Rocky Morales-Tenor Sax Legend

Rocky was the heart and soul of the "West Side Horns",
His sound came from the heart.
Rocky had a sound, all his own,
it was that soul he had in his tone that made the difference.
No matter what brand of horn he played.
Since he was 15, Morales started playing alto sax in Rhodes junior high and at Fox Tech High School.
The sound of another San Antonian changed his mind.
When he heard “Clifford Scott” play “Honky Tonk”,
That’s when Rocky switched to tenor.
Morales was influenced by great jazz sax players such as
John Coltrane , Eddie Harris , Miles Davis , Sonny Rollins ,
Yusef Lateef which Rocky had the pleasure recording on
( Part of the Search ) “Rockhouse”.
Rocky played many different tenors over the years.
Salmer and Yamaha too name a few,
His last (main) ax was a 1920s vintage Martin Busine.
The tone was HIM, not the horn.
Rocky’s first band was “the Spinners” in (1959),
And later change into “the Silhouettes” in (1960).
And in (1961) formed “The Markays”, featuring Doug Sahm.
Also in (1975) “Mother Truck”.
In (1982) He had his own band called “Rocky & His Friends”.
In 1961, when he first played with genre-defying Doug Sahm,
recording the song "Why Why Why" for Harlem label,
By a band Morales was fronting at the time named “The Markays”,
Doug credited his tenor sax man Rocky for being the secret weapon between his genius style musical collaboration, That lasted the rest of Sahm's life.
Sahm would shout the famous call to arms: "ROCCCKKKKYYYYYYYY" signaling Morales to step up and show his wings. Morales wailing tenor saxophone became an integral part, Of not only Doug Sahm's many musical incarnations,
The Return of Doug Saldaña (1971), Texas Tornado (1973), The West Side Sound Rolls Again (1984) and The Last Real Texas Blues Band (1994) are among the Sir Douglas Quintet, Doug Sahm and Texas Tornados albums on which Rocky appeared.
Rocky stood shoulder to shoulder with Sahm on stages around the world. The resulting sound was unique in its soulfulness, exactly the touch Sahm loved to use in his various hybrids of rock, country, and blues.
Founder of the original West Side Horns, Rocky Morales (tenor sax), Louie Bustos (tenor, baritone sax) and Charlie McBirney (trumpet), Started working together, off and on, in the '60s, Before the crew had a name. They regularly worked with Texas music icon Doug Sahm, Who named them the West Side Horns in (1981).
The West Side Horns toured and recorded with Sahm for years; All over the world, including gigs in Canada, Europe, Scandinavia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Amsterdam, Japan, Switzerland, Belgium and Cuba as well across the United States several times.
Rocky has been the driving force behind many San Antonio’s R&B top bands, his sound was a mixture of classic 50's, becoming more prominent with his band. The Westside Horns.
But also a touchstone for many Alamo & Austin City musicians, Including; the Lucky 13 band, Joe King Carrasco, Augie Meyers, Kim Wilson, Rick Danko, Johnny Nicohlas, Angela Strehli, Lou Ann Barton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Albert Collins, James Hinkle, Janine Wilson, Jackie King, Amos Garrett, Benoît Blue Boy en Amérique, Zuzu Bollin, and many others.
In 2000, he began performing with Texas R&B Randy Garibay and his Cats Don't Sleep Band.
Other members of this group have included Al Gomez on trumpet, Spot Barnet on saxophone, Mike Zeal on bass, Moses Vasquez on drums, keyboardist Sauce Gonzalez.
While they consistently worked various gigs, together and apart, The horns gained their recognition, and an international identity, Via their work with Doug Sahm. When McBirney left the road, trumpeter Al Gomez stepped in.
Rocky was also one of the best blues vocalists out there and star on, The West Side Horns' San Quilmas album. Where he played sax and sung lead on two Jimmy Reed compositions, no one alive raved up Jimmy Reed better.
Check out The West Side Horns on "San Quilmas" the group has finally released an album under their own name. on Dialtone Records.
Sahm's version of "Wasted Days, Wasted Nights" punched up by Rocky Morales' sax, in the "West Side tenor" style, which he invented. on “The Return of Doug Saldana” album.
Also check out Rocky’s version on Texas sax man Clifford Scott's groundbreaking instrumental hit, "Honky Tonk." Recorded live on Doug Sahm's "Last Real Texas Blues Band" album.
Check out Rocky’s own composition, "Funky Butt", on Joe "King" Carrasco's Tex-Mex Rock-Roll “El Molino” album. And a newer version on Lucky 13, “Lucky Club Music” album.
Also check out Rocky’s “Sukiyaki” version on the last track on Amos Garrett “Live in Japan” album. Rocky's sound: "It comes from the heart, man, it came from the heart."
In December 3, 2004, Rocky was presented with a “Lifetime Achievement Award”, For his Legendary and Lifetime Contribution to chicano Blues and the Westside Sound.
Also in February 11, 2007, Rocky was hornered with the “Westside Rhythm And Blues Award”, For his Contribution to the Music field of Rhythm and Blues. Which Rocky’s son accepted for the late great saxman his dad.
Check out www.myspace.com/rockymoralesson
Rocky was glad for his son, it’s cool. His sons dicision to make music, it’s a different generation.
Long before he took the stage, Morales gained the nickname "Rocky" when a cousin could not pronounce his given name.
Eracleo "Rocky" M. Morales, a tenor saxophonist who was a fixture of San Antonio's music scene. Died of cancer.
Wednesday (8/2) at about 4:15 p.m. at University Hospital. The co-founder of the West Side Horns, and Doug Sahm's top tenor man, battled cancer for months.
A musician to the end, Morales died with a song on his lips, though it was muffled by an oxygen mask.
"The nurse said, 'He's humming something, 'Well, he's a musician,'" said Helen Morales, his wife of nearly 47 years. "His life was music."
Rocky had a big spirit, a big sound and a way of getting into — and out of — predicaments that will keep those on the music front laughing for years. And the music he left, work with the West Side Horns, various Doug Sahm aggregations and the Texas Tornados, will stand as a testimony to his talent, his soul and his Legacy.
His influences will live forever.
Truely the greatest of the great San Antonio tenor players.