November 5, 2008 22:33

Frank Zappa's drummer Jimmy Carl Black dies

The Mothers Of Invention man was 70

Jimmy Carl Black, the drummer for Frank Zappa's legendary band The Mothers Of Invention, has died aged 70.

Black, who was born in Texas, died in Siegsdorf, Germany on Saturday (November 1), after a bout with lung cancer, reports the Associated Press.

In addition to playing drums, Black sang and played trumpet on several Mothers Of Invention albums.

Born James Inkanish Jr. in 1938, he changed his name to Jimmy Carl Black in 1958 when he adopted his stepfather's name. He repeatedly referred to himself as "the Indian of the group", a reference to his Cheyenne Indian ancestry on both sides of his family.

Black also did stints in bands including Captain Beefheart And The Magic Band and Geronimo Black, a group he fronted.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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