Jimmy Carl Black: 1938-2008

Jimmy Carl Black, original drummer for Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, passed away Saturday of lung cancer. He was 70.

Black was the Mothers' self-proclaimed "Indian of the group" (referring to his Cheyenne heritage). He joined the band in 1964, and played on the 1966 debut album Freak Out! He was famous for donning a dress on the cover art of the 1968's We're Only In It For The Money (pictured above), then bowed out when Zappa imposed a disbandment of the Mothers' original line-up, in 1969.

Post-Zappa, Black fronted Geronimo Black (named for his youngest son), he played with Captain Beefheart, and toured with several Zappa tribute bands, namely the Grandmothers and Muffin Men. He also made an appearance in the 1971 Zappa art film 200 Motels, where he sang "Lonesome Cowboy Burt."

The main page of JimmyCarlBlack.com presents only a shadowy image of the musician and the following message: "Jimmy passed away peacefully last night Saturday 11/01/08 at 11:00 o'clock pm. Jimmy says hi to everybody and he doesn't want anybody to be sad." For more information, read this charming (auto)biography, written in the third person but often lapsing into first, with statements like, "He is proud to have met and jammed with those people... We had the great pleasure to play with some of the greatest musicians of the era."

A benefit will be held for Black Nov. 9 at the Bridgehouse II in London. 

Related links:
JimmyCarlBlack.com
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