The original woodwind player in Frank Zappa‘s Mothers of Invention, Jim Sherwood has died. It is not known yet, what the cause of death was.

Sherwood and Zappa were high school friends before they collaborated musically. When he did get together with Zappa and his band mates he first acted as their equipment handler. Once his musical talents were known, he appeared as part of the original line up of Mothers of Invention. He played tenor and baritone saxophone, percussion, and sang on the records Freak Out, and Cruising with Ruben and the Jets.

The nickname “Motorhead” was given to Sherwood because of his love of cars, and he could often be overheard talking about working on his own. Sherwood also played on the album Lumpy Gravy. This was Frank Zappa’s first solo record ever released.

Sherwood passed away on Christmas Day.