Donald Ward Preston is an American jazz and rock keyboardist. He is best known for being a member of the original version of Frank Zappa's band The Mothers of Invention during the late 1960s. He continued to work with Zappa during the early 1970s following the band's spilt.
Don Preston performing with Frank Zappa tribute band Project/Object in 2009.
Don Preston (back row, right) with Frank Zappa & The Mothers (1968)
Don Preston 2009
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American musician, composer, and bandleader. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa composed rock, pop, jazz, jazz fusion, orchestral and musique concrète works; he also produced almost all of the 60-plus albums that he released with his band the Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist. His work is characterized by nonconformity, improvisation sound experimentation, musical virtuosity and satire of American culture. Zappa also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed album covers. He is considered one of the most innovative and stylistically diverse musicians of his generation.
Zappa performing at Ekeberghallen in Oslo, Norway, in 1977
Zappa with the Mothers of Invention, Theatre de Clichy, Paris, 1971
Frank Zappa, 1970
Frank Zappa in Paris, early 1970s