Jimmy Carl Black, original drummer of Frank Zappa’s the Mothers of Invention, died at the age of 70 in Siegsdorf, Germany. A note on Black’s official website said that “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.”
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Jimmy Carl Black, original drummer of Frank Zappa’s the Mothers of Invention, died at the age of 70 in Siegsdorf, Germany. A note on Black’s official website said that “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.”
Born James Inkanish Jr. on Feb. 1, 1938, Black had Cheyenne Indian ancestry on both sides-which he made known with his trademark line “Hi Boys and Girls, I’m Jimmy Carl Black, and I’m the Indian of the group.
Black helped found the Mothers in 1964 (they were known as The Soul Giants before recruiting Zappa) and appeared on several key albums including “Freak Out,” “Cruising with Ruben and the Jets” and “Burnt Weenie Sandwich.” He played trumpet as well as drumming on the 1968 album “We’re Only in It for the Money.”
After his Zappa days, Black led Geronimo Black (a band named for his youngest son), played with Captain Beefheart, and toured with several Zappa tribute bands, most notably the Grandmothers and Muffin Men. He also made an appearance in the 1971 Zappa art film 200 Motels. His post-Mothers musical endeavors, however, were for the most part unsuccessful.
Black is survived by his third wife, Monika, three sons and three daughters. A memorial fundraiser has been planned for Nov. 9 at the Bridgehouse II in London on Sunday night.
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