Frank Zappa was a world-builder as much as he was a musician, and he invented a few strange characters for his songs.

Houston will celebrate today with the annual Emmett Kelly Clown Festival. The event is sponsored by the City of Houston and coordinated by Brenda Senter, a local resident.

However, if you’re in the mood for an underdog story—a David to Taylor’s Goliath—I recommend perusing Billboard’s Hard Rock ...