Zappa Festival Adds Another Zappa Alum

Bad Doberan, Germany – June 2007 Organizers of the Zappanale, the annual festival devoted to the late Frank Zappa, have announced that band alumnus Napoleon Murphy Brock will appear at this summer’s 18th annual gathering. Thomas Dippel, president of Arf-Society, the German not-for-profit organization behind the festival, said, “Napoleon Murphy Brock joining us is just one more reason why the Zappanale will be the world’s premiere Zappa experience this summer. Fans will be able to see four Zappa alumni who have their own musical ventures and also choose to honor Frank’s legacy with their presence.” This year’s festival headliner is renowned former Zappa drummer Chad Wackerman. Former Mother of Invention Don Preston will appear with his Akashic Ensemble, and long-time Zappa front-man Ike Willis will perform with his protégés Project/Object.

Napoleon Murphy Brock began his musical career at 5 years old, singing in his church’s gospel choir. He started playing saxophone in high school, and was in every band and choir at his school. Frank Zappa discovered the talented musician in a Hawaiian nightclub, leading a top-40 cover band. Napoleon Murphy Brock impressed Zappa with his vocal abilities, musicianship, and stage presence, and Zappa invited him to join his band that night. Napoleon Murphy Brock insisted on honoring his band’s commitment to the nightclub, but eventually joined Zappa, bringing his skills and style on vocals, saxophone, flute and keyboards. He starting touring with Zappa in 1972, and appears on the albums Apostrophe ('), Roxy & Elsewhere, One Size Fits All, Bongo Fury, Zoot Allures, Sleep Dirt, Sheik Yerbouti, Them Or Us, Thing-Fish, and more.

After Zappa’s death, Napoleon Murphy Brock promoted Zappa’s musical legacy, performing with Zappa tribute bands Bogus Pomp, Project/Object, the Grand Mothers of Re:Invention, Ed Palermo’s Big Band, the Paul Green School of Rock All-Stars, Zappa Plays Zappa, and others. He has also played and recorded with fellow Zappa alum George Duke, with his own band the Nighthawks, and performed with the San Francisco Opera. In 2003, he released his solo album "Balls".

Napoleon Murphy Brock will also attend the historic dedication of “Frank Zappa Strasse” in Berlin July 28, the week before Zappanale. Scott Tepper of Vacation Vibrations is running a Zappa-themed tour to the street-naming and the Zappanale, and comments, “Zappa fans also love the musicians who were in Frank’s bands and who honor Frank’s memory. They support their musical explorations, and honor them as living connections to the grand Zappa ‘conceptual continuity’. Seeing Napoleon Murphy Brock at the street naming, and experiencing him, Chad Wackerman, Don Preston, and Ike Willis at the Zappanale will be a treat that Zappa fans will always remember.”