Jimmy Carl Black | Zappa drummer, 70

Jimmy Carl Black, 70, who went from drummer in Frank Zappa's avant-garde Mothers of Invention to doughnut-shop worker and housepainter, has died.

He died Saturday of cancer in Siegsdorf, Germany, said Roddie Gilliard, a British musician who performed with him.

In 1964, Mr. Black was playing in a Los Angeles band called the Soul Giants when it recruited Zappa as lead guitarist.

Zappa took over, changed the group's name, and, according to Mr. Black, boasted that "if you guys learn my music, I'll make you rich and famous."

"He took care of half of that promise, because I'm damn sure I didn't get rich," Mr. Black recalled. - AP