Don Preston was born into a family of musicians in Detroit on Sept 21, 1932. His father was the composer-in-residence for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

 

Preston served in the US army, in Trieste, Italy, where he met and played music with Herbie Mann.

 

Back in Detroit after the war, Preston worked with many jazz artists including Elvin Jones, Yusef Lateef, Alvin Jackson.

 

1957 - Preston moves to Los Angeles, working with countless new musicians including Paul Bley, Charlie Haden, and others .

 

ZAPPA - Preston met Zappa when Frank came to see Don's live electronic music performances with "films of microscopic bacterial life" 

 

Don toured and recorded with Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention from 1966  to 1974.

 

Here In 2015, at age 83 Don is continuing a tireless search for new sounds, new musical ideas, new frontiers

 

Don has recorded, toured or performed with some of the most creative and incredible artists of the 20th century including Meredith Monk, Peter Erskine and John Carter, Frank Zappa, George Duke, Lou Rawls, Al Jarreau, Nat King Cole, Billy Daniels, The Fowler Brothers, Johnnie Ray, Vaughn Monroe, Connie Francis, Herbie Mann, Elvin Jones, Charlie Haden, Art Davis, Paul Bley, Carla Bley, Joe Beck, Shorty Rogers, Leo Sayer, Charles Lloyd, Nelson Riddle, J.R. Monterose, Flo & Eddie (Howard Kaylan & Mark Volman of The Turtles) Yusef Lateef, Don Ellis, Bobby Bradford, Michael Mantler, John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

 

Of course Don is well known for the many Zappa/Mothers albums and tours, and in later years leading THE GRANDMOTHERS, Zappa alumni band, as well as his Akashic Ensemble (w Andre Cholmondeley & the late Cheri Jiosne, synth/percussionist).

 

Don has also appeared at the Zappanale in Germany many times and has toured with US Zappa repertoire band Project/Object (featuring Zappa alumni Ike Willis and Napoleon Murphy Brock).