Rockette Morton

Rockette Morton
Rockette Morton on stage at the Zanzibar Club in Liverpool, 29 Sept 2012
Background information
Birth name	Mark Boston
Born	(1949-07-14)14 July 1949 Salem, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Rock, alternative rock
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Bass, guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Years active	1963–present
Associated acts	Captain Beefheart Mallard Frank Zappa
Website	rockettemorton.com

Rockette Morton (real name Mark Boston; born on 14 July 1949 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.

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. 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, when Rockette Morton left to form 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.