BY: DIGITAL WAX MEDIA STAFF

 

Jimmy Carl Black was an American drummer and original member of Frank Zappa’s ensemble, The Mothers, also known as the Mothers of Invention. Born on February 1, 1938, the musician would have celebrated his 87th birthday on Saturday.

 

In the autobiographical text, The Real Frank Zappa Book, Zappa details the early days of The Mothers – initially known The Soul Giants. The iconoclastic musician compared Black favorably to an unnamed drummer for blues legend Jimmy Reed’s recording sessions. This could have referred to Albert King, Vernel Fournier, or Earl Phillips. He also noted an interest in beer expressed by the drummer which Zappa characterized as “unnatural.”

 

 

Along with his loose drumming style, Jimmy Carl Black was known for a catchphrase of sorts he would utter on various Mothers of Invention recordings, declaring himself to be “the Indian of the group.”

 

Black would contribute to seven Mothers of Invention projects between 1966 and 1970, including the group’s highly influential double LP Freak Out!, the first project by the group. Additional material from this period would be included as part of later releases from Zappa, including 1993’s Ahead of their Time.

 

By 1970, the “original” Mothers of Invention was no more. Zappa scrapped most of the lineup and rebuilt the ensemble around the remaining Ian Underwood, drummer Ainsley Dunbar, and former Turtles Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan, otherwise known as Flo & Eddie.

 

Jimmy Carl Black would start his own group in the 1970s, Geronimo Black, and would work with Zappa sporadically for various projects and performances. These included  performance in Zappa’s debut major film project, 200 Motels, which also features the likes of Keith Moon, Theodore Bikel, and Ringo Starr.

 

Black’s performance in the film and accompanying soundtrack saw him assume the persona of Lonesome Cowboy Burt and sing a trademark song of the same name. Black would again draw on his Texas roots for a Zappa contribution in 1981, taking lead vocals on the song “Harder Than Your Husband” for the Zappa solo offering, You Are What You Is.

 

Beginning in the 1980s, Black would embark upon a solo career which would lead to the issuing of nearly two-dozen albums under his own name, though none of these projects would achieve notable commercial success. He would also perform as part of multiple Zappa-adjacent projects, including The Grandmothers, following his departure from The Mothers. In the 2000s, Black would be indicted as a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Mothers of Invention.

 

Jimmy Carl Black would pass away in Germany in 2008 as a result of lung cancer. According to the artist’s official website, Black passed away peacefully.

 

In the years following his passing at the age of 70, a number of biographical material was released documenting Black’s life and career in music. These include Black’s memoirs, released by his wife in 2013 and titled, For Mother’s Sake. A documentary-style project on Black was also released following his death and was titled, Where’s the Beer and When Do We Get Paid? Both of these projects were released in 2013.

 

More on Jimmy Carl Black can be found at the Jimmy Carl Black website.