Bunk Gardner

Bunk Gardner (born John Leon Guarnera; May 2, 1933 in Cleveland, Ohio ) is an American musician who most notably played for the original version of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention until the group disbanded in 1969. He plays woodwinds and tenor sax. His older brother, Buzz, was also in the Mothers of Invention.

Career Gardner joined the Cleveland Philharmonic as a bassoonist in 1950. He and former Mothers of Invention member Don Preston toured as the duo The Don and Bunk Show from 2001 until at least 2014, playing music by the Mothers of Invention with the intention of wanting fans "to come and hear how Zappa's music was performed by the originals".

Personal life Gardner was born John Leon Guarnera in Cleveland, Ohio to Charles and Thelma Guarnera. Bunk started playing piano at age seven, taking lessons from Elmira Snodgrass for 50 cents a lesson. Gardner then learned how to play the sax at age twelve. Gardner met his wife Bonnie in 1968 and married in 1977; the couple have two daughters. Gardner previously battled Prostate cancer.

Discography With Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention Absolutely Free (1967) We're Only in It for the Money (1968) Lumpy Gravy (1968) Cruising With Ruben & The Jets (1968) Uncle Meat (1969) Burnt Weeny Sandwich (1970) Weasels Ripped My Flesh (1970) Electric Aunt Jemima (1986) You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1 (1988) You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4 (1991) The Ark (1991) You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5 (1992) Our Man in Nirvana (1992) Ahead of Their Time (1993) Mystery Disc (1998) Finer Moments (2012) Road Tapes, Venue 1 (2012)

With The Grandmothers The Grandmothers (1981) Fan Club Talk (1981) Lookin Up Granny's Dress (1983) A Mother of Anthology (1993) Who Could Imagine? (1994) Eating The Astoria (2000)

With Geronimo Black Geronimo Black – Uni – 1972 Welcome Back Geronimo Black – Helios – 1980.

Bunk Gardner solo releases It's All Bunk – Crossfire Productions 2007 The Bunk Gardner Story – part one - Zonic Entertainment 2011 The Bunk Gardner Story – part two - Zonic Entertainment 2011