Frank Black (or Black Francis) is an American singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the frontman of alternative rock band Pixies. He started a solo career after the band broke up in 1993. Black's screaming vocals played an instrumental role in Pixies' success and his cryptic lyrics explored a number of unconventional subjects such as incest, surrealism and science fiction.
Born "Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV" in Boston, Massachusetts in 1965, his father was a bar owner. Black had a good exposure to music from an early age. He learned to play guitar at age 11 and graduated from high school in 1983.
Frank Black formed the Pixies with his former roommate Joey Santiago in 1986. The group signed a record deal with 4AD and released their debut album Surfer Rosa in 1988. Although the album received positive press reviews, it failed to chart completely. Their followup album, Doolittle (1989), is frequently cited as one of the most influential alternative rock albums ever recorded.
After going into a hiatus for a few years, the Pixies came back together in 1990, and released two more studio albums, namely Bossanova (1990) and Trompe le Monde (1991). Following the group's breakup in 1993, Black embarked on a moderately successful solo career.
In 2004, he reunited with the Pixies and their reunion tour sold millions of tickets worldwide. Black performed with the band sporadically through 2005 and 2006. In 2007, Black released a greatest hits compilation, titled Frank Black 93-03. He continues to perform and record music as a Pixies member and a solo artist.
In 1982, Frank Black won a 'Teenager of the Year' award before his senior year in Westport, Massachusetts.
Frank Black has been married twice. He is currently married to Violet Clark, with whom he has three children. Black has two more children from his previous relationships.
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