Baltimore Plans Zappa Dedication & Tribute Concert
Barfies in my mailbox:
Since last month’s confirmation of the September 19th date for Baltimore City’s dedication of a bust of Frank Zappa, community support has been growing for a concert and festival in tribute to the legendary musician, composer and social icon, whose birthplace is Baltimore. The bust, donated by a Lithuanian fan club, will be placed at the Enoch Pratt Free Library Southeastern Anchor Branch in Highlandtown, and plans now include an outdoor concert featuring Zappa Plays Zappa (fronted by Frank’s son Dweezil), and various events at the library and nearby Patterson Theatre in support of the dedication ceremony.
The date itself is especially significant as September 19th is the anniversary of Zappa’s 1985 testimony on Capitol Hill in favor of free expression by Recording Artists at the Senate hearing instigated by certain congressional wives (members of the PMRC) concerning record labeling. Frank Zappa’s widow Gail commented on the remarkable coincidence, stating, “Frank’s legacy rests in his uncompromising defense of the First Amendment and his uncompromising pursuit of excellence clearly demonstrated in the standards he set in all areas of Music and the arts and sciences associated with it. He was self-taught and self-realized. It is hard to imagine how that is possible except for the 4 cornerstones he had going for him: a talent for music, a hard-core curiosity, a keen sense of humor and access to a library. He was a cheap date for History.”
July 28th, 2010 at 4:56 pm » Quote
Originally from Baltimore too (along with FZ): Mort Lebov (r.i.p.) and Chester Thompson. Since Mort is mort (dead) he won’t be attending, but maybe Chester could fly in for a guest appearance in his hometown(?)
Either way, it will still be ZPZzzzzzz as the main act.
July 28th, 2010 at 7:32 pm » Quote
i am looking forward to this event. i was turned on to this great man and the mothers of invention by a friend in 1968.
i,ve been a fan ever since.
wish frank hadn’t fired the mothers, but thats showbizz.
we are going to have a freak out!!!!!!
July 28th, 2010 at 7:34 pm » Quote
i’m going to wear my zappa t shirt !
July 28th, 2010 at 7:36 pm » Quote
is the song over?
July 30th, 2010 at 9:48 am » Quote
What’s new in Baltimore?
Finally, a little love on display for Uncle Frankie. Very nice.
I hope I can make it.
August 1st, 2010 at 2:55 am » Quote
I’m hoping to make it to this, too.
Too bad the statue can’t be placed more prominently in B’More.
August 2nd, 2010 at 11:16 pm » Quote
Another good occasion to shower beforehand. Hope to meet some other Zappateers.
August 5th, 2010 at 10:59 pm » Quote
I can’t wait. Frank Zappa was THE greatest American composer ever!
August 27th, 2010 at 2:48 am » Quote
IMHO…best composer period. ever.
If only because he dealt with a whole other realm of
creativity because of technology. Maybe Ravel or Webern
would have done it with the same advancements
available to them. But they didn’t.
We were lucky to have Frank.
Google him at least once a day.
Really! Do it.