Rockette Morton

Rockette Morton (born Mark Boston; July 14, 1949[1] in Salem, Illinois) is an American musician, best known as a bassist and guitarist for Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band in the 1960s and 1970s.

Rockette Morton
Rockette Morton on stage at the Zanzibar Club in Liverpool. September 29, 2012
Rockette Morton on stage at the Zanzibar Club in Liverpool. September 29, 2012
Background information
Birth nameMark Boston
Born (1949-07-14) July 14, 1949
Salem, Illinois, U.S.
GenresRock, alternative rock
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Bass, guitar, keyboard, backing vocals
Years active1963–present
Websiterockettemorton.com

Career

The Magic Band
Main article: The Magic Band

In 1963, after moving to Lancaster, California, Boston joined up with future Magic Band member Bill Harkleroad (aka Zoot Horn Rollo) in a band named B.C. & the Cavemen.

Rockette Morton and Denny Walley AKA Feelers Rebo at The Fleece, Bristol, in 2013

He was given the nickname "Rockette Morton" by Captain Beefheart after becoming a member of the Magic Band. Morton played on five of Beefheart's albums: Trout Mask Replica (produced by Frank Zappa in 1969), Lick My Decals Off Baby (1970), The Spotlight Kid (1972), Clear Spot (1972) and Unconditionally Guaranteed (1974). He originally played bass, but switched to rhythm guitar after former Little Feat bassist Roy Estrada joined the band.

In the book Lunar Notes: Zoot Horn Rollo's Captain Beefheart Experience, guitarist Bill Harkleroad details some of the tensions that arose between Beefheart and members of the band. These tensions led to a split in 1974.

In 2003 Morton and other former members of the Magic Band regrouped and embarked on a world tour, performing Captain Beefheart's music. They have continued to tour regularly as the Magic Band since then.

Mallard

Morton formed Mallard with bandmates John French, Bill Harkleroad, and Art Tripp. Mallard released two albums, Mallard (1975) and In A Different Climate (1976).

Following the band's demise, Morton continued performing in various groups as guitarist and bassist.

Later career

Morton released a solo album, Love Space, in 2003, about which he wrote: "If you enjoy listening to this music even half as much as I enjoyed recording it, I did my job."[2] It was recorded at his music studio in Aiken, South Carolina.

Prior to the album's release he was featured in an article in the music magazine Stomp & Stammer (October 2002), titled "The Ring of Rockette Morton", in which he self-identified as "a space nut" and being "pro-space". He was 52 years old at the time and was living in a mobile home, decorated with alien and rocket ship models.[3]

Discography

Studio albums
Year Title Notes Magic Band personnel
1969 Trout Mask Replica
  • Released on June 16, 1969
  • Label: Straight
  • John French
  • Jeff Cotton
  • Bill Harkleroad
  • Mark Boston
  • Victor Hayden
1970 Lick My Decals Off, Baby
  • Released in December 1970
  • Label: Straight
  • John French
  • Bill Harkleroad
  • Mark Boston
  • Art Tripp
1971 Mirror Man
  • Released in April 1971 (recorded 1967)
  • Label: Buddah
  • John French
  • Alex St. Clair
  • Jeff Cotton
  • Jerry Handley
1972 The Spotlight Kid
  • Released in January 1972
  • Label: Reprise
  • John French
  • Bill Harkleroad
  • Mark Boston
  • Art Tripp
  • Elliot Ingber
1972 Clear Spot
  • Released in October 1972
  • Label: Reprise
  • Bill Harkleroad
  • Mark Boston
  • Art Tripp
  • Roy Estrada
1974 Unconditionally Guaranteed
  • Released in April 1974
  • Label: Mercury (US), Virgin (UK)
  • Bill Harkleroad
  • Mark Boston
  • Alex St. Clair
  • Mark Marcellino
  • Art Tripp

Singles
Year Single Album
1970 "Pachuco Cadaver" / "Wild Life" Trout Mask Replica
1972 "Too Much Time" / "My Head Is My Only House Unless It Rains" Clear Spot
1974 "Upon the My-O-My" / "Magic Be" Unconditionally Guaranteed

With Mallard

Solo
  • Love Space (2003)

Guest appearances

Further reading
  • Harkleroad, Bill (1998). Lunar Notes: Zoot Horn Rollo's Captain Beefheart Experience. Interlink Publishing. ISBN 0-946719-21-7.

References
  1. "Rockette Morton discography". RateYourMusic. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
  2. "LoveSpace liner notes". CD Baby.
  3. Calder, Jeff (October 2002). "THE RING OF ROCKETTE MORTON". Stomp & Stammer. 7 (12). Retrieved 15 October 2014.
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