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{{Infobox musical artist|
{{Infobox musical artist|
| name = Rockette Morton
| name = Rockette Morton
| image = Rockette Morton 2013.jpg
| image = The Magic Band @ the Zanzibar Club, Liverpool 29-9-2012 (8039031690).jpg
| caption = Rockette Morton with the Magic Band at The Fleece, Bristol, in 2013
| caption = Mark Boston AKA Rockette Morton on stage at the Zanzibar Club in Liverpool 29/9/2012
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name = Mark Boston
| birth_name = Mark Boston
Line 21: Line 21:


==Career==
==Career==
In 1963, after moving to [[Lancaster, California|Lancaster]], [[California]], he joined up with future [[Magic Band]] member [[Bill Harkleroad]] aka [[Zoot Horn Rollo]] in a band named B.C. & the Cavemen. Later, while performing in the Magic Band, he played on such critically acclaimed albums as ''[[The Spotlight Kid]]'' and ''[[Trout Mask Replica]]'' produced by [[Frank Zappa]].
In 1963, after moving to [[Lancaster, California|Lancaster]], [[California]], Boston joined up with future [[Magic Band]] member [[Bill Harkleroad]] (aka [[Zoot Horn Rollo]]) in a band named B.C. & the Cavemen.


While working with Beefheart, Boston received his nickname by which he was most often associated for the duration of his career. He performed on five successful albums, which include ''Trout Mask Replica'' (1969), and ''[[Lick My Decals Off, Baby]]'' (1970), which spent eleven weeks on the [[UK Albums Chart]], the most commercially successful of Captain Beefheart's recordings. Following them, 1972 saw the release of two albums: ''[[The Spotlight Kid]]'', and ''[[Clear Spot]]'', and last, ''[[Unconditionally Guaranteed]]'' (1974), which was Beefheart's eighth LP, but failed to climb the ''[[Billboard Top 200]]'', perceived by the Magic Band's fans as too commercial.
He was given the nickname "Rockette Morton" by Captain Beefheart after becoming a member of the Magic Band. Boston 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).
[[File:Rockette Morton and Feelers Rebus.jpg|thumb|left|Rockette Morton and Feelers Rebus]]
[[File:Rockette Morton and Feelers Rebus.jpg|thumb|left|Rockette Morton and [[Denny Walley]] AKA Feelers Rebo at The Fleece, Bristol, in 2013]]
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, when Rockette Morton left to form [[Mallard (band)|Mallard]] with bandmates [[John French (musician)|John French]], [[Bill Harkleroad]], [[John Thomas (keyboardist)|John Thomas]], and [[Art Tripp]]. Following the demise of Mallard, he continued performing in various bands as [[guitarist]] and [[bassist]]. A featured article was published in the music magazine ''Stomp & Stammer'' in October 2012, titled ''The Ring of Rockette Morton.'' The article contains an interview with Mark Boston (aka Rockette Morton) who was 52 years old at that time. He was working on his solo album, under production at his music studio in Aiken, South Carolina. He self-identified as "a Space Nut" and being "pro-Space." He was living in a mobile home, decorated with alien and rocket ship models. At that time, 14 songs had been recorded, many with a space theme, including: "Gonna Take A Rockette To The Moon", "The Space Shuttle, You’re So Subtle," and "Black Hole Boogie."<ref name=Calder>{{cite journal|last1=Calder|first1=Jeff|title=THE RING OF ROCKETTE MORTON|journal=Stomp & Stammer|date=October 2002|volume=7|issue=12|url=http://www.swimmingpoolqs.com/jeff-calders-personal-archive/the-ring-of-rockette-morton/|accessdate=15 October 2014}}</ref> From 2003 to 2006 members of [[the Magic Band]] regrouped and performed on a world tour. Morton has also released a solo album, ''[[Love Space]]'', in 2003. Of this album he wrote, "If you enjoy listening to this music even half as much as I enjoyed recording it, I did my job."<ref>{{cite web|title=LoveSpace liner notes|url=http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rockette|website=CD Baby}}</ref>
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, when Rockette Morton left to form [[Mallard (band)|Mallard]] with bandmates [[John French (musician)|John French]], [[Bill Harkleroad]], [[John Thomas (keyboardist)|John Thomas]], and [[Art Tripp]]. Mallard released two albums, ''[[Mallard (album)|Mallard]]'' (1975) and ''In A Different Climate'' (1976). Following the band's demise, Boston continued performing in various groups as [[guitarist]] and [[bassist]].

Boston 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."<ref>{{cite web|title=LoveSpace liner notes|url=http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rockette|website=CD Baby}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Calder>{{cite journal|last1=Calder|first1=Jeff|title=THE RING OF ROCKETTE MORTON|journal=Stomp & Stammer|date=October 2002|volume=7|issue=12|url=http://www.swimmingpoolqs.com/jeff-calders-personal-archive/the-ring-of-rockette-morton/|accessdate=15 October 2014}}</ref>
In 2003 Boston 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.


==Discography ==
==Discography ==

Revision as of 16:37, 3 April 2015

Rockette Morton
Mark Boston AKA Rockette Morton on stage at the Zanzibar Club in Liverpool 29/9/2012
Mark Boston AKA Rockette Morton on stage at the Zanzibar Club in Liverpool 29/9/2012
Background information
Birth nameMark Boston
BornJuly 1949 (age 75)
Salem, Illinois, U.S.
GenresRock, alternative rock
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Bass, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Years active1963–present
Websiterockettemorton.com

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

Career

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.

He was given the nickname "Rockette Morton" by Captain Beefheart after becoming a member of the Magic Band. Boston 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).

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

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, when Rockette Morton left to form Mallard with bandmates John French, Bill Harkleroad, John Thomas, and Art Tripp. Mallard released two albums, Mallard (1975) and In A Different Climate (1976). Following the band's demise, Boston continued performing in various groups as guitarist and bassist.

Boston 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]

In 2003 Boston 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.

Discography

Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band albums

Mallard albums

Solo albums

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. ^ https://www.facebook.com/mark.boston.568/about
  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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