Frank Beard (musician)
Encyclopedia
Frank Lee Beard is the drummer
in the rock
band
ZZ Top
. Beard was formerly with the bands The Cellar Dwellars, who originally were a three-piece band, The Hustlers, The Warlocks, and American Blues before starting to play and record with Billy Gibbons
and Dusty Hill
as ZZ Top.
Beard was born in Frankston
, Texas
and attended Irving High School
in Irving, Texas
. In late 1969 he joined The Moving Sidewalks guitarist
and vocalist Gibbons' ZZ Top. Beard also introduced Gibbons to bassist
and vocalist Dusty Hill, with whom Beard had played in the bands American Blues
, the Warlocks, and the Cellar Dwellers. After honing their trademark "Texas boogie-blues-rock" style, they released their aptly titled "ZZ Top's First Album
" on London Records
in January, 1971. When ZZ Top started, Beard was known by the nickname "Rube" and was credited as "Rube Beard" on the first album and on Tres Hombres
, the band's third album, but is listed under his real name on Rio Grande Mud
, their second album. After Tres Hombres, he was credited as "Frank Beard" on all the band's albums.
Ironically
, Beard is the only member of ZZ Top who does not wear a beard
despite his name. Usually, he wears only a moustache
, although he did go through a phase in the 1990s where he wore a tidy beard.
Frank resides in Richmond, Texas
, where he owns and operates the Top 40 Ranch. He is a scratch golfer, renowned locally for participation in tournaments and community events, although he should not be confused with the professional golfer of the same name.
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
in the rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
. Beard was formerly with the bands The Cellar Dwellars, who originally were a three-piece band, The Hustlers, The Warlocks, and American Blues before starting to play and record with Billy Gibbons
Billy Gibbons
William Frederick "Billy" Gibbons is an American musician, actor and car customizer, best known as the guitarist of the Texas blues-rock band ZZ Top. He is also the lead singer and composer for many of the band's songs. Gibbons is known for playing his Gretsch Billy Bo guitar and his famous 1959...
and Dusty Hill
Dusty Hill
Joseph Michael "Dusty" Hill is the bassist and vocalist with the American rock group ZZ Top.-History:Hill was in Dallas, Texas and grew up in the Lakewood neighborhood of East Dallas...
as ZZ Top.
Beard was born in Frankston
Frankston, Texas
Frankston is a town in Anderson County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,209 at the 2000 census. Frankston was named for Frankie Miller, a young woman who donated land for the downtown city park.-Geography:...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and attended Irving High School
Irving High School (Irving, Texas)
Irving High School is a public high school in Irving, Texas. It was the first high school established in the Irving Independent School District....
in Irving, Texas
Irving, Texas
Irving is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within Dallas County. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city population was 216,290. Irving is within the Dallas–Plano–Irving metropolitan division of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area, designated...
. In late 1969 he joined The Moving Sidewalks guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and vocalist Gibbons' ZZ Top. Beard also introduced Gibbons to bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
and vocalist Dusty Hill, with whom Beard had played in the bands American Blues
American Blues
American Blues were a 1960s Texas-based garage band who played a psychedelic style of blues rock music influenced by the 13th Floor Elevators. They are most famous for including two future members of the band ZZ Top in their ranks, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard...
, the Warlocks, and the Cellar Dwellers. After honing their trademark "Texas boogie-blues-rock" style, they released their aptly titled "ZZ Top's First Album
ZZ Top's First Album
ZZ Top's First Album is the debut album by American blues rock band ZZ Top, released in 1971.In 1987, this album was remixed for CD release...
" on London Records
London Records
London Records, referred to as London Recordings in logo, is a record label headquartered in the United Kingdom, originally marketing records in the United States, Canada and Latin America from 1947 to 1979, then becoming a semi-independent label....
in January, 1971. When ZZ Top started, Beard was known by the nickname "Rube" and was credited as "Rube Beard" on the first album and on Tres Hombres
Tres Hombres
Tres Hombres is the third album by American blues rock band ZZ Top and was released in 1973. The album marked the first of many times the band worked with engineer Terry Manning which proved a successful combination as the release was the band's first commercial breakthrough...
, the band's third album, but is listed under his real name on Rio Grande Mud
Rio Grande Mud
Rio Grande Mud is the second album by American blues rock band ZZ Top and was released in 1972.The album title was inspired by the Rio Grande, the river that forms the border between Mexico and Texas and means "big river" in Spanish....
, their second album. After Tres Hombres, he was credited as "Frank Beard" on all the band's albums.
Ironically
Irony
Irony is a rhetorical device, literary technique, or situation in which there is a sharp incongruity or discordance that goes beyond the simple and evident intention of words or actions...
, Beard is the only member of ZZ Top who does not wear a beard
Beard
A beard is the collection of hair that grows on the chin, cheeks and neck of human beings. Usually, only pubescent or adult males are able to grow beards. However, women with hirsutism may develop a beard...
despite his name. Usually, he wears only a moustache
Moustache
A moustache is facial hair grown on the outer surface of the upper lip. It may or may not be accompanied by a type of beard, a facial hair style grown and cropped to cover most of the lower half of the face.-Etymology:...
, although he did go through a phase in the 1990s where he wore a tidy beard.
Frank resides in Richmond, Texas
Richmond, Texas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,081 people, 3,413 households, and 2,628 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,975.4 people per square mile . There were 3,595 housing units at an average density of 965.3 per square mile...
, where he owns and operates the Top 40 Ranch. He is a scratch golfer, renowned locally for participation in tournaments and community events, although he should not be confused with the professional golfer of the same name.