Nolan Porter and Patrice “Candy” Zappa​
Two Biographies​

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Some time ago saw the births of two people that would eventually meet many decades later and end up singing together, making music, together and separately, and wowing people wherever they went, with their voices, that is. Their story is quite interesting and ironic.

Nolan Porter was born in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in the Los Angeles area for most of his life. You could call him a native, but he prefers to think of himself in other terms. He later graduated from Los Angeles High school. His love of music along with his talent for writing and vocalizing put him into Lizard Recording Studio in the early 70’s, putting out two albums, “Nolan” and “Nolan, No Apologies”. He was written up in Billboard magazine and his vocal prowess was described as “a juicy Porter-House steak…”

Patrice “Candy” Zappa was born in Baltimore, Maryland, along with her 3 older brothers, Frank, Bob and Carl. Patrice’s oldest brother Frank went on to become the famous Frank Zappa and the leader of the early rock/jazz/fusion group called “The Mothers of Invention”. Patrice graduated from Burbank High, being known as “Frank Zappa’s sister”.  She attended 2 other high schools – Bishop Kenny in Jacksonville, Florida, and Pomona Catholic Girls High in Pomona, California. The family moved several times, so Patrice was the new kid in school every 2 years. She grew up, married, had 3 children, got divorced and actively pursued her musical talents before, during and after her married life. Is there life after marriage?

Was irony mentioned earlier?

In 1969, Frank disbanded the Mothers and 3 of the original members of the group went to Lizard Records, where, ironically – see there’s the irony part – Nolan Porter was busy recording his album “Nolan”. Jimmy Carl Black, Roy Estrada and Lowell George met Nolan, liked his music and performed on his album. They made musical history as Nolan’s music is still being played today in England.

During the 80’s both Nolan and Patrice had bands and performed extensively; Nolan performed in Alaska, Singapore, Bali. Patrice performed locally in the San Fernando Valley, California.​
Fast forward to1992:  a friend of Patrice's son David, heard Patrice on a tape and flew her out to perform in England.  There were plans for her to sing at the Albert Hall and other places but sadly the plans fell through.  It was a nice 2 week vacation in the meantime.​
On to 1999:  Patrice and Nolan were introduced to each other by a mutual friend, Mari Linville. They met one night and got up to sing and Nolan was signed, sealed and delivered. He heard her voice and was quite pleased at how good they sounded together. Evidently, the audience felt the same. Soon after wards, Nolan asked Patrice if she would like to “put something together.” He made good on his offer and soon the pair were in rehearsals for upcoming shows.

They began working on their show that they wrote and produced named “Legacy”, performing music from legends in the music industry. From Aretha Franklin to Frank Zappa. They also performed some of their own original material. Their first show was November 12, 2000 at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, and it was a large success. Patrice was invited to go to New York in August 2001 and performed with Ed Palermo’s Big Band at the now defunct Bottom Line, in Greenwich Village, New York. She and Nolan performed the “Legacy” show again in November of 2001. 2002 found Patrice and her brother Bob, in Bad Doberan, Germany for the 13th annual Zappanale. She performed some of her brother’s tunes to the screaming throngs of the local Zappa-philes with Ed Palermo’s big band. When she came back, it was time to get her book, aptly named “My Brother Was A Mother: A Zappa Family Album”, in order and she went to work on it. In March 2003 her book was printed and the book signings started; In Lancaster, CA, New York, and one signing in particular was at the Borders Bookstore in Westwood, California on May 24, 2003. Patrice and Nolan performed with the “Once A Legacy” band to a large crowd of friends, family and fans. It was, sadly, the first and last performance Patrice’s wonderful mother, Rose Marie Zappa, would attend before her passing in January 2004.

Since then, Patrice and Nolan have continued their musical journey with their show “Once A Legacy”  and appeared at other venues, such as the legendary House of Blues on Sunset in Hollywood. They have performed with Brian Hudson’s Popular Front group, singing Brian’s politically satirical songs at the “Coffee Gallery Backstage” in May of 2005, in addition to recording the same songs on a CD titled “Condaleeza, Condaleeza”. Also, Greg Russo, better known as the author of “Cosmik Debris”, another stellar book on Frank Zappa, commissioned Nolan and Patrice to record several songs that he wrote on a CD “NEONFIRE”. It is being heard back east and online. Greg released CD’s of both Nolan and Patrice’s material and cover tunes of Frank Zappa, and Greg Russo on CDBaby and iTunes.

Patrice and Nolan have recorded a CD of some of their original songs called “SECOND CHANCE”, and the opening song, “Our Love Has Come Alive”, is from the afore mentioned CD “NEONFIRE”

March 2006, the pair was flown to Prestatyn, Wales, for Nolan to perform his music from his earlier mentioned album “Nolan”. His music is still popular in the UK and he was there last June 2010 and 2012 was  in England having just toured with Stone Foundation and is on to other gigs until the end of July 2012. They went on to Manchester and did an interview on WFM with Harry and Diana Grundy on the “The Right Track” radio show and also the Craig Charles Show.. And on July 16, 2006, they performed once again in Palmdale, California at 10 West Club for their “Join the 4F Club” show.

In 2007, the pair made their union official and married on April 28. Their next musical endeavor was in February 2010 at a local North Hollywood Bistro called Skinny’s. They employed the talents of the great Zappa alumni, Robert Martin who performed his infamous version of “Whipping Post”. It was a very successful and fun evening. In November of 2010, Zappa and Porter put on a show called “Nights in El Monte” performing a variety of 50’s doo wop songs.  It was a fundraiser for The Achievable Foundation and raised over $1200 for the organization, that helps disabled people achieve wheelchairs and other items to make their lives better.

December 6, 2011 saw the release of Patrice's second book, My Brother Was A Mother, Take 2 and in 2017, Take 3. And the release of “To Be Perfectly Frank” on CDbaby and iTunes.