While Jimi Hendrix was arguably the most talented guitar player ever, Zappa was probably the most sophisticated and imaginative composer of the 1960s rock scene.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Zappa grew up in California. Zappa first started playing drums, and his heightened percussive and rhythmic sense can be heard woven throughout his career. He joined a band called the Soul Giants in 1964. The following year they transformed themselves into the Mothers of Invention, and in 1966 they released their first album, Freak Out. The album introduced the intense and emotional world of rock-and-roll to Zappa's sardonic humor, penchant for creating pastiches of popular styles, and avant-garde musical experimentation.

From the start, Zappa tried to expand the musical language of rock by folding in modern classical and jazz-influenced harmony, odd time signatures, exotic instruments, and studio techniques like editing, overdubbing, and tape manipulation. He developed a way of playing the guitar in long, directional solos with effects, expanding organically with his rhythmic and melodic ideas. Zappa created highly innovative material that has both quality and depth.