Frank Zappa was one of the most innovative and versatile rock musicians of his generation, creating a vast body of work that encompassed almost every genre of music – but he wouldn't have wanted to hear it.
Retro Blast: Frank Zappa's Cause Of Death
The mercurial genius actively resisted those kinds of labels and effusive public praise, focusing instead on the work itself in a career that spanned more than three decades. He died on Dec. 4, 1993 at the age of 52 after a long battle. Born on Dec. 21, 1940, Zappa first came to widespread public attention in 1966, the year his first album with the Mothers of Invention was released.