Jimmy Carl Black (born James Inkanish, Jr.) was a drummer, vocalist, and the self-anointed “Indian of the group” of Frank Zappa’s Mothers of Invention. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2008, and he died on November 1, 2008. He is survived by his wife, Monika, whom he married in 1995 following the death of his second wife; three sons and three daughters. A benefit was held on November 9, 2008 at the Bridgehouse II in London.

Born in El Paso, Texas, he was of Cheyenne heritage. His trademark line was “Hi Boys and Girls, I’m Jimmy Carl Black, and I’m the Indian of the group.” He has been credited on some Mothers albums as playing “drums, vocals, and poverty.” He appeared in the 1971 movie 200 Motels and sang the song “Lonesome Cowboy Burt.” He worked as a guest vocalist with The Muffin Men, a Frank Zappa tribute band based in Liverpool, England, and with Jon Larsen, on the surrealistic Strange News From Mars project, featuring several other Zappa alumni, such as Tommy Mars, Bruce Fowler, and Arthur Barrow. At Steely Dan’s 2001 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction Walter Becker asked the assembled if they remembered who the original Mothers of Invention drummer was. Becker has unsuccessfully lobbied the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for Black’s inclusion as a founding member of the Mothers of Invention. An autobiographical audio production by Jimmy Carl Black was recorded in 2007, called The Jimmy Carl Black Story.

Here is Black performing “Lonesome Cowboy Burt” from the movie 200 Motels:

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