Zappa's musician friends an colleagues

Throughout his career Frank Zapper worked with a diverse and ever changing crew of Bantams
going from Captain Beefheart to Pierre Boulez. And they all say that it was an inspiration to work with the man himself and that he's sense of direction and genius made them all better musicians. Anyway here's a list of musicians: Check Out Mattmir's Yellow Shark Page it kick's ass, It is from him that I got most of this information but I added quite a lot.

The Soul Giants: 1964

              Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
              Ray Collins: Vocals
              Roy Estrada: Bass, Vocals
              Jimmy Carl Black: Drums
              Dave Coronado: Sax

The Mothers of Invention: 1964-1965

              Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
              Ray Collins: Vocals
              Roy Estrada: Bass, Vocals
              Jimmy Carl Black: Drums

The Mothers of Invention: Nov. 1966-Aug. 1967

              Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
              Ray Collins: Vocals
              Roy Estrada: Bass, Vocals
              Jimmy Carl Black: Trumpet, Drums, Vocals
              Billy Mundi: Drums
              Don Preston: Keyboards, Mini-Moog
              Bunk Gardner: Wind Instruments

The Mothers of Invention: Aug. 1967-Dec. 1967
European Tour

              Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
              Ian Underwood: Wind Instruments, Keyboards
              Ray Collins: Vocals
              Roy Estrada: Bass, Vocals
              Jim "Motorhead" Sherwood: Saxophone
              Jimmy Carl Black: Trumpet, Drums, Vocals
              Billy Mundi: Drums
              Don Preston: Keyboards, Mini-Moog
              Bunk Gardner: Wind Instruments
              Pamela Zarubica: Suzy Creamcheese

The Mothers of Invention: Dec. 1967-Spring 1969

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Ian Underwood: Wind Instruments, Keyboards
       Roy Estrada: Bass, Vocals
       Jim "Motorhead" Sherwood: Saxophone
       Jimmy Carl Black: Trumpet, Drums, Vocals
       Arthur Tripp III-Percussion
       Don Preston: Keyboards, Mini-Moog
       Bunk Gardner: Wind Instruments

The Mothers of Invention: Spring 1969 Tour

Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: Aug. 1969-Mar. 1970
The "Hot Rats" Band

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Ian Underwood: Alto Saxophone
       Max Bennett: Bass
       Don "Sugarcane" Harris: Violin, Keyboards, Vocals
       Aynsley Dunbar: Drums

Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: Apr. 1970-May 1970

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Ray Collins: Vocals
       Jeff Simmons: Bass
       George Duke: Keyboards
       Aynsley Dunbar: Drums
       Billy Mundi: Drums

Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: May 15, 1970
Los Angeles Pauley Pavilion

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Ray Collins: Vocals
       Jeff Simmons: Bass, Vocals
       Aynsley Dunbar: Drums
       Billy Mundi: Drums
       Ian Underwood: Flute, Saxophone
       Jim "Motorhead" Sherwood: Saxophone
       Don Preston: Keyboards
       Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra: Conducted by Zubin Mehta

Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: Jun. 1970-Feb. 1971

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Mark Volman: Vocals
       Howard Kaylan: Vocals
       Jeff Simmons: Bass, Vocals
       George Duke: Keyboards
       Aynsley Dunbar: Drums
       Ian Underwood: Flute, Saxophone

Frank Zappa and The Mothers: May 1971-Dec. 1971

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Mark Volman: Vocals
       Howard Kaylan: Vocals
       Jim Pons: Bass
       Bob Harris: Keyboards (U.S. Tour)
       Aynsley Dunbar: Drums
       Ian Underwood: Keyboards, Wind Instruments
       Don Preston: Mini-Moog

Frank Zappa, The Mothers and The Grand Wazoo Orchestra: Sep. 1972

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Dave Parlato: Bass
       Jim Gordon: Drums
       Ian Underwood: Woodwinds, Piano
       Malcolm McNabb: Trumpet
       Sal Marquez: Horns
       Tom Malone: Trumpet, Brass
       Bruce Fowler: Trumpet
       Glenn Ferris: Trumpet
       Kenny Shoyer: Trumpet, Horns
       Jay Migliori: Flute, Saxophone
       Mike Altshul: Flute, Saxophone
       Ray Reed: Saxophone, Clarinet
       Charles Owens: Saxophone
       Joanne McNabb: Bassoon
       Earl Durnler: Oboe, Double Bass
       Jerry Kessler: Electric Piano
       Tony Duran: Guitar
       Tom Raney: Percussion
       Ruth Underwood: Percussion

Frank Zappa and The Petit Wazoo Orchestra: Oct. 1972-Dec. 1972

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Dave Parlato: Bass
       Jim Gordon: Drums
       Malcolm McNabb: Tuba, Horns
       Tom Malone: Trumpet, Brass
       Bruce Fowler: Trombone
       Glenn Ferris: Trombone, Horns
       Gary Barone: Trumpet
       Earl Durnler: Oboe, Double Bass
       Tony Duran: Slide Guitar

The Mothers of Invention: Jan. 1973-Dec. 1973

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Jean-Luc Ponty: Violin
       George Duke: Keyboards, Violin
       Ian Underwood: Saxophone, Woodwinds
       Ruth Underwood: Percussion
       Tom Fowler: Bass
       Ralph Humphrey: Drums
       Bruce Fowler: Trombone
       Sal Marquez: Trumpet (Feb-July)

Zappa/Mothers: Dec. 7-12, 1973
The "Roxy & Elsewhere" Shows

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       George Duke: Keyboards, Violin
       Ruth Underwood: Percussion
       Don Preston: Moog (On some dates)
       Jeff Simmons: Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
       Tom Fowler: Bass
       Walt Fowler: Trumpet
       Bruce Fowler: Trombone
       Napoleon Murphey Brock: Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Lead Vocals
       Ralph Humphrey: Drums

Frank Zappa and The Mothers: Sep. 1974-Mar. 1975

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       George Duke: Keyboards
       Ruth Underwood: Percussion
       Tom Fowler: Bass
       Napoleon Murphey Brock: Saxophone, Vocals
       Chester Thompson: Drums

Frank Zappa and The Mothers: Apr. 1975-May 1975
"Bongo Fury" Tour

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Don Van Vliet "Captain Beefheart": Harmonica, Vocals
       George Duke: Keyboards
       Denny Walley: Guitar, Vocals
       Tom Fowler: Bass
       Napoleon Murphey Brock: Saxophone, Vocals
       Terry Bozzio: Drums
       Chester Thompson: Drums (Beginning of tour)

Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: Sep. 1975-Mar. 1976

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Napoleon Murphey Brock: Saxophone, Vocals
       Andre Lewis: Keyboards
       Roy Estrada: Bass, Vocals
       Terry Bozzio: Drums

Frank Zappa: Oct. 1976-Mar. 1977

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Ray White: Guitar, Vocals
       Eddie Jobson: Violin, Keyboards
       Patrick O'Hearn: Bass
       Terry Bozzio: Drums
       Bianca: Keyboards, Vocals (Some Dates)

Frank Zappa: Oct. 1977-Apr. 1978
Sheik Yerbouti Tour, Baby Snakes video

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Adrian Belew: Guitar, Vocals (Joined Talking Heads then King Crimson)
       Tommy Mars: Keyboards
       Patrick O'Hearn: Bass
       Terry Bozzio: Drums
       Peter Wolf: Keyboards
       Ed Mann: Percussion
       Roy Estrada: Vocals (Some U.S. Dates)

Frank Zappa: Fall 1978
United States Tour

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Denny Walley: Guitar, Vocals
       Tommy Mars: Keyboards, Vocals
       Arthur Barrow: Bass, Vocals
       Patrick O'Hearn: Bass (Some Dates)
       Peter Wolf: Keyboards
       Vinnie Colaiuta: Drums

Frank Zappa: 1979
European Tour

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Denny Walley: Guitar
       Ike Willis: Guitar, Vocals
       Tommy Mars: Keyboards, Vocals
       Arthur Barrow: Bass
       Peter Wolf: Keyboards
       Vinnie Colaiuta: Drums
       Ed Mann: Percussion
       Warren Cucurullo: Guitar (Joined Duran Duran)

Frank Zappa: Feb. 1980-Aug. 1980
United States, Canada and European Tour

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Ike Willis: Guitar, Vocals
       Ray White: Guitar, Vocals
       Tommy Mars: Keyboards
       Arthur Barrow: Bass
       David Logeman: Drums

Frank Zappa: July. 1980-Dec. 1980
Fall United States and Canada Tour

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Ike Willis: Guitar, Vocals
       Ray White: Guitar, Vocals
       Tommy Mars: Keyboards
       Arthur Barrow: Bass
       Vinnie Colaiuta: Drums, Vocals
       Bob Harris: Keyboards, Vocals
       Steve Vai: Guitar, Vocals

Frank Zappa: Autumn 1981-Spring 1982

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Steve Vai: Guitar, Vocals (Joined Alcatraz replacing Yngwie Malmsteen)
       Tommy Mars: Keyboards
       Ray White: Guitar, Vocals
       Ed Mann: Percussion
       Bobby Martin: Keyboards, Saxophone, Vocals
       Scott Thunes: Bass
       Chad Wackerman: Drums
       Lisa Popeil: Soprano Vocals (Some Dates)

Frank Zappa: Jun. 1984-Dec. 1984
United States and Canada Tour

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Ike Willis: Guitar, Vocals
       Ray White: Guitar, Vocals
       Alan Zevod: Keyboards
       Bobby Martin: Keyboards, Vocals
       Scott Thunes: Bass
       Chad Wackerman: Drums
       Napolean Murphey Brock: Saxophone, Vocals (First week of tour)

Frank Zappa: Jan. 1988-May 1988
"Broadway The Hard Way" Tour

       Frank Zappa: Guitar, Vocals
       Scott Thunes: Bass
       Chad Wackerman: Drums
       Bobby Martin: Keyboards, Vocals
       Ike Willis: Guitar, Vocals
       Ed Mann: Percussion, Vocals
       Mike Keneally: Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
       Bruce Fowler: Trumpet
       Walt Fowler: Trumpet, Flugalhorn, Synthesizer
       Albert Wing: Tenor Saxophone, Flute
       Paul Carmen: Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Flute
       Kurt McGettrick: Baritone Saxophone, Bass Saxophone, Clarinet