Born September 10th, 1944 in Athens, Ohio, Art Tripp grew up in Pittsburgh before becoming a percussionist for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in 1962. He played and recorded with Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention from 1968 until the end of 1969, before joining Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band for four years. On the Beefheart album Spotlight Kid he appeared on the credits under both aliases of Ed Marimba & Ted Cactus. Art Tripp eventually gave up music and became a chiropractor. He was once also a member of the group Mallard.