For those people that knew him or saw him

it was clear that Frankie had a unique talent. if you saw him on stage Frankie conveyed a presence and charysma and an undeniable star quality ingredient.



Frankie was born Franciso M Garcia on April 22, 1946 in Boyle Heights California. He passed January 21st , 1996 at the age of 49. Frankie aquired his Nickname Cannibal while in his teens when during an altercation it is alleged that Frankie bit his opponent.


Frankie grew up in Boyle Heights and along the way realized that he loved music and dancing.One of Frankie's first ventures as a singer was with a teen age band called the Rhythm Playboys. The band's manager was Billy Cardenas. Mr Cardenas saw the potential in Frankie and started to develop and promote him as a solo artists . Mr Cardenas felt that having background singers to support Frankies stage performances would be beneficial and thus recruited Richard Lopez, and Robert and Joe Jaramillo


In late 1964 Cannibal recorded LAND OF A THOUSAND DANCES and soon  thereafter  it  became a national hit followed with TV appearances and national tours with many of the great artists  of the time,including the 1965 tour with the Beatles. 


As is common  with rock and roll groups, in the midst of the beatles  tour Richard Lopez  was released  from the group and in 1967 Robert and Joe Jaramillo  were  also released  from the group. nonetheless Frankie recruited two new headhunters and continued to perform till 1983 when he retired from the music business to pursue a career in nursing. It most be noted that frankie never disbanded his group known as Cannibal and The Headhunters, Frankie simply changed personnel to fit his evolving  vision.


Frankie passed his moniker  Cannibal and The Headhunters to his good friends and bandmates Eddie Serrano and Robert Zapata in 1983. Robert Zapata  (Drummer and Singer) was recruited  by Cannibal in 1969 when Cannibal changed the format from strictly a vocal group to a band  structure consisting of musicians and singers. In 1998 Eddie Serrano passed and Robert Zapata became the sole leader- manager of the group. Thus Robert Zapata  has been with the group Cannibal and The Headhunters from 1969 to the present.


Let it be noted that the 1970s Cannibal and  the Headhunters performed at Madame Wongs East and West. In the 1980s the group performed at the Los Angeles Street scene and the Club Lingerie.


Robert Zapata is committed to carry the memory and legacy of Frankie Cannibal Garcia into the  21st Century.

LIVE PERFORMANCE 2010