He originally attended South Philadelphia High School but quit at the age of 15 to play music with his brothers abandoning his plans to be an attorney.
[1] Beginning in 1927, he led ensembles that were paid to play at the houses of wealthy socialites in Philadelphia and New York, continuing even after the 1929 stock market crash.
He conducted the music for Grace Kelly's engagement party, as well as the nuptials between Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.
[5] At the time Mr. Zappa was in New York City to play two Halloween concerts at the Felt Forum (now known as The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
In 1999 he played himself in the black-and-white film comedy Man of the Century, where he was the favorite musician of lead character Johnny Twennies.