Ike Willis

Ike Willis at Zappanale 2003

Ike Willis (born November 14, 1955 ) is an American singer , guitarist and producer .

Life

Frank Zappa and Ike Willis, Buffalo, October 25, 1980

Willis studied Political Science at Washington University, St. Louis. There he met Frank Zappa at a concert in 1977 and was hired by him. In addition to his own albums such as Selected Works and his appearances with the Frank Zappa tribute band Project / Object , he is best known for his participation in more than 20 Zappa albums, such as Joe's Garage , Tinsel Town Rebellion or You Are What You Is . Willis was the narrator and main character in Thing-Fish , a Frank Zappa musical that was not designed for Broadway .

Willis works as a producer in his own company, Willis-Thomas Productions . In addition, he still performs as a musician, for example at the Zappanale in Bad Doberan .

Discography

Solo albums

• Shoulda Gone Before I Left - 1988, with Arthur Barrow , Ray White, and Jeff Hollie
• Dirty Pictures - 1998
• Selected Works - 2002

With Frank Zappa

• Joe's Garage Act 1 - 1979
• Joe's Garage Acts 2 & 3 - 1979
• Tinsel Town Rebellion - 1981
• Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar - 1981
• You Are What You Is - 1981
• Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning Witch - 1982
• The Man from Utopia - 1983
• Them or Us - 1984
• Thing-Fish - 1984
• Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention - 1985
• Does Humor Belong in Music? - 1986
• Guitar - 1988
• You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 1 - 1988
• Broadway the Hard Way - 1988
• You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 3 - 1989
• The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life - 1991
• Make a Jazz Noise Here - 1991
• You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 4 - 1991
• You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore Vol. 6 - 1992
• The Lost Episodes - 1996

With other artists

• Tonio K .: America - 1980
• Fowler Brothers: Breakfast For Dinosaurs - 1988, with Chester Thompson , Vinnie Colaiuta, and Albert Wing
• The Muffin Men: Mülm - 1994
• The Band From Utopia: A Tribute to the Music of Frank Zappa - Live Vol.1 & 2 - 1994
• Arthur Barrow: Eyebrow Razor - 1995
• The Band From Utopia: The Band From Utopia - 1995
• The Muffin Men: Feel the Food - 1996
• Terry Robb: Jelly Behind the Sun - 1997
• The Weevils: None More - 1998
• The Muffin Men: God Shave the Queen - 1999
• Project / Object: Absolutely Live - 2000
• The Grandmothers: The Eternal Question - 2001
• The Muffin Men: Baker's Dozen - 2003
• various artists: Zappanale 13 - 2003
• various artists: Zappanale 14 - 2003
• The Youngblood Brass Band: Unlearn

Web links

• Ike Willis website