Frank Zappa (Dec. 21, 1940 — Dec. 4, 1993) was an American musician, composer, guitarist, and satirist. His work was intentionally shocking and politically charged. In the early days, he performed with the Mothers of Invention and released his first album, Freak Out! in 1966. In total, he recorded more than 60 albums during his 30-year career. Two years after his death, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.