Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American musician, songwriter, composer, record producer, actor and filmmaker. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa composed rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works, and produced almost all of the more than 60 albums he released with the band the Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed album covers.