Peter's music has been heard on hundreds of radio stations and has been on SiriusXM rotation for over a decade. As a multi-award winning artist, Peter's music has also topped Billboard's Classical and Crossover charts.
For Captain Beefheart, a maverick-artist-musician, who was not just a complicated man but highly demanding and by most accounts very difficult to deal with. It was appropriate that Beefheart's Magic Band was to prominently feature a bassist as accomplished, bold and adventurous as Mark Boston, a.k.a Rockette Morton.
Born on July 14, 1949, Mark began life in the small town of Salem, Illinois before his family moved out to Lancaster, California when he was 13. With a bassist and steel player for a father, Mark gained a great appreciation for country and bluegrass along with the R&B and rock’n’roll that was on the rise. Within a year of the Boston clan moving out to Lancaster, Mark befriended a young guitarist by the name of Bill Harkleroad.
At a time when the bass guitar was seen as the dummy’s instrument, Mark left quite an impression on Bill with his talent and equipment, leading to the two joining forces to form BC And The Cavemen. With Mark’s mother sewing some outfits for them, the band developed a decent reputation, and the two would also play in a band with Jeff Cotton and John French known as Blues In A Bottle. And then a local hero came calling. Or perhaps screaming and howling!
In that same Lancaster scene, Captain Beefheart And His Magic Band were making a big splash as a top flight blues rock outfit, with 'Safe As Milk' having made a strong impression and 'Strictly Personal' being a strong record as well. But even with a sound that was speaking to people, one that perhaps would have been a more pragmatic one as far as a career goes, Don Van Vliet just wasn’t meant for conventional norms.
The Captain had all these ideas, ideas far too out for many, including early members. He needed new musicians, younger and more impressionable ones that wouldn’t object to his ideas. Already having John and Jeff in the band, now 'Drumbo' and Antennae Jimmy Semens, he then recruited Bill, dubbed Zoot Horn Rollo. And on bass, he found Mark Boston, who took the name Rockette Morton due to his love of outer space. And the classic Magic Band was born.
Trout Mask Replica (TMR) wasn’t an easy album to make. Yet even with all the bizarre ideas and the difficulty in preparing those ideas into music, Mark was a total champ through it all. The Beefheart sound is one of great dichotomy, and Mark can capture all of it. He’s so tight and precise, and yet there’s this raw grit and dirt. He’s highly intelligent and sophisticated in his playing, and yet there remains this childlike sense of wonder and curiosity.
He takes after all the great traditional American music, yet out into a whole other realm of time and space. The bass traditionally serves the role of grounding the harmony while locking in with the drums to provide a foundation, yet Mark’s playing often serves as another melody line in the music. In a lot of ways, he’s like a third guitarist that just happens to be playing bass.
The TMR on its own is a legacy few can compete with, and yet Mark contributed to more classic records like "Lick My Decals Off, Baby", "The Spotlight Kid", and "Clear Spot". There on Decals, you get the equivalent of Godfather II. With Mother Art Tripp on marimba and drums rather Jeff on guitar, you get an album that captures a great deal of TMR's brilliance while being brilliant in its own unique way.
Then you get to 'The Spotlight Kid', with bass godliness on cuts like “When It Blows Its Stack”, resulting in a bass solo that often opened shows, yet Mark proves himself just as talented on traditional in-the-pocket styles as demonstrated on cuts like “I’m Gonna Booglarize You Baby”. And that thing about bassists being failed guitarists? In the 'Clear Spot', with Mark taking guitar and the rhythm section now being a mini Mothers reunion of Art and Roy Estrada, yet nobody missed a beat. Throughout the record, Bill and Mark’s kinship really shines, their weaving right there with what Bill and Jeff had done, or what was done with Alex St Clair early on.
Of course, dealing with Don was quite a task of its own, so it’s inevitable that Mark and the others would all end up departing by 1974. He and Bill soon formed a group of their own called Mallard. For two albums, the first with Art and having some writing help from John French 'Drumbo', Mallard showed itself a pretty decent blues rock outfit. And giving that it was Mark who finally had a chance to create something that was truly his own rather than helping some achieve their vision, it’s understandably the work that he takes pride in. And over time, he’d end up making a solo record and create some cool artwork of his own, as well as performing with 'Drumbo' in the reformed Magic Band, allowing the music to live and breathe on stage again.
If you’re a Beefheart fan, how can you not love Rockette Morton? Not only a uniquely talented bass player but such a great stage presence full of joy, along with a lovably quirky personality and such a sweet guy. Easily one of my favorites from Magic Band members, you can’t help but smile when thinking about Mark. He’s been through some rough weather, including his health scares, and yet he’s still the same Mark we’ve known and loved all the years.
Happy birthday Mark! Thank you for all you have given us and look forward to more.
___________________
Patrick Moore is a freehand drawing artist and freelance music writer.
Web Desk
TORONTO: When the global IIT alumni meeting in Kolkata in December honours their senior-most and first-batch colleagues to pass out from the Indian Institute of Technology at Kharagpur in 1955, Canada’s oldest IITian Jogendra Singh could be one of them.
'Yes, I have been invited to the three-day PanIIT Global Conference in Kolkata from December 7, but I have yet to make up my mind,’’ says 80-year-old Singh who lives in Mississauga.
And soon his conversation turns to how the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have become India's top global brand today - 60 years later.
'Yes, the seeds of the IIT brand were sown with our first batch (1951-55). We were 210 selected from all over the country through a rigorous process to study at India's first IIT at Kharagpur. We were constantly reminded that we were the cream of India and supposed to excel,’’ says Singh.
'On the very first day, we were told that no mercy will be shown to us, and no mercy was shown. That’s how IIT standards were set.’’
But he gives most of the credit for today’s IIT brand to the first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru for his deep interest in tech education.
"The IITs were part of Nehru’s vision for India’s industrial development. He took personal interest in the first IIT and got the then West Bengal chief minister Bidhan Chandra Roy to give land for it at Kharagpur,’’ Singh says.
[caption id="attachment_79545" align="alignnone" width="800"]
IITian Jogendra Singh (seen here with his wife at a party) says, “We were constantly reminded that we were the cream of India and supposed to excel.”[/caption]
He recalls Nehru coming down for the foundation ceremony of the IIT building. "The prime minister again came for our convocation ceremony and spoke eloquently. We all shook his hands. Nehru was an intellectual giant but very emotional. On the contrary, education minister Abul Kalam Azad was a very calm person. He was very fatherly.’’
Giving examples of how touchy and sensitive Nehru was about properly nurturing the first IIT and its students, Singh recalls, "Once we were planning to go on a hunger-strike to protest against the mess contractor for giving us the same food every day. I think it used to be aloo-poori for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We told the Statesman correspondent in Kharagpur that we are going to go on a hunger-strike to protest against the mess contractor.
"The news was published and Nehru came to know of our hunger-strike. He was angry and phoned IIT director Dr J.C. Ghosh and showed his displeasure. Dr Ghosh called Dr B.R. Seth - who was president of the Gymkhana (students’ body) as well as head of the math department - to look into the matter immediately. Nehru must have scolded him. So Dr Seth came to us to tell that the contractor was being changed. On our suggestion, he also created four sections in the mess - north India, south India, east India and general mess - to cater to students from all regions of India.
[caption id="attachment_79540" align="alignnone" width="640"]
IITian Jogendra Singh recalls how Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru became furious after he came to know of their hunger-strike over food in the mess and phoned the IIT Kharagpur director to address their grievances immediately.[/caption]
"But when Nehru came to know of these north/south/east/west sections in our mess, he again got furious. Probably the reason for his outburst was the new agitation for linguistic states. So he told the mess director to stop this north-south thing and have only two sections: veg and non-veg. That showed how particular Nehru was about engendering the right culture at the IITs.’’
Singh says he had just completed his B.Sc (honours) in physics from Delhi’s St. Stephen's College in 1951 when an advertisement for IIT admissions appeared in the newspapers.
"Interviews were held in Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Madras and Allahabad. I remember 10 students were selected from each state. There were 60 seats each for mechanical, civil and electrical engineering. Plus there were 30 seats for building construction which were later merged with civil engineering.’’
Were there any girls among them? "Oh, no. Not even when I graduated in 1955,’’ laughs Singh.
As there were not many Indian teachers at the time, he says, mostly foreigners headed the IIT departments. "Since IIT Kharagpur was financed by UNESCO, foreign professors came there as part of that. One Dr Kraus was head of mechanical engineering. He was from Germany.''
[caption id="attachment_79542" align="alignnone" width="800"]
Since the Kharagpur IIT building was not ready in 1951, India's first IIT batch started at the Hijli Jail where the British used to keep political prisoners. The jail was lying vacant after India's independence in 1947 and thus was put to good use.[/caption]
Since the IIT Kharagpur building was not ready in 1951, the classes for the first batch started in the old jail in the small village of Hijli.
"It was a huge political prison which was lying vacant after India’s independence. West Bengal chief minister Bidhan Chandra Roy gave it to the IIT. Slowly, the new campus started coming up,'' says Singh.
He says his monthly mess bill used to come to Rs 60. "That was a bit high. But our annual fee was Rs 200, and we used to pay it in four installments.’’
Since Kharagpur was a railway town, he says, there were no recreational facilities there in those days. "But there used to be an Anglo-Indian club called the South Institute where they often showed English movies. We used to go there once in a while. That was the only luxury to us in those days,’’ he recalls.
After earning his electrical engineering degree in 1955, Jogendra Singh served in various capacities - first with the Central Water and Power Commission (CWPC) and then the Delhi Electric Supply Undertaking (DESU) where he was one of the two superintending engineers (distribution). In 1975, he decided to emigrate to Canada.
Since his 20-year work experience and IIT degrees had no recognition in Canada, Singh had to do his M.Sc from the University of Saskatchewan to be eligible for a job.
He joined Ontario Hydro after earning his Canadian degree and retired in 1997.
Winding off the conversation, he laughs, "You know, I changed the spellings of my name from Joginder to Jogendra as I was impressed by Sir Jogendra Singh, who was on the viceroy’s executive council and the brain behind the IITs, after meeting him during a visit to our school in Ajmer in the mid-1940s. I never knew at the time that I will be the first product (IITian) of his idea.’’
READ ALSO: Bal Krishan Kaplish was first IITian to abroad and marry a foreigner
Mangi Lal Agarwal: Any " respected old-timer" in or around Montreal? I am here for a few days visiting my son and his family here. would love to see you.... Mangi (1966-71, Patel Hall, Mech. Engg )
Derek Michael D'Costa: Dear Jogendra:
When I joined Ontario Hydro (now Ontario Power Generation) in 1989, you were among the first IIT-Kgpians to congratulate me, and roped me right away into the IIT Kharagpur Alumni Association (now IIT Alumni Canada - IITAC) Executive, where as the founding President, you held monthly meetings on your fourth floor Board Room, and even held weekly meetings just before the annual picnics & dinners.
I was an Executive Board Member of IITAC from 1989-97, serving from 1993-95 as the General Secretary (V.P. Admin).
Thanks to your strong early guidance & dedication, IITAC is now a registered Not-for-Profit Organization, with a Constitution and thriving Membership!
With my best wishes and warmest regards,
Yours very sincerely,
Professional Engineer 1976
Derek Michael D'Costa, FEC'09
IIT Kharagpur Chem Engr 1969
Professional Engineers Ontario-West Toronto Chapter Executive Board Member 2023.
54 years in Toronto, Canada.
March 18, 2023
Ng: Dear Sir
Glad to meet you. Im from Patel hall, 2001 pass out.However im unable to enter Canada as per new rules job offer needs LMIA and employers are reluctant. I was trying hard to connect to IITIans for some guidance. Kindly give me your valuable advice sir.
Jogendra Singh: Dear Bal Krishan:
Thanks for your comments about my interview.
My interview has awakened old memories not only in my mind but also in the minds of others of the incredulous time we all had in Patel Hall and the IIT campus. By God's grace we have all done well in life, albeit some better than the others. I was talking to Dr. Mohan Mathur (Class of 1959) last night and the name of Raghbir Singh Bir came up. You will recall him as your classmate. He was a gifted artist besides being an engineer.
I notice that you left India very early and after doing your masters in England went to Germany. It must have been rather challenging in the beginning as you may have had to learn German. I met Avtar and his wife Maria in Delhi last year and we talked about you. I believe he is not far from your place.
I am sure you would be the oldest IITian in Germany and may be all over Europe. I recall that Dharam Pal from the 1956 batch went to Switzerland and married a Swiss lady and settled there.
I meet your nephew, Praveen, and his wife on IIT functions. They are a good couple.
Remember my wife Jaswant and me to Monika and your daughters.
Warm regards and keep in touch.
Jaswant and Jogendra Singh
Jogendra Singh
2064 Wincanton Cres.
Mississauga, ON
L5M 3E3
Jogendra Singh: Dear Mohan:
Thanks for your kind comments. This exercise has revived my memories of the incredible four years that I was privileged to spend at Kharagpur. All of us who were fortunate to be taught by the members of the faculty will agree with you whole-heartedly that those four years at Kharagpur were undoubtedly the best period of our learning span.
Although I learnt from teachers both before and after those four years at Kharagpur, I must say Prof. Kesavmurty was one of the two best teachers I ever had. He held the class spellbound. The other was Dr. M. N. Saha who taught sub-atomic physics for my B. Sc. (Hons) course at Delhi University.
Prof. T.V. Srinivasan was the first and for some time the only teacher in the electrical engineering department before Kesavmurty, Varshney, Menon and others joined the faculty. He started teaching us direct current machines and asked us to buy Christie's book. Also, he asked us to buy an inter-leaf exercise book for taking notes. Notes were to be written on the ruled side and figures were to be drawn on the blank side using a pencil. We felt we were being treated as school children. I was a good but playful student and I gave him the name of Masterji which stuck to him even after I left.
Masterji often used to push us hard and sometimes expected impossible efforts. Once he gave us a problem which nobody was able to complete within the given time. We completed the problem in our rooms later and switched papers in his office at night. Perhaps we had an informer among us and Masterji came to know about it. He was visibly angry in his next class and refused to teach us calling us a bunch of cheats and thieves. Wiser counsel eventually prevailed and he resumed teaching after sometime.
I am copying my comments to Dr. Mohan Mathur to you to give you a flavour of our times at Kharagpur.
If you have missed my interview with News East-West and would like to read it click on the link below:
http://newseastwest.com/canadas-oldest-iitian-jogendra-singh-recalls-nehru-anecdotes-how-iits-became-top-brand/
Regards,
Jogendra Singh
2064 Wincanton Cres.
Mississauga, ON
L5M 3E3
R. Mohan Mathur: Jogendra ji: Your, and through you, IIT Kharagpur's coverage was great. Congratulations! You raked many fond memories for me. I joined IIT Kharagpur in 1956 a year after your graduation. The commonality between us is that I too am an electrical graduate, a Patelian and had an association with Ontario Hydro from 1990 to 99. Perhaps ours was the first batch requiring a written examination as well as an interview for admission at Kharagpur. I recall an extremely keen competition from superbright colleagues from all parts of India, outstanding professors like Sukumaran, Kesavamurthy, Srinivasan (Masterji) and others,and an onslaught of oral and written examinations. Those four years were the best of my lifelong learning. By the time I arrived in Canada(1969) IIT qualifications were recognized for professional registration. It is indeed a matter of pride and pleasure to see the distinction IITs have earned internationally.
Wishing you good health and happy retirement.
Mohan Mathur
Bal Krishan Kaplish: Dear Jogendra,
Pleased to see your interview with the latest photos. It reminded me of our time together at the IIT Campus and our Patel Hall. I did Mechanical Engineering in 1955. I was the first of our batch who left India for further studies. I joined Sheffield University in October 1955 and did Masters in Metallurgy. Since 1971 I am in Germany and may be the oldest IITian in Germany. I am also 80 years old. Best wishes to you and your wife from Monika and myself.
Bal Krishan Kaplish
K K AGARAWAL: Dear Jogendra Singhji,
Very inspiring. What I find is common to this day is the IIT spirit. Incidentally, I am with CEA as one of its members.Hope to see you sometime.
Jogendra Singh: Dear Paramjit:
Thanks for your narrative of your visit to Kharagpur. However, I find your encounter with the Duke of Edinburgh to be more interesting.
Jogendra Singh
Jogendra Singh: Thanks for your comments. Incidentally, I worked for Mr. A.P. Seethapathy (Ravi's father) while I was in CW&PC.
Naseem is one year junior to me (he is from 1956 batch). He had a room on the same floor as I while he was in Patel Hall.
Parmjit Singh Sandhu(1966)..Ist Batch IITD: Dear Bharaji,
Impresssed by your interview and one is proud to be an IITian (First Batch). Rami (wife) says......it is curse to marry IITian.......R high headed and egoistic.
I remember KHARAGPUR, way back 1963-64 (One of my best day in my life/career). I was overall captain and led IIT-Dwlhi sports contingent for a sports meet (All IITs), held in Kharagpur. I was also captain of my hockey team, the match was between KHARAGPUR and DELHI and it was Sunday.The stadium was FULL....70%-80% Anglo-Indian population... Kharagpur team were having six state-level professionals from Panjab University.The match decided on a controversial goal scored by Kharagpur in dying minutes.I was a CHINA WALL between goal post and Khragpur players.
The STADIUM GAVE me a standing ovation.... and the ANGLO-INDIAN CLUB called me for DINNER.....One of my memories of KHARAGPUR..63-64.
First Batch- 1966 (Passed out)- IIT Delhi
Umesh Kumar Dubey: Dear Sir,
Nice article, gives us a warm feeling about the place, from where we passed out in 1975. Ravi Seethapathy, your colleague and my classmate, shared it with us classmates. Thanks for talking about those early days. Here is the link to a piece by Prof MN Faruqi on the same subject http://debashis1.tripod.com/kgphistory/kgphistory2.htm .
With best wishes,
Umesh K Dubey EE 75 KGP
Ravi Seethapathy: Dear Jogendra,
I was away all this week and just came home....
What a great article and the way you have summarised it in examples is truly a masterpiece in understanding what was the vision then and how the foundations in the people side too had to be laid as well.
Kudos.
Best
Ravi Seethapathy
Ahmad Cameron: We all are proud of you, Jogendra Sahab.
Ahmad Cameron
Brampton ON
Rabiz Foda: Congratulations, Jogendra Singh for a very inspiring and thought-provoking interview.
Very best regards,
Rabiz Foda
Amar Mukherjee: I am very pleased to read about Shri Jogendra Singh - a first-batch student of IIT, Kharagpur. I was a third-batch student of IIT, Kharagpur. I also attended some classes at the old jail building. It is interesting to know that Mr.Singh did his M.Sc from the University of Saskatchewan. I also had my M.Sc from the same university. I was in Saskatoon from 1966 to 1976. 
