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{{short description|American vocalist and guitarist (born 1955)}}
{{BLP sources|date=July 2011}}
{{BLP sources|date=July 2011}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name = Ike Willis
| name = Ike Willis
| image = Pojama People - 2015-12-11 at Darrell's - 005 (23713732596).jpg
| image = Pojama People - 2015-12-11 at Darrell's - 005 (23713732596).jpg
| caption = Willis performing in 2015
| caption = Willis performing in 2015
| landscape = Yes
| background = solo_singer
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Isaac Willis
| birth_name = Isaac Willis
| alias = Stucco Homes
| alias = Stucco Homes
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|11|12|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], U.S.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|11|12|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], U.S.
| origin =
| origin =
| instrument = [[Singing|Vocals]], [[guitar]]
⚫
| genre = [[Progressive rock]], [[classic rock]], [[alternative rock]], [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]
| instrument = [[Singing|Vocals]], [[guitar]]
| occupation = [[Musician]]
⚫
| genre = [[Progressive rock]], [[classic rock]], [[alternative rock]], [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]
| occupation = [[Musician]]
| years_active = 1978–present
⚫
| label = [[Zappa Records]], [[Barking Pumpkin Records]], [[Reprise Records]]
| years_active = 1978–present
⚫
| associated_acts = [[Frank Zappa]], Bogus Pomp,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://projectobject.com|title=Project/Object|website=Projectobject.com|access-date=9 December 2016}}</ref> Ugly Radio Rebellion, Ossi Duri, Elio e le storie tese
⚫
| label = [[Zappa Records]], [[Barking Pumpkin Records]], [[Reprise Records]]
⚫
| website = [http://www.ikewillis.com IkeWillis.com]
⚫
| associated_acts = [[Frank Zappa]], Bogus Pomp,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://projectobject.com|title=Project/Object|accessdate=9 December 2016}}</ref> Ugly Radio Rebellion, Ossi Duri, Elio e le storie tese
⚫
| website = [http://www.ikewillis.com IkeWillis.com]
}}
}}


'''Isaac Willis''' (born November 12<!-- According to his Facebook page, Ike Willis' date of birth is November 12th not the 14th. -->, 1955) is an American vocalist and [[guitar]]ist who was a regular member of [[Frank Zappa]]'s studio and touring bands from 1978 until the last tour in 1988.<ref>{{cite news|author= Minnen, Jess|title=Mother of Reinvention|date=2003-03-12|url=http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2003-03-12/music/mother-of-reinvention/|accessdate=2011-01-25}}</ref> He did not tour with Zappa in 1981 and 1982 because he wanted to be home for the birth of his two children, but returned to touring with Zappa for his final two tours in 1984 (which Zappa intended at the time to be his final tour) and 1988. He currently tours with the Frank Zappa [[Tribute act|tribute bands]] Bogus Pomp, Ossi Duri, Project/Object, Pojama People, Ugly Radio Rebellion and ZAPPATiKA. He also performed several times with the [[Brazil]]ian Zappa [[cover song|cover band]], The Central Scrutinizer Band, [[The Muffin Men]], and with the Italian bands [[:it:Ossi Duri|Ossi Duri]] and [[Elio e le Storie Tese]] . Additionally, he has appeared multiple times at the annual Zappanale Festival in Bad Doberan, Germany. He is most recognized for his involvement in Zappa records such as playing Joe in ''[[Joe's Garage]]'', providing vocals on ''[[Tinsel Town Rebellion]]'', ''[[You Are What You Is]]'', and ''[[The Man from Utopia]]'', and as the title character and narrator in Zappa's off-Broadway-styled conceptual musical ''[[Thing-Fish]]''.
'''Isaac Willis''' (born November 12, 1955) is an American vocalist and [[guitar]]ist who was a regular member of [[Frank Zappa]]'s studio and touring bands from 1978 until the last tour in 1988.<ref>{{cite news|author=Minnen, Jess|title=Mother of Reinvention|date=2003-03-12|url=http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2003-03-12/music/mother-of-reinvention/|access-date=2011-01-25|archive-date=2015-04-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430064020/http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2003-03-12/music/mother-of-reinvention/|url-status=dead}}</ref> He did not tour with Zappa in 1981 and 1982 because he wanted to be at home for the birth of his two children, and returned to touring with Zappa for his final two tours in 1984 (which Zappa intended at the time to be his final tour) and 1988. He currently tours with the Frank Zappa [[Tribute act|tribute bands]] Bogus Pomp, Ossi Duri, Project/Object, Pojama People, Ugly Radio Rebellion and ZAPPATiKA. He also performed several times with the [[Brazil]]ian Zappa [[cover song|cover band]], The Central Scrutinizer Band, [[The Muffin Men]], and with the Italian bands [[:it:Ossi Duri|Ossi Duri]] and [[Elio e le Storie Tese]] . Additionally, he has appeared multiple times at the annual Zappanale Festival in Bad Doberan, Germany. He is most recognized for his involvement in Zappa records such as playing Joe in ''[[Joe's Garage]]'', providing vocals on ''[[Tinsel Town Rebellion]]'', ''[[You Are What You Is]]'', and ''[[The Man from Utopia]]'', and as the title character and narrator in Zappa's off-Broadway-styled conceptual musical ''[[Thing-Fish]]''.


Willis also regularly does studio voice work and writes compositions for films. He also creates solo music and leads The Ike Willis Band. He has released two solo studio albums under his own name and is working on another album.
Willis also regularly does studio voice work and writes compositions for films. He also creates solo music and leads The Ike Willis Band. He has released two solo studio albums under his own name and is working on another album.

He revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2021, which has spread to other parts of his body.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/dr-dot/frank-zappas-ike-willis-his-BkONTGtFPWp/|title=Frank Zappa’s Ike Willis & his wife Denise - Dr. Dot (podcast)|date=Jun 15, 2023|website=Listennotes.com|access-date=November 13, 2024}}</ref>


==Years with Frank Zappa==
==Years with Frank Zappa==
[[File:Ike Willis.jpg|left|thumb|Willis and Zappa in 1980]]
[[File:Ike Willis.jpg|left|thumb|Willis and Zappa in 1980]]
⚫
Willis met Zappa during a 1977 concert at his school, [[Washington University in St. Louis]], his hometown. "Black Napkins," a track from the 1976 album ''[[Zoot Allures]]'', was one of the first Zappa songs that made a deep impression on the singer.
⚫
The triple LP Joe's Garage featured lead singer Ike Willis as the voice of the character "Joe" in a rock opera about the danger of political systems, and the suppression of freedom of speech and music - inspired in part by the [[Iranian revolution]] that had made music illegal within its jurisdiction at the time - and about the "strange relationship Americans have with sex and sexual frankness". The album contains rock songs like "Catholic Girls" (a riposte to the controversies of "Jewish Princess"), "Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up", and the title track, as well as extended live-recorded guitar improvisations combined with a studio backup band dominated by drummer [[Vinnie Colaiuta]] (with whom Zappa had a particularly good musical rapport). On some of the tracks Zappa superimposes material recorded in different time signatures, a process he termed xenochrony. The album contains one of Zappa's signature guitar pieces, "Watermelon in Easter Hay".

⚫
• “Black Napkins,” a track from the 1976 album “Zoot Allures,” was one of the first Zappa songs that made a deep impression on him.


⚫
The triple album ''[[Joe's Garage]]'' featured lead singer Ike Willis as the voice of the character "Joe" in a [[rock opera]] about the danger of political systems, and the suppression of freedom of speech and music - inspired in part by the [[Iranian Revolution]] that had made music illegal within its jurisdiction at the time - and about the "strange relationship Americans have with sex and sexual frankness". The album contains rock songs like "[[Joe's Garage|Catholic Girls]]" (a riposte to the controversies of "[[Jewish Princess (song)|Jewish Princess]]"), "Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up", and the title track, as well as extended live-recorded guitar improvisations combined with a studio backup band dominated by drummer [[Vinnie Colaiuta]] (with whom Zappa had a particularly good musical rapport). On some of the tracks Zappa superimposes material recorded in different time signatures, a process he termed xenochrony. The album contains one of Zappa's signature guitar pieces, "[[Watermelon in Easter Hay]]".
• He met Zappa during a 1977 concert at his school, [[Washington University]], in [[St. Louis]], his hometown.


• He deeply regrets that Zappa died before he was able to include him in a band that would also have toured in 1996, the 25th anniversary of the release of Zappa's surrealistic musical pseudo-documentary “[[200 Motels]]". The band was also to have included [[Flo & Eddie]] and [[George Duke]].
Willis deeply regrets that Zappa died before he was able to include him in a band that would also have toured in 1996, the 25th anniversary of the release of Zappa's surrealistic musical pseudo-documentary ''[[200 Motels]]''. The band was also to have included [[Flo & Eddie]] and [[George Duke]].{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}


==Discography==
==Discography==
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|[[Terry Robb]] with Ike Willis, ''Jelly Behind the Sun''
|[[Terry Robb]] with Ike Willis, ''Jelly Behind the Sun''
|House Records, H1003
|House Records, H1003
|-
|}

===Ike Willis Band===
{|class="wikitable"
!Year
!Album
!Label
|-
|1987
|Should'a Gone Before I Left
|JDC Records
|-
|-
|}
|}
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==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.ikewillis.com Ike Willis Website]
* [http://www.ikewillis.com Ike Willis Website]
*[http://rankhank.com Ike Willis Management]
* [http://rankhank.com Ike Willis Management]
*{{AllMusic | id= mn0000070883 | title= Ike Willis}}
* {{discogs artist}}
* {{IMDb name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:African-American musicians]]
[[Category:African-American rock musicians]]
[[Category:American rock guitarists]]
[[Category:American rock guitarists]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:American male singers]]
[[Category:Musicians from St. Louis County, Missouri]]
[[Category:Frank Zappa]]
[[Category:People from St. Louis County, Missouri]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:African-American guitarists]]
[[Category:20th-century American male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American musicians]]

Latest revision as of 17:02, 13 November 2024

Ike Willis
Willis performing in 2015
Willis performing in 2015
Background information
Birth nameIsaac Willis
Also known asStucco Homes
Born (1955-11-12) November 12, 1955 (age 69)
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
GenresProgressive rock, classic rock, alternative rock, R&B
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1978–present
LabelsZappa Records, Barking Pumpkin Records, Reprise Records
WebsiteIkeWillis.com

Isaac Willis (born November 12, 1955) is an American vocalist and guitarist who was a regular member of Frank Zappa's studio and touring bands from 1978 until the last tour in 1988.[2] He did not tour with Zappa in 1981 and 1982 because he wanted to be at home for the birth of his two children, and returned to touring with Zappa for his final two tours in 1984 (which Zappa intended at the time to be his final tour) and 1988. He currently tours with the Frank Zappa tribute bands Bogus Pomp, Ossi Duri, Project/Object, Pojama People, Ugly Radio Rebellion and ZAPPATiKA. He also performed several times with the Brazilian Zappa cover band, The Central Scrutinizer Band, The Muffin Men, and with the Italian bands Ossi Duri and Elio e le Storie Tese . Additionally, he has appeared multiple times at the annual Zappanale Festival in Bad Doberan, Germany. He is most recognized for his involvement in Zappa records such as playing Joe in Joe's Garage, providing vocals on Tinsel Town Rebellion, You Are What You Is, and The Man from Utopia, and as the title character and narrator in Zappa's off-Broadway-styled conceptual musical Thing-Fish.

Willis also regularly does studio voice work and writes compositions for films. He also creates solo music and leads The Ike Willis Band. He has released two solo studio albums under his own name and is working on another album.

He revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2021, which has spread to other parts of his body.[3]

Years with Frank Zappa

[edit]
Willis and Zappa in 1980

Willis met Zappa during a 1977 concert at his school, Washington University in St. Louis, his hometown. "Black Napkins," a track from the 1976 album Zoot Allures, was one of the first Zappa songs that made a deep impression on the singer.

The triple album Joe's Garage featured lead singer Ike Willis as the voice of the character "Joe" in a rock opera about the danger of political systems, and the suppression of freedom of speech and music - inspired in part by the Iranian Revolution that had made music illegal within its jurisdiction at the time - and about the "strange relationship Americans have with sex and sexual frankness". The album contains rock songs like "Catholic Girls" (a riposte to the controversies of "Jewish Princess"), "Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up", and the title track, as well as extended live-recorded guitar improvisations combined with a studio backup band dominated by drummer Vinnie Colaiuta (with whom Zappa had a particularly good musical rapport). On some of the tracks Zappa superimposes material recorded in different time signatures, a process he termed xenochrony. The album contains one of Zappa's signature guitar pieces, "Watermelon in Easter Hay".

Willis deeply regrets that Zappa died before he was able to include him in a band that would also have toured in 1996, the 25th anniversary of the release of Zappa's surrealistic musical pseudo-documentary 200 Motels. The band was also to have included Flo & Eddie and George Duke.[citation needed]

Discography

[edit]

With Frank Zappa

[edit]
Year Album Label
1979 Joe's Garage Act I Zappa Records
1979 Joe's Garage Acts II & III Zappa Records
1981 Tinseltown Rebellion Barking Pumpkin Records
1981 Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Barking Pumpkin Records
1981 Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Some More Barking Pumpkin Records
1981 Return of the Son of Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar Barking Pumpkin Records
1981 You Are What You Is Barking Pumpkin Records
1982 Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch Barking Pumpkin Records
1983 The Man from Utopia Barking Pumpkin Records
1984 Them or Us Barking Pumpkin Records
1984 Thing-Fish Barking Pumpkin Records
1985 Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention Barking Pumpkin Records
1986 Does Humor Belong in Music? EMI
1988 Guitar Barking Pumpkin Records
1988 You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1 Rykodisc
1988 Broadway the Hard Way Barking Pumpkin Records
1989 You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3 Rykodisc
1991 The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life Barking Pumpkin Records
1991 Make a Jazz Noise Here Barking Pumpkin Records
1991 You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4 Rykodisc
1992 You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 Rykodisc

Other artists

[edit]
Year Album Label
1990 Terry Robb with Ike Willis, Jelly Behind the Sun House Records, H1003

Ike Willis Band

[edit]
Year Album Label
1987 Should'a Gone Before I Left JDC Records

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Project/Object". Projectobject.com. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  2. ^ Minnen, Jess (2003-03-12). "Mother of Reinvention". Archived from the original on 2015-04-30. Retrieved 2011-01-25.
  3. ^ "Frank Zappa's Ike Willis & his wife Denise - Dr. Dot (podcast)". Listennotes.com. Jun 15, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
[edit]
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