Ike Willis RIP

[Rabshakeh]

Maybe a slightly niche one on this forum, but soul singer and long time vocalist for Frank Zappa, Ike Willis, apparently passed away on 16 May from prostate cancer.

His voice was a huge part of my teenage years.

[Rooster_Ties]

Arguably Frank’s best lead-singer (at least in my estimation) — with a nimble and rich baritone.

Super nice guy too — I met him just once, fronting Project/Object (a damn good Zappa tribute band) in the late, late 90’s. Caught him well before the show in a small club after a very informal soundcheck, and he just hung out at the bar for a good hour before the show started.

He was cordial, unassuming, and totally down to earth.

Didn’t talk his ear off (nor he mine) — but he didn’t mind conversation at all — I think we chatted a good 10-15 minutes.

I asked him what he’d been studying at Wash U (in St. Louis) when he met Frank — and I think he said political science, iirc.

Never got to hear him with Frank (nor Frank) — I didn’t really discover Zappa until I was in college in the late 80’s (at least beyond the like 5 songs I’d heard on the decent AOR classic rock station in St. Louis in high school in the mid-80’s).

One of the most interesting voices (timbres) in all of rock music.  Expressive, full-bodied, and genuinely unique too (not ‘weird’ but definitely different).

RIP Ike. ♥️

PS:  Ike kinda reminded me a little of (jazz vocalist) Kevin Mahogany too, come to think of it (I knew Kevin a tiny bit when I was back in KC, and sat with him and his wife a few times at other people’s gigs — talked with him more at one club I used to frequent, than I ever actually got to hear Kevin sing).

ANYWAY, Ike and Kevin had a somewhat similar presence (in conversation), if I’m remembering. At least their rich speaking voices (and Billy Harper’s too).

[Д.Д.]

Sorry to hear this. I love his voice. Wasn't he the longest-serving Zappa sideman?