Charles Michael Kittridge Thompson IV, popular as Black Francis, is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist born on April 6, 1965, in Boston, Massachusetts. He gained fame as the leader of the influential alt-rock band ? the Pixies. While in this band, he performed under the stage name Black Francis. Thompson was highly influenced by the music of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. After completing graduation from high school in 1983, he enrolled in the University of Massachusetts, to major in anthropology. Together with Joey Santiago whom he met at that time, Thompson formed the now-legendary alternative rock band The Pixies in January 1985. Later Kim Deal and Dave Lovering joined the band and completed its lineup. By signing with British independent record label 4AD, the Pixies released the debut EP "Come on Pilgrim" in October 1987. The first full length album "Surfer Rosa" was released with producer Steve Albini in the year 1988. The next album was tilted "Doolittle", produced by Gil Norton, and released on 4AD/Elektra in 1989. This album got many good reviews and gained much popularity in the United States. "Bossanova," released in 1990, and "Trompe le Monde" in 1991 are other major albums by the Pixies. After the breakup of the Pixies in 1993, Black Francis started his solo career under the name Frank Black. As a solo performer, the use of loud-quiet dynamics, atypical meter signatures, combined with a distinct preference for live-to-two-track recording techniques give him his own unique style in alternative rock. Frank released a self-titled debut album in 1993. In 1994, he released his second album named "Teenager of the Year." After the release of the two albums with the Elektra/ 4AD, he dropped from the label and entered into a new record contract with American in the U.S. and Sony in Europe. For American and Sony, he released an album called Cult of Ray in 1996. Later in 1998, he assembled a backing band called "The Catholics" and released a debut album. In late 2003, he reunited with the Pixies for a brief and highly acclaimed tour, all while still releasing solo albums at a prodigious rate since 2005, Frank Black has released at least one album a year. Recently, "Frank Black 93-03" was released in June 2007. A new album named Bluefinger is expected to be released in 2007.