Napoleon Murphy Brock profile picture

Profile: Napoleon Murphy Brock

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Continuing on with my series on musicians of color, today’s profile is on one of my favorite musicians currently performing, Napoleon Murphy Brock! At the bottom of this post, you’ll also find organizations that you can donate to and help out the cause. Stay safe out there!

Napoleon Murphy Brock

Saxophonist, Flutist, Singer

Like most who worked with Frank Zappa, Brock was and is a master of his instruments. He’s pushed the envelope with other Mothers of Invention alumni like George Duke, Ike Willis, Tom Fowler and Don Preston. He’s also worked with freaky contemporary Captain Beefheart on some projects, as well as various Mothers offshoots like Project/Object. Oh, and he’s a Grammy winner!

He started his career in the late ’60s with a group he founded called Communication Plus, who would play clubs in San Francisco. Zappa heard him playing for a dance band in Hawaii, and due to George Duke’s presence in the band, Brock decided to join the Mothers. Appearing on over 15 Zappa albums between 1974 and 2002, he’s also in a handful of Frank Zappa documentaries and movies, including Baby Snakes.

I’m not sure if he’s still touring with anyone (I mean when a pandemic isn’t happening), and I wasn’t able to find a website for him, other than Wikipedia, so I’m not sure how you can support him directly at the moment! However, you should definitely check out the Zappa Plays Zappa DVD, as well as listen to You Can’t Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 2 to hear the best examples of his work.

Organizations

Here are some places that can use your support!