Frank Beard (musician)

Beard was born in Frankston, Texas, and attended Irving High School in Irving, Texas. Before joining ZZ Top, Beard was a member of a fake version of the British band The Zombies, which toured in the US without authorization from the original band members, and also was part of The Outlaws with later ZZ Top member Dusty Hill.[2]

In May 1969, he joined The Moving Sidewalks, a band that would become ZZ Top in July 1969. Beard also introduced Gibbons to bassist and vocalist Dusty Hill, with whom Beard had played in the bands American Blues, the Warlocks, and the Cellar Dwellers. After honing their trademark "Texas boogie-blues-rock" style, they released their aptly titled ZZ Top's First Album on London Records in January 1971. When ZZ Top started, Beard was known by the nickname "Rube" and was credited as "Rube Beard" on the first album and on Tres Hombres, the band's third album, but is listed under his real name on Rio Grande Mud, their second album. After Tres Hombres, he was credited as "Frank Beard" on all the band's albums.

Beard married long-time girlfriend Catherine Alexander in April 1978 and divorced July 1981.[3] He married Debbie Meredith in November 1982. They remain married and have three children.[3] Beard resides in Richmond, Texas, where he owns and operates the Double Z Ranch. He is a scratch golfer, known locally for participation in tournaments and community events.

Frank Beard was long known as the only member of ZZ Top not to wear a luxuriant beard despite his name, unlike bandmates Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill, but put an end to this long-running quirky fact circa 2013 by growing one.[4]