Rooster Morris

Rooster Morris, writer-musician-songwriter, is the author of the "Axle Galench" children’s book series and co-owner of Axle Publishing Company, Inc. and Laid-Back West, an educational materials distribution company. The first book in his series, "Axle Galench and the Gate of No Return", was published in 2004. Rooster released his second book, "Axle Galench in Search of Barnsfoggon", in 2005, and has also recorded and performed the music for audio books for each release. "Axle Galench and the Spin Lizard Rescue" is currently in its final stages of editing and will be published sometime in 2008. Since 2004, Rooster and his wife/business partner Jody Logsdon have sold a combined total of over 13,500 of his books and audio books in his self-publishing endeavors. He has performed for over 2.5 million children since the publication of his first book. [ [http://www.robinson.k12.tx.us/primary/news.htm Robinson Primary School News] ] [ [http://www.stratfordeducationfoundation.com/grants.php Stratford ISD Education Foundation] ] [ [http://www.samfa.org/rooster_morris.htm San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts] ] [ [http://dwhm.org/documents/RoosterMorrisLecture-011907.pdf Durham Western Heritage Museum] ] He was featured in the "Texas Living" section of "Southern Living Magazine" in January 2007. [Lingo, K. (January, 2007). Reading with Rooster. "Southern Living Magazine", 10-11.] Rooster currently resides in Rockdale, Texas.

Personal life

David Lee Morris was born in Ridgecrest, California, on September 16, 1955, and soon acquired the nickname Rooster. Rooster spent his childhood immersed in the cowboy life. At the age of five, he began riding horses and working cattle with his father on ranches in the tri-state area of Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Because he lived in remote places and had few friends his own age, Rooster invented a unique way of entertaining himself. He started mimicking bird calls and coyote howls, then began developing unusual voices. Many years later, the skills he taught himself would result in the recording of an audio book written by John R. Erickson, the author of the "Hank the Cowdog" books. "Moonshiner’s Gold" contained seventeen people for which Rooster did different voice characterizations. [Erickson, J. R. "Moonshiner’s Gold".]

Musical Background

Rooster’s musical skills are self-taught as well. He began learning to play the fiddle when he was a teenager. By the time he graduated from high school, he was playing fiddle for the historic Western Cowpunchers Association that was established in the 1880’s in Amarillo, Texas. He has since been recorded by the Smithsonian Institution playing old-time fiddle music (album title, "Ridin’ Old Paint"), [ [http://ecommons.txstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=article=1008&context=jtmh Journal of Texas Music History] ] recorded a CD of his original compositions ("Picnic Tree"), and taught himself how to play guitar, mandolin, and bass.

Becoming a Writer

In 1999, Rooster opened for children’s author John R. Erickson during a public event in Lubbock, Texas. The response of the audience to Mr. Erickson’s reading moved Rooster to become acquainted with the "Hank the Cowdog" series. He spoke with John, who encouraged him to learn some of the songs and voices so he could do "Hank the Cowdog" programs in schools. Rooster soon learned the songs and voices from Mr. Erickson’s audio books and, in a business agreement with Mr. Erickson, began performing solo "Hank the Cowdog" shows, ultimately reaching over two million people over the next three years. The enthusiasm of the children to the performances, as well as the positive influence Rooster could see the performances were having on their reading, convinced him to begin writing his own books. His school and community performances now highlight his own "Axle Galench" books, and include music, storytelling, and writing workshop components. [ [http://www.rockdalereporter.com/features/Rooster.htm Rockdale Reporter] ] [ [http://timesrecordnews.com/news/2008/jan/31/something-crow-about/ Times Record News] ] [ [http://youtube.com/watch?v=vXNeAdETzcE Video of Rooster Morris's performance] ] [ [http://youtube.com/watch?v=9syvxO-7Lgk Video of Rooster Morris's performance] ]

Publications

Books

*"Axle Galench and the Gate of No Return" (2004)
*"Axle Galench in Search of Barnsfoggon" (2005)
*"Axle Galench and the Spin Lizard Rescue" (2008-Not Yet Released)

Audiobooks

*"Hank the Cowdog" audio books 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 by John R. Erickson, recorded in Amarillo, Texas; fiddle, guitar, and vocal harmonies by Rooster Morris (2000-2005)
*"Moonshiner's Gold" audio book by John R. Erickson, recorded in Amarillo, Texas; all voice work and background fiddle by Rooster Morris (2001)
*"Axle Galench and the Gate of No Return" audio book and music CD by Rooster Morris, recorded in Perryton, Texas; all voice work, vocals, fiddle, rhythm guitar, keyboard, bass, electric guitar, and percussion by Rooster Morris; produced by Rooster Morris (2004)
*"Axle Galench in Search of Barnsfoggon" audio book and music CD by Rooster Morris, recorded in Perryton, Texas; all voice work, vocals, fiddle, rhythm guitar, keyboard, bass, electric guitar, and percussion by Rooster Morris; produced by Rooster Morris (2005)

Other Recordings

*"Ol' Shep" by Enid Morris, Recorded in Amarillo, Texas; background fiddle by Rooster Morris (1993)

*"Buffalo Hunter" for Buffalo Bill Museum, Cody, Wyoming; recorded in Amarillo, Texas; fiddle accompaniment by Rooster Morris (1995)

*"Live Recordings", Nara Visa, NM, for Santa Fe Folk Music State Archives; vocal and fiddle accompaniment by Rooster Morris (1996, 1997)
*"Picnic Tree", lyrics, guitar & fiddle by Rooster Morris (1998)
*"Live Recordings", Elko, NV; recorded live for the Western Heritage Center; fiddle accompaniment by Rooster Morris for Buck Ramsey, Rich O'Brian & Native American, Hank Real Bird (1996, 1997, 1998)
*"The Medicine Keepers" by J. B. Allen, recorded in Lubbock, Texas; fiddle accompaniment by Rooster Morris (1999)
*"Ridin' Old Paint - Documenting the Canadian River Fiddle Tradition", recorded at Boys Ranch, Texas, by the Smithsonian Institute; vocals and lead fiddle by Rooster Morris (1999)

References