FZ chronology

1940-55

December 21, 1940	Frank Vincent Zappa is born in Baltimore, Maryland
c. 1944	Zappa family moves to Opa-Locka, Florida
c. 1946-47	Zappa family moves to Edgewood, MD
December, 1951	Zappa family moves to Monterey, California
c. 1951-52	Zappa family moves to Pacific Grove, CA
Summer 1953	Monterey, CA Keith McKillop's summer percussion school	Mice (first FZ composition)
1953	Zappa family moves to Claremont, CA
1954	Zappa family moves to El Cajon, CA FZ enters Grossmont High School, El Cajon, CA
1955	San Diego, CA The Ramblers: Elwood Jr Madeo--guitar Stuart Congdon--piano FZ--drums (and others)
April, 1955	Grossmont High School, El Cajon, CA While at ninth grade FZ wins county Fire Prevention Week poster contest
c. 1955	FZ enters Mission Bay High School, San Diego, CA
1955	Zappa family moves to Clairemont, San Diego, CA

1956-58

1956	Zappa family moves to Lancaster, CA FZ enters Antelope Valley High School
December 21, 1956	FZ talks with Varèse's wife by phone
January 1957	FZ talks with Varèse
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): Wayne Lyles--percussion & vocals Terry Wimberly--piano Ernie Thomas--trumpet Jerry Reuter--tenor sax? Johnny Franklin--tenor sax FZ--drums
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--trumpet 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
c. 1957-58	Lancaster, CA Antelope Valley High School Big Band (some of the people identified on the picture): Wayne Lyles--percussion & vocals Terry Wimberly--piano Ernie Thomas--trumpet Steve Wolfe--sax? Jerry Reuter--sax Johnny Franklin--tenor sax Carter Franklin FZ--drums
1958	William Ballard lets FZ conduct the school orchestra	String Quartet, including: A Pound For A Brown (On The Bus) Sleeping In A Jar
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

1958-60

c. October 1958	FZ enters Antelope Valley Junior College, Lancaster, CA
December 22, 1958		Waltz #1
c. December 1958-January 1959	Antelope Valley Junior College, Lancaster, CA: 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*
c. 1959-62	Lancaster, CA The Omens: Terry Wimberly--piano Alex Snouffer--lead guitar Wally Salazar--guitar Fred Salazar--trumpet or sax David Griego--trumpet Frank Lynch--trombone Stan Mitchell Pete Lovie--tenor sax Gary Burkey--alto sax Jim Sherwood--baritone sax Pat Prue--drums Don Van Vliet--vocals Sharva Maynard--vocals
1959	FZ commissioned to write the Run Home, Slow score
March, 1959	Zappa family moves to Claremont, CA
c. spring, 1960	FZ enters Chaffey Junior College, Alta Loma, CA, and spends six months 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

1961-62

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 Caronga Ward--bass Chuck Glave--drums	Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance (Never On Sunday) [64] It's From Kansas (High Steppin') [04]
May, 1961	Ontario, CA The Boogie Men: FZ--lead guitar Doug Rost--rhythm guitar Terry Kirkman--guitar Kenny Burgan--sax Al Surratt--drums
May, 1961	The Masters Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Paul Buff--piano Ronnie Williams--drums, bass FZ--lead & rhtyhm 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
c. 1961-62 (during three months)	Pomona, CA The Blackouts?: Rex Jakabowski--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?: FZ--guitar (not in the picture) (from left to right:) Jim Sherwood--baritone sax Dwight Bement--tenor sax Ronnie Williams--guitar Johnny Franklin--guitar or bass Al Surratt?--drums Alex Snouffer--guitar
c. 1961-62	Lancaster, CA The Blackouts?: FZ--guitar Ronnie Williams--guitar ?--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. 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
c. August, 1962	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Paul Buff--guitar, organ, drums, saxes Dave Aerni--bass Mike Dineri--sax FZ--comb*	Heavies (Aerni/Buff) (intro heard in Nasal Retentive Calliope Music) [03] The Cruncher (Aerni/Buff)*
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)
c. 1962	prob. Ontario, CA Ray Collins--voice Al Surratt--voice FZ--voice	Prelude To "The Purse" [75] The Purse [75] Suckit Rockit [75]
December, c. 1962	Ontario, CA Kay--voice FZ--voice	Mormon Xmas Dance Report [75]

1963

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--guitar Doug Moon--acoustic guitar	Speed-Freak Boogie [68]
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 Recording Studios, 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)
1963		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	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 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 19, 1963	The Experimental Music of Frank Zappa Mount St. Mary's College, LA FZ--conductor, zither Malcolm McNab--trumpet Peter Arcaro--trumpet, brass section conductor Philip Barnett--oboe, English horn Barry--woodwinds section conductor	Variables II for Orchestra Variables I for Any Five Instruments Opus 5, for Four Orchestras (parts on Mount St. Mary's Concert Excerpt [64]) 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 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	Joe The Puny Greaser (Puff The Magic Dragon) Streets Of Fontana (Streets Of Laredo)
c. 1963	The Troubadour Loeb & Leopold: Ray Collins--vocals FZ--guitar
c. summer 1963	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Don Van Vliet--vocals FZ--guitar Alex Snouffer--guitar? Vic Mortensen--drums?	Slippin' And Slidin' (Penniman)
c. summer 1963 or c. March, 1964	Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA Don Van Vliet--vocals FZ--guitar Alex Snouffer--guitar? Vic Mortensen--drums?	Cheryl's Canon (?) Evil (Burnett) The Grund (?) Vicious Intentions (?)
1963	Run Home, Slow (OS) Art Laboe's Original Sound Studios, LA, CA Engineered by Paul Buff FZ--guitar Chuck Foster--trumpet Ron Myers--trombone Chick Carter--flute, tenor sax, baritone sax Don Christlieb--oboe Pete Christlieb--tenor sax Chuck Domanico--bass John Guerin--drums	Run Home Slow Theme [64] [68] Run Home Cues #2 [64] Run Home Cues #3 [64] The original Duke Of Prunes [68] Right There The Little March
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)

1964

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 10, 1964	The name of the band is changed officially to Mothers (??)
1964	FZ moves to Pal Recording Studio, Cucamonga, CA
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]
c. September, 1964	FZ sets up the plot & scenery for Captain Beefheart vs. The Grunt People
c. 1964	Studio Z, Cucamonga, CA	Duodenum [04] Theme From Lumpy Gravy [85]
c. 1964	The Saints 'N Sinners, Ontario, CA The Muthers: FZ--guitar, vocals Paul Woods--bass Les Papp--drums	Power Trio from 'The Saint & 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 Alex Snouffer--guitar? Janschi--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

facts are stupid things

live performances

touring bands

studio recordings

album or single release

This project researched & developed by Román García Albertos
http://globalia.net/donlope/fz/
WARNING: This is not a complete list of FZ concerts, as only those of special significance or which are represented in FZ's official output appear in this chronology. If you're looking for an exhaustive list of FZ concerts go to Charles Ulrich's Frank Zappa Gig List, and if you're looking for the complete known setlists go to Oscar Bianco's FZShows, v. 7.1.
Here's a list of main sources & contributions
Release dates taken from Greg Russo's book Cosmik Debris (The Son of Revised Edition)
Concert dates and venues taken from Charles Ulrich's Frank Zappa Gig List
Corrections & additions welcome
This page updated: 2011-09-10