roy 'oréjon' estrada

Roy Estrada (1943/04/17 in Santa Ana, CA) was an original member of the Soul Giants.  a band that also included Jimmy Carl Black and Ray CollinsCollins brought in Frank Zappa into the Soul Giants when the guitar player left.  Collins knew Zappa from Studio Z.  The Soul Giants eventually became the Mothers / the Mothers Of Invention.  After the Mothers Of Invention, Roy and Lowell George formed Little Feat.  He also did spend some years in Captain Beefheart's Magic Band.

In 1981, Roy was living in Colorado. At that time, he met Mark Radley, with whom he jammed a lot. Recordings from these sessions can be found on the 2004 album by H-Mungus.

In 2002 and in 2004, Roy Estrada took part in the Zappanale festival in Bad Doberan, Germany, performing with the Grandmothers West.

discography

  roy estrada and the rocketeers: jungle dreams part 1 & 2
    (1960, 7", usa king 45-5368)
 
1 the mothers of invention: freak out!
    (1966, 2lp, usa, verve)

2 the mothers of invention: absolutely free
    (1967, lp,usa, verve)
3 the mothers of invention: we're only in it for the money
   (1967, lp, usa, verve)

4 frank zappa: lumpy gravy
   (1967, lp, usa, verve)

5 the mothers of invention: cruising with ruben & the jets
   (1968, lp, usa, verve)

  gto's: permanent damage (1)
    (1969, lp, usa, bizarre 73397 - straight sts 1059) - produced by frank zappa / feat.ian underwood, don preston, roy estrada, jc black, frank zappa

6 the mothers of invention: mothermania
   (1969, lp, usa, verve)

zappa_06.jpg (26926 bytes)

  captain beefheart & his magic band: trout mask replica
    (1969, 2lp, usa, straight)

7 the mothers of invention: uncle meat
   (1969, 2lp, usa, bizarre)

9

the mothers of invention: burnt weeny sandwich
   (1970, lp, usa, bizarre)

  ivan ulz: ivan the ice cream man
    (1970, lp, usa, ??) - feat. roy estrada
 
  ry cooder: ry cooder
    (1970, lp, usa, ??) - feat. roy estrada
 

10

the mothers of invention: weasels ripped my flesh
   (1970, lp, usa, bizarre)

  leo kottke: mudlark
    (1971, lp, ??, ??) - feat. roy estrada
 
  little feat: little feat
    (1971, lp, usa,
warner bros. records) - feat.lowell george, roy estrada, ry cooder, elliot ingber
 
  nolan: no apologies
    (1971, lp, usa, lizard) - feat. jimmy carl black, roy estrada, lowell george

  nolan: nolan
    (1972, lp, usa, abc records) - feat. jimmy carl black, roy estrada, lowell george
nolan_lp.jpg (14934 bytes)
  captain beefheart and the magic band: clear spot
    (1972, lp, usa, reprise)

  little feat: sailin' shoes
    (1972, lp, usa,
warner bros. records) - feat.lowell george, roy estrada
 
  van dyke parks: discover america  (2)
    (1972, lp, usa, ??)    - incl.various zappa alumni  
 
 

howdy moon: howdy moon
    (1974, lp, spain, ariola) - feat.lowell george

howdy_moon_lp.jpg (18489 bytes)

22

frank zappa: zoot allures
   (1976, lp, usa, warner brothers)

32 frank zappa: shut up 'n play yer guitar some more
   (1981, lp, usa, barking pumpkin)

  frank zappa: shut up 'n play yer guitar - box set
    (1981, 3lp, eur, cbs)
  little feat: hoy-hoy !
    (1981, lp, usa, ??) - feat.lowell george, elliot ingber, roy estrada, ry cooder 
 
35 frank zappa: ship arriving too late too save a drowning witch
   (1982, lp, usa, barking pumpkin)

36 frank zappa: the man from utopia
   (1983, lp, usa, barking pumpkin)

37

frank zappa: baby snakes
   (1983, lp pict.disc, usa, barking pumpkin)

40

frank zappa: them or us
   (1984, 2lp, usa, barking pumpkin)

41

frank zappa: thing-fish
   (1984, 3lp, usa, barking pumpkin)

  1987 frank zappa- the guitar world according to frank zappa  
51 frank zappa: you can't do that on stage anymore vol.1
   (1988, 2cd, usa, ryko)

54 frank zappa: you can't do that on stage anymore vol.3
   (1989, 2cd, usa, ryko)

57

frank zappa: you can't do that on stage anymore vol.4
   (1991, 2cd, usa, ryko)  
  the mothers of invention: the ark
    (1991, cd, usa, rhino foo-eee records r2 70538)
  the mothers of invention: 'tis the season to be jelly
    (1991, cd, usa, rhino foo-eee records r2 70542)
  zappa / mothers: electric aunt jemima
    (1991, cd, usa, rhino foo-eee records r2 71019)
  zappa / mothers: our man in nirvana
    (1991, cd, usa, rhino foo-eee records r2 71022)

58

frank zappa: you can't do that on stage anymore vol.5
   (1992, 2cd, usa, ryko)
59 frank zappa: you can't do that on stage anymore vol.6
   (1992, 2cd, usa, ryko)
  lowell george & the factory: lightning-rod man
    (1993, cd, fr, edsel records) - feat.frank zappa, elliot ingber, roy estrada, ian underwood
 

61

zappa / mothers: ahead of their time (61)
   (1993, cd, usa, ryko)
  don preston: vile foamy ectoplasm (1)
    (1993, cd, ger, muffin records muffin cdmr 003) - feat. ex-moi and ex-zappa bandmembers
 

63

frank zappa: civilization phaze III
   (1994, 2cd, usa, barking pumpkin)
  the grandmothers: who could imagine (5)
    (1994, cd, nl, munich records netcd 53) - feat. various ex-moi; incl.zappa & beefheart compositions

  ant-bee: with my favorite "vegetables" and other bizarre music
    (1994, cd, uk, divine records divine 3) - feat.motorhead, black, gardner, estrada, preston, snyder

  sandro oliva: who the fuck is sandro oliva ?!?
    (1995, cd, usa, muffin records mrp015)
- feat. various ex-moi; incl.'mr.green genes' (frank zappa)

  ant-bee: lunar muzik
    (1995, cd, uk, divine records divine 20) - feat. gardner, preston, black, estrada, sherwood, bob harris

65

frank zappa: läther
   (1996, 3cd, usa, ryko)

66

frank zappa: frank zappa plays the music of frank zappa
   (1996, cd, usa, barking pumpkin)

67

frank zappa: have i offended someone?
   (1997, cd, usa, ryko)

68

frank zappa: mystery disc
   (1998, cd, usa, ryko)

  roy estrada: demos
    (199?, k7, usa, electrik yak records ??)  -  unreleased project
 
  captain beefheart & his magic band: grow fins - rarities [1965-1982]
    (1999, 5cd-box, usa, revenant records revenant 210)

  little feat: hotcakes & outtakes: 30 years of little feat
    (2000, ??)
 
  captain beefheart & his magic band: grow fins vol.III: grow fins
    (2001, 2lp, usa, xeric)

  captain beefheart: magnetic hands
    (2002, cd, uk, viper cd 011)
  little feat: raw tomatos volume one
    (2002, 2cd, usa, hot tomato records) - feat.lowell george & roy estrada
 
  little feat: ripe tomatos volume one
    (2002, 2cd, usa, hot tomato records)  - feat.lowell george & roy estrada
 

70

frank zappa: fz:oz
    (2002, 2cd, usa, vaulternative records)

  b.e.p.: hamburger midnight
    (2002, cd, ger, inkanish records ir 0003) = jimmy carl black & roy estrada
  various artists: zappanale 13
    (2003, 3cd, ger, arf society) – incl. various artists playing frank zappa compositions

  various artists: zappanale 13 - the lewinskys - grandmothers west
    (2003, dvd, ger, the arf society) - feat. various artists playing frank zappa compositions

  various artists: zappanale 13 - retrospective
    (2003, dvd, ger, the arf society) - feat. various artists playing frank zappa compositions

  various artists: zappanale # 13
    (2003, cd, ger, arf society) – incl. various artists playing frank zappa compositions

  captain beefheart: railroadism
    (2003, cd, uk, viper cd 015)

  the grandmothers: a grandmothers night at the gewandhaus
    (2003, cd, ger, warner classic 2564600682) - incl.various frank zappa compositions

72

frank zappa: joe's corsage
    (2004, cd, usa, vaulternative records)

74

frank zappa: quaudiophiliac
    (2004, dvda, usa, dts entertainment 69286-01125-9-9)

  various artists: the frank zappa aaafnraa birthday bundle
    (2006, itunes, -) - feat. frank, moon, dweezil, ahmet & diva zappa

77 frank zappa: the mofo project/object
    (2006, 2cd, usa, zappa records)

78 frank zappa: the mofo project/object
    (2006, 4cd, usa, zappa records)

  don preston: vile foamy ectoplasm
    (2007, cd, usa, crossfire publications) - feat. frank zappa, ex-moi and ex-zappa bandmembers

  captain beefheart and the magic band: live at bickershaw festival
    (2007, cd, uk, ozitcd9006)

  jimmy carl black: where’s the $%&§#@’ beer?
    (2007, cd, usa, crossfire publications 9508-2) - feat.various mothers of invention

  movie: arf society meets frank zappa
    (2007, dvd, ger, arf society) - feat.napoleon murphy brock, roy estrada, ed mann, ...

84

frank zappa: joe's menage
    (2008, cd, usa, vaulternative records)

  the grandmothers: it happened here
    (2008, 2cdr, ger, arf society) = the grandmothers (with special guests) concert at zappanale in 2002

grandm_ithappenedhere.jpg (26054 bytes)

  the grande mothers: zappanale 20
    (2009, dvdr, ger, private release) - all compositions by frank zappa

grandm_dvdr_z20.jpg (29332 bytes)

  movie / documentary: let's hear it for jimmy carl black
    (2010, dvdr, ger, arf society) - feat. moni black, geronimo black, helmut king, napoleon murphy brock, roy estrada, don preston, bruce bickford, ike willis

docu_jimmycarlblackexpo2009.jpg (48017 bytes)

  captain beefheart and the magic band: translucent fresnel - live 72/73 - the nans true's hole tapes
    (2011, 2lp, uk, ozit dandelion records lp 8008)

cb_translucent_01.jpg (20058 bytes)

  captain beefheart: nan true's hole tapes vol.2
    (2011, cd, uk, ozit / dandelion records cd9009)

cb_nantrue_02.jpg (27172 bytes)

sandro oliva: who the fuck is sandro oliva ?!?
    (2011, cdr, italy, private release / obvious music omso 0013) - feat. various ex-moi / incl.'mr.green genes' (frank zappa) / re-release with bonus

so_wtfi_2011.jpg (78137 bytes)

92

frank zappa: road tapes - kerrisdale arena, vancouver bc, 25 august 1968
    (2012, cd, usa, vaulternative records)
zappa_roadtapes19680825.jpg (31025 bytes)

94

frank zappa: finer moments
    (2012, cd, usa, zappa records)

zappa_finermoments.jpg (47358 bytes)

  frank zappa: aaafnraa - 21 december 2012
    (2012, itunes, --, --)
aaafnraa2012.jpg (32945 bytes)

98

frank zappa: joe's camouflage
    (2014, cd, usa, vaulternative records)
zappa098.jpg (20444 bytes)
  the mothers of invention: wollman rink, central park, ny, august 3rd 1968
    (2014, cd, uk, keyhole records)
moi_wollmanrinkcd.jpg (27731 bytes)
  captain beefheart & the magic band: live from vancouver 1973
    (2014, cd, uk, gonzo gzo106cd)

cb_vancouver1973.jpg (46979 bytes)

  various artists: the frank zappa aaafnraa 2014 birthday bundle
    (2014, download, --, barfko-swill)
aaafnraa2014.jpg (34969 bytes)
  movie: where's the beer and when do we get paid?
    (2014, dvd, ger, edition kassenknüller strassenfeger) - feat. jimmy carl black, eugene chadbourne, don preston, bunk gardner, roy estrada, andy cahan, denny walley

bolletbrot_jcblack2012.jpg (37149 bytes)

  don van vliet & the magic band: rough, raw and amazing
    (2015, 2lp, uk, ozit records) - "record store day 2015" release. limited edition on yellow vinyl

cb_roughrawandamazing2lp.jpg (32066 bytes)

105

frank zappa: frank zappa for president
    (2016, cd, usa, zappa records zr 20021)
fz_fzforpresident.jpg (31217 bytes)

107

zappa / mothers: meat light
    (2016, 3cd, usa, zappa records zr20024)
fz_meatlight.jpg (46821 bytes)
     

 

semi-official releases

  the mothers of invention: wollman rink, central park, ny, august 3rd 1968
    (2014, cd, uk, keyhole records)
moi_wollmanrinkcd.jpg (27731 bytes)

 

paperwork

  • The July / August 2005 Issue of Bass Guitar Magazine (Issue 19) features a 3-page article on / interview with Roy Estrada.

 

random notes

info from kendal stitzel:

i don't know why he left, but after roy left little feat, he settled in loveland, colorado, a fairly pleasant little town north of denver. i don't know what trick of fate brought him to loveland.
perhaps fatherly (as opposed to motherly, brotherly, or otherly) love, for he raised a kid about that time.
roy drove a truck through colorado and wyoming, delivering movies to various theaters. i used to work at one of the theaters where he made deliveries.

but i didn't really meet roy until sometime in the late 70s/early 80s when he came up and introduced himself to some friends of mine who were playing at a bar in fort collins (a somewhat bigger town near loveland). he said he really liked their playing because they reminded him a lot of little feat, and said he wanted to jam with them. my friends, who even did a few feat covers, were very flattered. they subsequently jammed and hung out together.  i got to meet roy during one of these jams and/or one of the informal parties that usually accompanied such affairs. roy's a regular sort of guy and (as you might expect) a lot of fun. he liked to hang out, drink beer, work on cars, etc.

not too long after my friends and roy started hanging out, zappa came to fort collins to play at the university there (december 2, 1980, moby gym, colorado state university, fort collins, co).  roy got  everybody in to the rehearsal. frank gave roy a big hug and had him sing some of the falsetto parts to show the new band how it was done.  (i guess roy used to sing the really high stuff on the old mothers albums.) they hung out for the show, which was typically great.  zappa played it real professional, despite a smallish turnout. (this was the tour with the infamous panties on clotheslines.)

after that, roy started thinking about getting back into the music business.  he did some demo tapes with a few of my friends and tried to shop them around with some producers in la. i don't know if anything ever happened with the tapes, or if they have any correlation to the electrik yak demo tapes i've heard mention of. don't know if it's coincidence, but roy did start showing up on some of zappa's stuff again about this time....

anyway, about 1995, i talked to one of my colorado buddies who did the demo tapes with roy. (this guy's name is mark radley, and he plays a pretty mean blues guitar.)  he's stayed in touch with roy and said the estrada man was out in la, doing music and driving a truck on the side; maybe he's delivering movies again. (i digress, but it's somewhat amazing that someone with decent musical talent has to stay out on the sidelines driving a truck when there's so much crap for music. i guess nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the american people, and truck driving has happened to some of the best musicians....)  

     from: randy cech (sam_pharroh@email.msn.com)

     subject: orange county lumber

this company still exists. i hear the aren't in orange county anymore

though.  roy estrada drove a truck for them and the song "orange county

lumber truck" gets it title from that fact.

 

     from: twithers (tdwithers@compuserve.com)

     date: fri, 3 sep 1999

roy estrada also had a daughter in 1968. he is currently living in the

la area, and is thinking of getting back into the business.

 

     from: andre lewis (dremandre@uswest.net)

     subject: roy e

onr of the funniest guys ive ever played with or knew

 


filmography:

1979    baby snakes

1987    uncle meat


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