Morrocco was born in Aberdeen in 1917 of immigrant Italian parents. He studied at Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen where he was a pupil of James Cowie and Robert Sivell, and was himself to become head of painting at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Dundee. The subject matter of his still lifes reflects Morrocco's debt to the Colourists, whilst the vibrant, vivid colours of his palette owes much to the inspiration from trips to Italy and Spain in the 1950s.