release of the well-advertised albums Over-Nite Sensation and Apostrophe (') (which both went Gold), but Zappa's unpredictably eclectic output never led to solid mainstream recognition. He received uniformly lukewarm reviews from popular music publications such as Rolling Stone throughout his career. In his late seventies' output, the gulf between his humorous songs and more lengthy, complex instrumental music widened, and albums, such as Zappa in New York, Joe's Garage: Acts I, II & III, and Sleep Dirt displayed, by track, both sides firmly segregated.
Zappa saw a second run of success in the early eighties with the release of many albums with predominantly comedic rock songs, but later continued to experiment with virtually every style of music through the eighties, and was productive as ever until his death. His output in this later-career period included two albums of strikingly original classical music with the London Symphony Orchestra, an electronic take on 18th-century chamber music (written by the obscure Italian composer 'Francesco Zappa', no relation), an album of Synclavier compositions (misleadingly titled Jazz From Hell which garnered a Grammy award), a double-CD release of electric guitar instrumental music (the laconically titled Guitar) and a plenitude of official live releases, revisiting fan-favourites as well as showcasing Zappa's talent for reinventing the music of others; his version of Stairway to Heaven becoming a word-of-mouth favourite.
Zappa produced almost all of his own albums, spending many hours in the studio recording and manipulating tracks, and was always at the forefront of emerging technologies; from tape editing, collage, multitrack and overdubbing in the sixties to digital recording, electronic instruments and sampling in the eighties. Conversely, Zappa was also a obsessive self-archivist, recording virtually every one of his live performances, and often using live recordings of new material without needing to enter the studio. The archive of tapes at his family home in Los Angeles continues to be a source of posthumous releases for the Zappa Family Trust. He was also noted as a spotter of talent and his shifting line-up of musicians included Lowell George, Jean-Luc Ponty, Terry Bozzio, Chad Wackerman, George Duke, Mike Keneally, Adrian Belew and Steve Vai, as well as giving Alice Cooper his first break in music and working again with his old collaborator Captain Beefheart when his career was in decline.
In the late 1980s he became active in politics, campaigning against the PMRC's music censorship scheme and acting as culture and trade representative for Czechoslovakia in 1989; and considered running as an independent candidate for president of the US.
His death in Los Angeles, California, on 4th December 1993 came three years after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The Drive Shaft
Frank Zappa Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Frank Zappa:
"A Different Octave" We are actually the same note, but But different octave Righ…
"The Pigs' Music" FZ: Tonight you guys are going to try and figure…
"There Frank zappa (guitar) Lowell george (guitar, vocals) Roy estr…
"There's No Lust In Jazz" ?: Okay, it's, uh, just about time, you guys, what…
"This Ain Frank zappa (synclavier) Ensemble modern Ich bin grad reink…
'Who Do You Think You Are' Howard: What's a girl like you Doin' in a place like this?…
01 the central scrutinizer PRELUDE Desperate nerds in high offices all over the worl…
04 Penguin In Bondage Thank you. Brian, I could use a little bit more monitor. H…
07 Don't You Ever Wash That Thing Frank Zappa (lead guitar, vocals) George Duke (keyboards, sy…
07 Yo Cats Frank zappa (guitar, synclavier) Steve vai (guitar) Johnny "…
09 Drowning Witch Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ike willis (guitar, rhythm…
09 Let's Move To Cleveland I been run down Lord, I been lied to And I don't…
09-Scrutinizer Postlude Central scrutinizer: This is the central scrutinizer . . . …
15 Yo Cats Frank zappa (guitar, synclavier) Steve vai (guitar) Johnny "…
16 The Torture Never Stops Flies all green and buzzin' In this dungeon of despair Priso…
17 Uncle Meat Ya ya ya ya ya ahhhahahhhhhhhh Ya ya ya ya ya ahhhahahhhhhhh…
200 Motel Finale Opal, you hot little bitch! They're gonna clear out the stu…
200 Motels Finale We haven't lyrics of this song. Please, add these lyrics…
200 Years Old I was sittin' in a breakfast room in Allentown, Pennsylvania…
50/50 Well, my dandruff is loose An' my breath is chartreuse I k…
74 Don't Eat The Yellow Snow Dreamed I was an Eskimo Frozen wind began to blow Under my…
9-8 Objects FZ: Strings do the ornaments of the [frame in right…
A Bunch of Adventures FZ: From the point that Jeff Simmons quit the group…
A Bunch Of Stuff Hello, boys and girls It's The Mothers' movie And we're goin…
A Different Octave Spider: We are . . . actually the same note,…
A Few Moments With Brother A. West Frank Zappa (lead guitar, synthesizer, vocals) Ike Willis (r…
A Game Of Cards Frank zappa (dialog) Motorhead sherwood (dialog) Arthur trip…
A Great Guy Howard: Well, the character I play is a great guy,…
A Little Green Rosetta (after the song ends) This is the CENTRAL SCRUTINIZER... As …
A Nun Suit Painted On Some Old Boxes Why don't you strap on this here bunch Of cardboard boxes,…
A Pound for a Brown Dick Kunc: Fade!…
A Pound for a Brown (On the Bus) Frank zappa (lead guitar) Ray white (guitar) Steve vai (guit…
A Pound For A Brown On A Bus Dick Kunc: Fade!…
A Small Eternity With Yoko Ono (Lennon, Ono) [Fillmore East, NYC Late show, June 6, 1971] …
A Token Of My Extreme L. Ron Hoover: Welcome to the First Church of Appliantology!…
A Tunnel Into Muck John: Maybe the kayak is just a big worm Monica: I…
A Typical Sound Check [includes a quote from Whole Lotta Love (Page/Plant/Jones/Bo…
A Version Of Himself Well uh i play a v-, a version of myself A-,…
A Very Nice Body Louis: Yes . . . Roy: I kind of miss him Louis:…
Aaawk Field Recordings: September, 1970-February, 1971 FZ--voice,…
Absolutely Free Suzy: I don't do publicity balling for you anymore FZ: The…
Act I Desperate nerds in high offices all over The world have been…
Act III: Watermelon In Easter This is the CENTRAL SCRUTINIZER Joe has just worked himself…
Advance Romance Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ike willis (rhythm guitar,…
Agency Man Sell us a president, agency man Smiling Big Brother, stern …
Ain't Got No Heart Ain't got no heart I ain't got no heart to give…
Alien Orifice [Basic track: Unknown location c. September 1981-July, 1982 …
All Skate %01 Dun-Dun-Dun Well, I think what we're gonna do Right now is make…
Alley Cat Captain beefheart (lead vocals) Frank zappa (guitar) Winged …
America Drinks (One, Two, Buckle my Shoe) (Do-dos, and yips yips, assorted …
America Drinks & Goes Home (Here's a special request) (Hope you enjoy it) I tired to f…
America the Beautiful O beautiful for spacious skies For amber waves of grain For …
Amnerika Monica: D-a-a-a-a-a-r-r-r-k W-a-a-a-t-e-r-r-r Spider: Yeah,…
Amnerika Goes Home (Here's a special request) (Hope you enjoy it) I tired to f…
Amnesia Vivace La-la-la-la Oh Ah-ah-ah (my darling You mean so very much to…
Ancient Armaments FZ: Awright. This is it. This is the Big One.…
Andy Frank zappa (guitar, vocals) George duke (keyboards, synthes…
Another Cheap Aroma Baby baby why you cryin' Feeling sorry what you said Put dow…
Another Variation of the Formerly Secret Carlos Santana Chord Progression [Guitar solo from City Of Tiny Lights Santa Monica Civic Aud…
Any Downers Frank Zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ike Willis (rhythm guitar,…
Any Kind Of Pain You are the girl Somebody invented In a grim little office O…
Any Way The Wind Blows Any way the wind blows is-a fine with me Any way…
Anything For you, I could do anything For your love, my heart…
Anyway The Wind Blows Any way the wind blows is-a fine with me Any way…
Apostrophe Jim gordon (drums) John guerin (drums) Aynsley dunbar (drums…
Approximate Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Napoleon murphy brock (sax…
Are You Hung Up EC: Uh . . . Uh . . . Uh…
are you upset Eddie, are you kidding? I've seen you on my TV Eddie, are…
Are You Upset? Frank Zappa (vocals) Lowell George (guitar, vocals) Roy Es…
Artificial Rhonda Frank zappa (guitar, synclavier) Steve vai (guitar) Ray whit…
At The Gas Station This here song might offend you some. If it does, it's…
Attack Louis: RAAAH! ATTACK! ATTACK! Attack and get on ee, eee,…
Audience Participation All right, this is it This is audience participation time fo…
Babbette Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Napoleon murphy brock (sax…
Babette Don't tell me no, Babbette (I mean Duke) Don't you tear my…
Baby Love Baby love, my baby love, I need you oh how…
Baby Snakes Baby Snakes Late at night is when they come out Baby Snakes …
Baby Take Your Teeth Out Ike willis (lead vocals) Bob harris (background vocals) Than…
Bacon Fat While I was down in W.D.C. Certain folks were not glad…
Baked Bean Boogie Frank Zappa (lead guitar) Lowell George (guitar, vocals) Roy…
Baked-Bean Boogie Frank Zappa (lead guitar) Lowell George (guitar, vocals) R…
Bamboozeled by love Frank Zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ike Willis (rhythm guitar,…
Band Introductions At The Fillmore West Like to introduce the band: The Pachuco over There on '37…
Basement Music #1 [FZ all synthesizers]…
Be in My Video Frank zappa (vocals) Ike willis (background vocals) Ray whit…
Be-Bop Tango Frank Zappa (lead guitar, vocals) George Duke (keyboards, s…
Beat It With Your Fist [includes part of the leather conversation] [Guitar solo fr…
Beauty Knows No Pain Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ike willis (rhythm guitar,…
Bebop Tango Some of you may know that the tango, Which Is not…
Beer Shampoo Mark: That's the kind of guy [...] Aynsley: When you just…
Be‐bop Tango Some of you may know that the tango, Which Is not…
Big Leg Emma There's a big dilemma 'Bout my Big Leg Emma, uh-huh,…
Big Swifty (Instrumental)…
Billy The Mountain Billy the mountain Billy the mountain A regular picturesque …
Black Napkins Terry bozzio (drums, background vocals) Davey moire (vocals)…
Black Page Frank zappa (lead guitar) Ike willis (guitar) Ray white (gui…
Blessed Relief Mike Altschul (woodwinds) Joel Peskin (woodwinds) Sal Marque…
Blue Suede Shoes Knock-a me down spit in my face Slander my name all…
Bobby Brown Hey there, people, I'm Bobby Brown They say I'm the cutest…
Bobby Brown Goes Down (live) (Ooh . . . ) A real hologram! (We sure do!) I mean:…
Bogus Pomp We haven't lyrics of this song. Please, add these lyrics…
Botulism On The Hoof Howard: Oh, that's really great! Botulism on the hoof! Dick…
Bow Tie Daddy Bow tie daddy dontcha blow your top Everything's under cont…
Brief Case Boogie Frank zappa (guitar, synclavier) Steve vai (guitar) Ray whit…
Bristol Stomp The kids in Bristol are sharp as a pistol When they…
Brixton Still Life [Rainbow Theater, London, England December 10, 1971]…
Brixton Still Live [Rainbow Theater, London, England December 10, 1971]…
Broken Hearts Are for Assholes Hey! Do you know what you are? You're an asshole!…
Brown Moses Frank Zappa (guitar, synclavier) Steve Vai (guitar) Ray Wh…
Brown Shoes Don Brown shoes don't make it Brown shoes don't make it Quit s…
Brown Shoes Don't Make It Brown shoes don't make it Brown shoes don't make it Quit sch…
Brown Shoes Don`t Make It Brown shoes don't make it Brown shoes don't make it Quit s…
Buffalo Drowning Witch Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ike willis (guitar, rhythm…
Buffalo Voice Buffalo voice! Ah! Buffalo voice!…
but who was fulcanelli [Guitar solo from Drowning Witch Sporthalle, Cologne, German…
But Who Was Fulcanelli? [Guitar solo from Drowning Witch Sporthalle, Cologne, Germa…
Bwana Dik Frank zappa (guitar, dialog) Mark volman (lead vocals, dialo…
Call Any Vegetable Cheesy, cheesy! (This is a song about vegetables . . .…
Camarillo Brillo She had that Camarillo brillo Flamin' out along her head, I …
Can't Afford No Shoes Heh-heh-heh Have you heard the news? (News? What news?) Can…
Canadian Customs [Guitar solo from Let's Move To Cleveland Queen Elizabeth Th…
Canard du Jour Paramount Studios, LA 1972 engineer: Kerry McNab FZ--bouzou…
Canarsie [includes a quote from the Mystery Rehearsal Piece] [basic …
Carol Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ike willis (rhythm guitar,…
Carol, You Fool Oh Carol! Oh Carol! You was a fool Carol, you fool You was …
Carolina Hard Core Ecstacy Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ike willis (guitar, vocals…
Carolina Hard-Core Ecstacy I coulda swore her hair was made of rayon She wore…
Carolina Hard-Core Ecstasy Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ike willis (guitar, vocal…
Carolina Hardcore Ecstasy I coulda swore her hair was made of rayon She wore…
Carved In the Rock Hello, folks! This thing wiggles too much Hey, that's more…
Catholic Girls (Well) Catholic Girls With a tiny little mustache Catholic G…
Centerville Centerville A real nice place to raise your kids up Centervi…
Chalk Pie [includes a quote from Heavy Duty Judy] [Guitar solo from Z…
Champagne Lecture FZ: You know, a lotsa of people don't bother about…
Chana in De Bushwop Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ike willis (rhythm guitar…
Chana In The Bushwap Chana in de Bushwop in de Bushwop Chana in de Bushwop…
Charles Ives Frank zappa (guitar) Lowell george (guitar, lead vocals) Roy…
Charlie's Enormous Mouth Frank Zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ike Willis (rhythm guitar,…
Charva Frank zappa (vocals, piano, bass, drums) Charva, I loved yo…
Cheap Thrills Darling, darling, please hear my plea God only knows what yo…
Cheepnis Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals) George duke (keyboards, sy…
Childish Perversions ?: Oh, still drinks it, man . . . what…
Chocolate Halvah Frank zappa (guitar) Lowell george (guiro, vocals) Roy estra…
Chucha Chucha why won't you accept my proposal? Don’t you know i'm…
Chunga's Revenge Frank Zappa (guitar) Ian Underwood (electric alto with wah-w…
Church Chat Frank Zappa (vocals) Ray White (guitar, vocals) Steve Vai …
City of Tiny Lights City of tiny lites Don't you wanna go Hear the tiny auto…
City Of Tiny Lites Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ray white (guitar, vocals)…
and many more tracks by Frank Zappa.
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@larrymysliwiec6301
I was introduced to The Mothers of Invention in about 1967 when I bought the Freakout LP. My first concert at age 15 was in Chicago with the Mothers opened for Cream! I specifically came to see the Mothers, and wasn't disappointed as it included all of the cool members in my mind like JC Black and Ray Collins etc...They became one of my heaviest influences (I'm a drummer and drummed with Iggy in the early 80s) and I followed Zappa's music throughout the years afterwards. In about 1972 (I believe) me and a friend took a trip out to California, and we had to find the Log Cabin. We did, thinking Zappa still lived there. Fantastic to see even though we later learned he was long gone from there.
Great series! Wish there was more.
@memoryfield
Awesome stories, Larry. Thanks for sharing! Just curious if you remember what was going on there at the old Zappa place in 1972. It hadn't burned down yet ('81) but Frank was gone by that point. Who and what was going on there at that time? I don't think it had started to go downhill yet until about '78 or '79, but maybe it was before then.
@catherinecepuder3520
Drive respectfully all ye who pass through here! This area is of significance and rich in historical detail. Love this series! Thanks Billy and Wolf River Music Television!💗🤗
@memoryfield
Ha ha. Thanks so much for watching and for your comments! Much appreciated. :)
@fjcara
Great stuff here. My uncle and aunt and cousins lived way up at the top of Lookout. One of the old legends was some guy lived in the "Houdini Mansion" AFTER it burned. Supposedly the house was still viable; no electricity or running water of course; but intact with furniture and artwork still left from way back when. I haven't thought about that wall that was along Laurel Canyon in decades!
@memoryfield
Yeah, he was a mentally unstable guy who called himself Robin Hood and legend has it that for about 10 years he did his best to actually keep what was left of the place from being completely ransacked by vandals. They finally tore the mansion down in 1970 because it had become a danger to the public.
@Genjo_N_Mojave
I cooked a Steak for Frank, his Wife and Don Van Vliet when they arrived in town here in Lancaster, in a Rolls-Royce Corniche, to shoot a cover photo for their LP Bongo Fury. Frank ordered his steak blood rare 10-seconds each side. He then watched me cook it to ensure it was to his specifications. That album cover to Bongo Fury was shot in the old Fosters Freeze ice cream parlor. I imagine they probably frequented Fosters in their days in high school together. A few years later Captain Beefheart befriended me, and I used to drive him to go drinking and listening to music.
@memoryfield
Wow that is an awesome story. Thank you for sharing it! I can only imagine how intimidating that must have been to have Frank Zappa looking over your shoulder like that while you were cooking for him. And the conversations you must have had with Capt. Beefheart must have been truly remarkable. He was an "interesting" fellow, from what I have read.
@Genjo_N_Mojave
@memoryfield
A year after the steakhouse incident, I went to work at Denny's.
The first time I saw Don in Denny's, was around 2 am when the bars closed. He carried an artist sketch pad, every time all the time, and He drew incredible eccentric pictures with a wide tip magic marker! He was kind of gruff, said very little in a deep voice, which intimidated all of the waitresses, but yet he had a very kind gentle soul. He was a bit drunk, and for some reason did not care for the hamburger I cooked for him, because he tossed the entire burger at my head but missed, and it splattered against the wall. I laughed hysterically, and turned to see see who tossed it, and Don laughed in return. I went to the counter seat where he sat, and kindly asked him if something was wrong with the burger, and would he care for something else on the house. He said no, it just didn't hit the spot, and I wasn't hungry after all. He had only taken one bite out of it. An hour later I took a break and made two hot fudge sundae's, one for myself and a complimentary one for Don. He said why did you make me this, I told you I wasn't hungry. I introduced myself and explained I was his cook when Frank and himself came into the steakhouse a year earlier, and since you guys shot the Bongo Fury album cover at Fosters Freeze ice cream parlor in town that day, then I assumed you liked ice cream. He said "don't assume anything in life". I agreed with him, and mentioned how neither You or Frank seemed very overjoyed with your ice cream on the LP cover, I may of made a bad assumption about your choice of ice cream, but I guaranteed him the Sundae I made for him was superior to Fosters, and there was not a collection of expended gum stuck under the counter or tables, and no chewed gum stuck all over the floor, like there was at Fosters. He laughed again and I made a good friend that night, and turns out he enjoyed the ice cream and thanked me, then he left. Don never said much and I never pressed him either. I knew he needed to draw and didn't try to bother him either. I told him anytime he came to Denny's during my graveyard shift, he would have a free meal waiting for him. He thanked me, and he returned almost every Friday and/or Saturday nights. A few months later he quite coming into Denny's and I ran into him again shortly after that. (**Story continues below).
The waitresses who felt intimidated gladly allowed me to wait on him and serve him too. I think because Don was a known local celebrity, eccentric didn't know how to read him, or treat him. He smoked alot too, and at first he wouldn't respond to them when they asked him if he needed more coffee. When he was entranced in his drawings they didn't understand to leave him alone, until he asked for more java.
One night I ran into him at a disco night club of all places. I sat down beside him at the bar bought him a drink, and he said- it's you again, have you been hit with a hamburger yet?
When the bar closed he asked the bartender to use the phone to call a taxi. I told him I'd be glad to give him a ride home, which I did, and I wrote my name and phone number down and gave it to him. I told him whenever he needed a ride anywhere, to call me on my days off, and I'd be his free personal taxi. He took me up on that offer quite a lot for a couple of years. He called me the cook more than he ever did by my name. The only way to stay in his grace was by reading him, by only speaking when he initiated the conversation, and most importantly to never interrupt him while he was drawing. At the same disco one of my friends had his car stolen out of the parking lot, and wound up in a fist fight. Don said- the shit people do over fucking material possessions, and shook his head.
He was truly an incredible mind, artist, musician and friend. The eye through which he saw life itself was truly unique and one of a kind.
@memoryfield
@Genjo_N_Mojave All I can say to that is.... wow. I hope others take the time to read what you wrote here. Thanks so much for sharing so much with us here. Rock on!