Steve Morse
Encyclopedia
Steven J. "Steve" Morse (born 28 July 1954) is an American guitarist and composer, best known for his work in the hard rock band Deep Purple
since 1994. He began his career to form the unique styled instrumental rock band Dixie Dregs
in the 1970. Morse's musical inspiration comes from country
, funk
, jazz fusion
, and hard rock
. In addition to a thriving solo career, he had a brief stint with Kansas
in the mid 80s.
, then Ypsilanti
, Michigan, where Morse spent his childhood. Although familiar with piano and clarinet
, Morse ultimately became interested in guitar after seeing a gentleman finger picking a Dixie melody at a county fair. Morse worked briefly with his brother Dave in a band called The Plague until the family moved to Augusta
, Georgia. In the late 60s, he played in a band called Three-- named on the day of a local battle of the bands (and finishing 2nd)-- with his older brother; and 12 yr. old keyboardist William Gerald (Jerry) Wooten, a student at the same junior high as, though 1 grade earlier than, the 13 yr. old guitarist. Wooten, at Morse's suggestion (after a tryout-- with tentative pointers of the solo- and bass-key style on the Doors' "Light My Fire", at the home of the young Morse) added bass keys (as well as melodic blues scales learned from Steve) to the band-- and was known casually as "Steve's Little Brother", by schoolmates and denizens of a local psychedelic youth club, "The Green Onion" where-- along with Legion Halls and church functions-- the early band performed. Enrolled in the Academy of Richmond County
, he met bassist Andy West and, together, they formed the nucleus of the Dixie Grit, adding keyboardist Johnny Carr, guitarist and vocalist Frank Brittingham with Dave Morse drumming. However, this effort was short lived, since covering Led Zeppelin
, Cream
and the like limited their ability to get higher-paying jobs at local dance halls.
West and Morse continued to play as a duet billed as the Dixie Dregs
until Morse's expulsion from school in the 10th grade (for refusing to cut his hair) enabled his enrolment at the esteemed University of Miami
School of Music.
During the 1970s, the University of Miami played host to a number of future influential musicians, including Bruce Hornsby
, Pat Metheny
, Chuck Schuldiner
, Jaco Pastorius
and others. Andy West also enrolled at the University of Miami and, with Morse, drummer Bart Yarnall, keyboardist Frank Josephs and violinist Allen Sloan, collaborated in a lab project entitled Rock Ensemble II. Rehearsing and performing Morse's compositions at the University of Miami brought some attention to his credibility as a composer and player. The group compiled a recording used for promotional efforts in 1975. This recording was eventually released as The Great Spectacular in 1997.
, replaced the injured Bart Yarnall and the band commenced performing on a regular basis, interspersing their compositions with covers of John McLaughlin
and of southern rock gems. Despite their decidedly non-commercial intent, an increasingly heavier performance schedule eventually led to the attention of Capricorn Records
recruiters including Allman Brothers Band manager Twiggs Lyndon and, in late 1976, the group was signed by the vaunted southern rock label.
Their first effort for Capricorn, Free Fall, established Morse as an important newcomer to the fusion genre, and he was recognised for both his compositional skills (having written all 11 tracks) and his consummate musicianship. Although critically acclaimed as a pivotal jazz fusion
album, the LP sold poorly.
What If was released in 1978 to continued acclaim. Writing credits were more collaborative and the band's sound had matured into something a bit more than what defined fusion at the time. Southern rock, classical, folk and country elements combined to form a cohesive and complex pastiche of passionate and highly listenable music. Though supported by a tour, record sales remained flat, but gained Morse and the band received an invitation to perform at Montreux Jazz Festival
on 23 July 1978. The recorded performance was released the following year on Night of the Living Dregs
. Capricorn went bankrupt in late 1979, and the Dixie Dregs were left without a label.
Arista Records
stepped in to sign the band in 1979 to record three albums. Production control was handed to Morse, and Dregs of the Earth
was released in May 1980. All eight tracks were written by Morse, and the album peaked at number 27 on Billboard's Jazz Album Chart.
Arista became increasingly concerned about Dixie Dregs' album sales and pressured the band to change their name to simply The Dregs in an attempt to increase the band's visibility in the public eye. Unsung Heroes
brought eight additional Morse compositions forward in early 1981, but the name change did little to address Arista's worries. The Dregs were compelled to add lyrics to their next effort, appropriately titled Industry Standard
, an apparent reference to executive and management oversight of their creative process.
Despite this, Morse's compositions on Industry Standard began to sound more like his evolving solo work than Dregs' collaborations, and the album stood up to critical and public praise. Industry Standard was voted "Best Guitar LP" by readers of Guitar Player
magazine in their annual reader's poll that year. Additionally, Morse was voted "Best Overall Guitarist" in the same poll, an honour that he would hold for five consecutive years (which ended his eligibility by retiring him into their "Gallery of Greats", a distinction shared only by Steve Howe
of Yes
.) Having fulfilled their commitment to Arista, the band succumbed to the pressures of constant gigging, and disbanded in early 1983.
In the late 1980s, the group reunited for a tour featuring former members Morse, Morgenstein, Lavitz and Sloan. Their return was complemented by a "Best Of" release entitled Divided We Stand. Bassist Dave LaRue
completed the line-up for a seven date tour culminating in the 1992 live album Bring 'em Back Alive. Violinist Jerry Goodman
, of The Mahavishnu Orchestra
fame, filled in for Sloan, who was frequently absent as a result of his busy medical career. They signed a deal with former label Capricorn Records
for their first studio album in years entitled Full Circle in 1994.
in September. The group toured Germany in early 1984 with Morse conducting clinics, and the group was signed by Elektra Records
, who released The Introduction mid-year. A second German tour began in December 1984 and Stand Up was released in 1985. This effort included guest vocalists and guitarists (Eric Johnson
, Alex Ligertwood
, Peter Frampton
, Albert Lee
, Van Temple), and violinist Mark O'Connor
. He toured with Rush
as a main opener on their Power Windows
tour.
In 1986, Morse joined the rock group Kansas
. While with the band, they released two albums, Power and In the Spirit of Things
. While he was with the band, Kansas had its last big hit, "All I Wanted," which reached the Billboard Top 20 and on which Morse received co-writing credit. Morse left the band after touring behind the latter album. He re-joined the band for part of their 1991 tour.
From late 1987 to early 1988, Morse worked as a commercial airline co-pilot.
. Since then, Morse has played on four Deep Purple studio albums Purpendicular
, Abandon
, Bananas
, and Rapture of the Deep
, as well as seven of their live albums. Those studio albums achieved modest success, particularly in Europe, and relatively successful world tour followed.
, Bob Daisley
, Lee Kerslake
and Don Airey
, formed Living Loud
in 2003. The group released one studio album and a live DVD in 2004/2005. In Spring 2010 it was reported that Steve Morse and Bob Daisley started work on the new studio album which is set for a release in 2011.
. The album, of the same name, was released on 10 August 2010 on Radiant Records
. The album features Dave Larue
and Van Romaine of the Steve Morse Band on bass and drums, respectively. The album has a textural, acoustic sound that differs from Morse's previous work.
Angelfire opened for the Steve Morse Band for several shows in California (January) and Florida (March) of 2010.
and Eric Johnson
. He is regularly cited by John Petrucci
as a major influence. Guitarist Shawn Lane
regarded Steve Morse as one of the most talented guitarist of his time, Morse has proven himself throughout his career as capable of playing highly complex chord structures in classical
sequences, as well as being able to play fast, alternate picked arpeggios. He is well known for using harmonics and improvising them in songs during live performances, such as in Deep Purple's "Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming". Morse continues to tell it like it is at Clinics (Ernie Ball) throughout the world and touches upcoming musicians directly through his words and indirectly through his compositions and recordings. (lords)
body with a Strat
neck, a Gibson
style stop tailpiece ( coming from a twelve string guitar) and 4 pickups in HSSH configuration.
Steve was then approached by Music Man Guitars
to create a signature model to his specifications; he is now one of the longest endorsees of the company in particular he's been using prototype n°1 of his steve morse signature guitar for more than 20 years (the guitar has been refretted eight times and is still the first original one).
He now has two signature models with MusicMan guitars:
Both are available with a stop tail piece or floyd rose bridge.
Steve says that the pickup configurations that he uses the most are, the bridge pickup by itself, the neck pickup by itself, bridge and neck HB together, Bridge and first (aligned) single coil together.
The super 5 way switch on the newest SM Y2D guitar replicates these combinations.
the DP 205 Bridge model and the DP 200 Neck model. They are evenly balanced to allow playing all over the fretboard, since steve plays high notes on the neck pickup and low ones on the bridge. They are the main pickups into his signature model. Dimarzio also wires a custom wound single coil pickup for Music Man
to use into the SM signture model.
. He has released a signature model , the ENGL E-656 Steve Morse signature Amplifier
. It is a 3 channel amp specially designed by Steve with a custom version of the famous ENGL "midrange matrix".
are very simple, consisting only of a Boss OC-3 Octaver and two delays: Electro-Harmonix
memory man now replaced with the newest TC Electronic
toneprint delay (Steve has created custom presets). He is also using a TC Electronic
Polytune guitar tuner.
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
since 1994. He began his career to form the unique styled instrumental rock band Dixie Dregs
Dixie Dregs
The Dixie Dregs are an American band formed in the 1970s. Their mostly instrumental music fuses jazz, southern rock, bluegrass and classical forms in an often unique style.-Formation and early years:...
in the 1970. Morse's musical inspiration comes from country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
, and hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
. In addition to a thriving solo career, he had a brief stint with Kansas
Kansas (band)
Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
in the mid 80s.
Early
Morse's father was a minister and his mother a classically trained pianist; both were also psychologists. The family moved to TennesseeTennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, then Ypsilanti
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,362. The city is bounded to the north by the Charter Township of Superior and on the west, south, and east by the Charter Township of Ypsilanti...
, Michigan, where Morse spent his childhood. Although familiar with piano and clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, Morse ultimately became interested in guitar after seeing a gentleman finger picking a Dixie melody at a county fair. Morse worked briefly with his brother Dave in a band called The Plague until the family moved to Augusta
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
, Georgia. In the late 60s, he played in a band called Three-- named on the day of a local battle of the bands (and finishing 2nd)-- with his older brother; and 12 yr. old keyboardist William Gerald (Jerry) Wooten, a student at the same junior high as, though 1 grade earlier than, the 13 yr. old guitarist. Wooten, at Morse's suggestion (after a tryout-- with tentative pointers of the solo- and bass-key style on the Doors' "Light My Fire", at the home of the young Morse) added bass keys (as well as melodic blues scales learned from Steve) to the band-- and was known casually as "Steve's Little Brother", by schoolmates and denizens of a local psychedelic youth club, "The Green Onion" where-- along with Legion Halls and church functions-- the early band performed. Enrolled in the Academy of Richmond County
Academy of Richmond County
The Academy of Richmond County is a public high school listed on the National Register of Historic Places located in Augusta, Georgia, USA. Originally known as Richmond County Military Academy, and commonly known as Richmond Academy, it was chartered in 1783...
, he met bassist Andy West and, together, they formed the nucleus of the Dixie Grit, adding keyboardist Johnny Carr, guitarist and vocalist Frank Brittingham with Dave Morse drumming. However, this effort was short lived, since covering Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Cream
Cream (band)
Cream were a 1960s British rock supergroup consisting of bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce, guitarist/vocalist Eric Clapton, and drummer Ginger Baker...
and the like limited their ability to get higher-paying jobs at local dance halls.
West and Morse continued to play as a duet billed as the Dixie Dregs
Dixie Dregs
The Dixie Dregs are an American band formed in the 1970s. Their mostly instrumental music fuses jazz, southern rock, bluegrass and classical forms in an often unique style.-Formation and early years:...
until Morse's expulsion from school in the 10th grade (for refusing to cut his hair) enabled his enrolment at the esteemed University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
School of Music.
During the 1970s, the University of Miami played host to a number of future influential musicians, including Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and...
, Pat Metheny
Pat Metheny
Patrick Bruce "Pat" Metheny is an American jazz guitarist and composer.One of the most successful and critically acclaimed jazz musicians to come to prominence in the 1970s and '80s, he is the leader of the Pat Metheny Group and is also involved in duets, solo works and other side projects...
, Chuck Schuldiner
Chuck Schuldiner
Charles Michael "Chuck" Schuldiner was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist.Schuldiner was the singer, songwriter, and guitarist of the band Death, which he founded in 1983, initially under the name Mantas. He also recorded as guitarist and songwriter with his other band, Control Denied...
, Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius
John Francis Anthony Pastorius III , known as Jaco Pastorius, was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged as a virtuoso electric bass player....
and others. Andy West also enrolled at the University of Miami and, with Morse, drummer Bart Yarnall, keyboardist Frank Josephs and violinist Allen Sloan, collaborated in a lab project entitled Rock Ensemble II. Rehearsing and performing Morse's compositions at the University of Miami brought some attention to his credibility as a composer and player. The group compiled a recording used for promotional efforts in 1975. This recording was eventually released as The Great Spectacular in 1997.
Dixie Dregs
Upon Morse's graduation from the University of Miami in 1975, he and West officially named the group Dixie Dregs. A fellow University of Miami alumnus, Rod MorgensteinRod Morgenstein
Rod Morgenstein is an American drummer and music educator. He is best known for his work with the late '80s Heavy metal band Winger and with the Jazz fusion band Dixie Dregs. He also played with Fiona, Platypus, The Steve Morse Band, and Jelly Jam...
, replaced the injured Bart Yarnall and the band commenced performing on a regular basis, interspersing their compositions with covers of John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin (musician)
John McLaughlin , also known as Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is an English guitarist, bandleader and composer...
and of southern rock gems. Despite their decidedly non-commercial intent, an increasingly heavier performance schedule eventually led to the attention of Capricorn Records
Capricorn Records
Capricorn Records was an independent record label which was launched by Phil Walden, Alan Walden, and Frank Fenter in 1969 in Macon, Georgia.-First Incarnation:...
recruiters including Allman Brothers Band manager Twiggs Lyndon and, in late 1976, the group was signed by the vaunted southern rock label.
Their first effort for Capricorn, Free Fall, established Morse as an important newcomer to the fusion genre, and he was recognised for both his compositional skills (having written all 11 tracks) and his consummate musicianship. Although critically acclaimed as a pivotal jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
album, the LP sold poorly.
What If was released in 1978 to continued acclaim. Writing credits were more collaborative and the band's sound had matured into something a bit more than what defined fusion at the time. Southern rock, classical, folk and country elements combined to form a cohesive and complex pastiche of passionate and highly listenable music. Though supported by a tour, record sales remained flat, but gained Morse and the band received an invitation to perform at Montreux Jazz Festival
Montreux Jazz Festival
The Montreux Jazz Festival is the best-known music festival in Switzerland and one of the most prestigious in Europe; it is held annually in early July in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva...
on 23 July 1978. The recorded performance was released the following year on Night of the Living Dregs
Night of the Living Dregs
Night of the Living Dregs is an album by Dixie Dregs, released in 1979. The first half of the album was recorded in the studio, and the second half at the Montreux Jazz Festival on July 23, 1978...
. Capricorn went bankrupt in late 1979, and the Dixie Dregs were left without a label.
Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
stepped in to sign the band in 1979 to record three albums. Production control was handed to Morse, and Dregs of the Earth
Dregs of the Earth
Dregs of the Earth is an album by Dixie Dregs. It received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.-Track listing:All tracks are written by Steve Morse.#"Road Expense" – 3:24#"Pride O' the Farm" – 3:40#"Twiggs Approved" – 4:29...
was released in May 1980. All eight tracks were written by Morse, and the album peaked at number 27 on Billboard's Jazz Album Chart.
Arista became increasingly concerned about Dixie Dregs' album sales and pressured the band to change their name to simply The Dregs in an attempt to increase the band's visibility in the public eye. Unsung Heroes
Unsung Heroes (album)
-Personnel:The DREGS:* Steve Morse – acoustic and electric guitars* Andy West – fretted and fretless bass* Allen Sloan – electric and acoustic 5 string violin* Rod Morgenstein – drums and percussion...
brought eight additional Morse compositions forward in early 1981, but the name change did little to address Arista's worries. The Dregs were compelled to add lyrics to their next effort, appropriately titled Industry Standard
Industry Standard
Industry Standard is a 1982 album by The Dregs. It is their only album featuring vocals and garnered the group their fourth Grammy nomination.-Track listing:All tracks are written by Steve Morse, except where noted.#"Assembly Line" – 4:25...
, an apparent reference to executive and management oversight of their creative process.
Despite this, Morse's compositions on Industry Standard began to sound more like his evolving solo work than Dregs' collaborations, and the album stood up to critical and public praise. Industry Standard was voted "Best Guitar LP" by readers of Guitar Player
Guitar Player
Guitar Player is a popular magazine for guitarists founded in 1967. It contains articles, interviews, reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists, genres and products. It has been in print since the late 1960s and during the 1980s, under editor Tom Wheeler, the publication was...
magazine in their annual reader's poll that year. Additionally, Morse was voted "Best Overall Guitarist" in the same poll, an honour that he would hold for five consecutive years (which ended his eligibility by retiring him into their "Gallery of Greats", a distinction shared only by Steve Howe
Steve Howe (guitarist)
Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
of Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
.) Having fulfilled their commitment to Arista, the band succumbed to the pressures of constant gigging, and disbanded in early 1983.
In the late 1980s, the group reunited for a tour featuring former members Morse, Morgenstein, Lavitz and Sloan. Their return was complemented by a "Best Of" release entitled Divided We Stand. Bassist Dave LaRue
Dave LaRue
Dave LaRue is a bassist who has performed with the Dixie Dregs since 1988 and with the Steve Morse Band since 1989. He also has worked with Dream Theater's John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy and Jordan Rudess...
completed the line-up for a seven date tour culminating in the 1992 live album Bring 'em Back Alive. Violinist Jerry Goodman
Jerry Goodman
Jerry Goodman is an American violinist best known for playing electric violin in the bands The Flock and the jazz fusion Mahavishnu Orchestra. Goodman actually began his musical career as The Flock's roadie before joining the band on violin. Trained in the conservatory, both of his parents were...
, of The Mahavishnu Orchestra
The Mahavishnu Orchestra
The Mahavishnu Orchestra was a jazz fusion group, led by John McLaughlin, that debuted in 1971, dissolved in 1976 and reunited from 1984 to 1987.-First Mahavishnu Orchestra:...
fame, filled in for Sloan, who was frequently absent as a result of his busy medical career. They signed a deal with former label Capricorn Records
Capricorn Records
Capricorn Records was an independent record label which was launched by Phil Walden, Alan Walden, and Frank Fenter in 1969 in Macon, Georgia.-First Incarnation:...
for their first studio album in years entitled Full Circle in 1994.
Steve Morse Band and Kansas
Morse began putting together the Steve Morse Band, a trio with Jerry Peek (bass) and Doug Morgan (drums). Rod Morgenstein soon replaced Morgan, and they began recording The IntroductionThe Introduction (album)
The Introduction is the first studio album by the Steve Morse Band, released in 1984 through Elektra Records.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Steve Morse – electric guitar, synthesizer , organ, production...
in September. The group toured Germany in early 1984 with Morse conducting clinics, and the group was signed by Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
, who released The Introduction mid-year. A second German tour began in December 1984 and Stand Up was released in 1985. This effort included guest vocalists and guitarists (Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson is an American guitarist. Though he is best known for his success in the instrumental rock format, Johnson regularly incorporates jazz, fusion, gospel and country and western music into his recordings...
, Alex Ligertwood
Alex Ligertwood
Alex Ligertwood is a Scottish singer, guitarist and drummer, best known as the lead vocalist of Santana...
, Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
, Albert Lee
Albert Lee
Albert William Lee, born 21 December 1943 in Leominster, Herefordshire, England, is an English guitarist known for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique. Lee has worked both in the studio and on tour with some of the most famous musicians which stretch through a very wide of genres...
, Van Temple), and violinist Mark O'Connor
Mark O'Connor
Mark O'Connor is an American bluegrass, jazz, country and classical violinist fiddler, composer and music teacher. O'Connor's music is wide-ranging, critically acclaimed, and he has received numerous awards for both his playing and his composition...
. He toured with Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
as a main opener on their Power Windows
Power Windows (album)
Power Windows is the 11th studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1985. Power Windows was the first Rush album to be produced by Peter Collins and the album was recorded at The Manor in England, Air Studios in Montserrat and at Sarm East Studios in London.Power Windows introduced more...
tour.
In 1986, Morse joined the rock group Kansas
Kansas (band)
Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
. While with the band, they released two albums, Power and In the Spirit of Things
In the Spirit of Things
In the Spirit of Things is the 11th studio album, and 13th overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 1988 . It is a very loosely organized concept album telling the story of a flood hitting the real Kansas town of Neosho Falls in the early 1950s...
. While he was with the band, Kansas had its last big hit, "All I Wanted," which reached the Billboard Top 20 and on which Morse received co-writing credit. Morse left the band after touring behind the latter album. He re-joined the band for part of their 1991 tour.
From late 1987 to early 1988, Morse worked as a commercial airline co-pilot.
Deep Purple
In 1994, Morse joined the hard rock group Deep PurpleDeep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
. Since then, Morse has played on four Deep Purple studio albums Purpendicular
Purpendicular
Purpendicular is the fifteenth studio album by English rock band, Deep Purple. Released in 1996, it is their first album with Steve Morse, guitarist of Dixie Dregs. It was recorded at Greg Rike Productions, Orlando, Florida, February to October 1995 and engineered by Darren Schneider and Keith...
, Abandon
Abandon (album)
Abandon is the sixteenth studio album by Deep Purple released in 1998.The album title is actually a pun from Ian Gillan – "A Band On" – and the album was followed by the "A Band On Tour". Uniquely for a Deep Purple studio album, it features a reworking of a previously recorded song...
, Bananas
Bananas (album)
Bananas is the 17th studio album by English rock band Deep Purple, released on October 7, 2003. It includes "Contact Lost", a short, slow instrumental about the Columbia astronauts, written by guitarist Steve Morse when he heard the sad news of the crash....
, and Rapture of the Deep
Rapture of the Deep
Rapture of the Deep is the 18th studio album by English hard rock band Deep Purple, released in November 2005. It is currently the band's most recent studio album....
, as well as seven of their live albums. Those studio albums achieved modest success, particularly in Europe, and relatively successful world tour followed.
Living Loud
In addition to playing with Deep Purple, Morse, together with Jimmy BarnesJimmy Barnes
James Dixon Swan , better known as Jimmy Barnes, is a Scottish-born Australian rock singer-songwriter. His father Jim Swan was a prizefighter and his older brother John Swan is also a rock singer. It was actually John who had encouraged and taught Jim how to sing as he wasn't really interested at...
, Bob Daisley
Bob Daisley
Robert John "Bob" Daisley is an Australian musician, bassist and lyricist who has performed in genres of rock, blues, R&B, hard rock and metal.-Early career:...
, Lee Kerslake
Lee Kerslake
Lee Kerslake is an English musician, best known as the longtime drummer and backing vocalist for the rock band Uriah Heep, in addition to his work in the Ozzy Osbourne band...
and Don Airey
Don Airey
Donald Airey has been the keyboardist in the rock band Deep Purple since 2002, succeeding Jon Lord...
, formed Living Loud
Living Loud
Living Loud was a recording project featuring bass player and songwriter Bob Daisley, Uriah Heep drummer Lee Kerslake, guitarist Steve Morse of Deep Purple and Cold Chisel singer Jimmy Barnes...
in 2003. The group released one studio album and a live DVD in 2004/2005. In Spring 2010 it was reported that Steve Morse and Bob Daisley started work on the new studio album which is set for a release in 2011.
Angelfire
Morse began a collaboration with singer, Sarah Spencer, in 2007 entitled AngelfireAngelfire (band)
Angelfire is an American musical duo composed of Steve Morse and Sarah Spencer. Their music combines folk rock, country and jazz fusion within a pop context...
. The album, of the same name, was released on 10 August 2010 on Radiant Records
Radiant Records
Radiant Records is an independent record label founded by Neal Morse in 1998. The label serves in a variety of capacities for content, licensing and distribution...
. The album features Dave Larue
Dave LaRue
Dave LaRue is a bassist who has performed with the Dixie Dregs since 1988 and with the Steve Morse Band since 1989. He also has worked with Dream Theater's John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy and Jordan Rudess...
and Van Romaine of the Steve Morse Band on bass and drums, respectively. The album has a textural, acoustic sound that differs from Morse's previous work.
Angelfire opened for the Steve Morse Band for several shows in California (January) and Florida (March) of 2010.
Influence and technique
Morse is considered one of the hardest working guitarists in the world. He is widely known for his stylistically diverse compositional skills and guitaristically encyclopedic virtuosic abilities, and was voted "Best Overall Guitarist" by Guitar Player magazine for five years in a row, qualifying him for their "Guitar Player Hall of Fame", the only other members being Steve Howe of YesYes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
and Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson is an American guitarist. Though he is best known for his success in the instrumental rock format, Johnson regularly incorporates jazz, fusion, gospel and country and western music into his recordings...
. He is regularly cited by John Petrucci
John Petrucci
John Peter Petrucci is an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater. Along with his former bandmate Mike Portnoy, he has produced all Dream Theater albums since their 1999 release, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory...
as a major influence. Guitarist Shawn Lane
Shawn Lane
Shawn Lane was an American musician. Although piano was his first instrument, he quickly became a noted player in underground guitar circles and joined Black Oak Arkansas when he was just fourteen years old....
regarded Steve Morse as one of the most talented guitarist of his time, Morse has proven himself throughout his career as capable of playing highly complex chord structures in classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
sequences, as well as being able to play fast, alternate picked arpeggios. He is well known for using harmonics and improvising them in songs during live performances, such as in Deep Purple's "Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming". Morse continues to tell it like it is at Clinics (Ernie Ball) throughout the world and touches upcoming musicians directly through his words and indirectly through his compositions and recordings. (lords)
Guitars
Throughout the 80s Steve was using a custom "frankentele" guitar, made up of a TeleFender Telecaster
The Fender Telecaster, colloquially known as the Tele , is typically a dual-pickup, solid-body electric guitar made by Fender.Its simple yet effective design and revolutionary sound broke ground and set trends in electric guitar manufacturing and popular music...
body with a Strat
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
neck, a Gibson
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
style stop tailpiece ( coming from a twelve string guitar) and 4 pickups in HSSH configuration.
Steve was then approached by Music Man Guitars
Music Man (company)
Music Man is an American guitar, and bass guitar manufacturer. It is a division of the Ernie Ball corporation.-Early years:The Music Man story began in 1971 when Forrest White and Tom Walker talked with Leo Fender about starting a company they would call Tri-Sonic, Inc...
to create a signature model to his specifications; he is now one of the longest endorsees of the company in particular he's been using prototype n°1 of his steve morse signature guitar for more than 20 years (the guitar has been refretted eight times and is still the first original one).
He now has two signature models with MusicMan guitars:
- The first one is an exact replica of his n°1 guitar which features a poplar body with maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, 4 pickups (a DiMarzioDiMarzioDiMarzio, Inc. is an United States manufacturer best known for its revolutionary direct-replacement guitar pickups. The company also produces miscellaneous guitar accessories, such as cables, straps and hardware.DiMarzio became known for its Super Distortion model, which was the first after...
Steve Morse bridge and neck model HumbuckersHumbuckerA humbucker is a type of electric guitar pickup, first patented by Seth Lover and the Gibson company, that uses two coils, both generating string signal. Humbuckers have higher output than a single coil pickup since both coils are connected in series...
, and two DiMarzio single coilsSingle coilA single coil pickup is a type of magnetic transducer, or pickup, for the electric guitar and the electric bass. It electromagnetically converts the vibration of the strings to an electric signal...
, a DP 117 and a custom wound Steve Morse single coil in HSSH configuration) volume and tone controls. The switching is also particular: it features a 3 way selector that changes between the bridge humbucker, the neck humbucker and the first single coil ( aligned with the Bridge Humbucker), a mini switch that adds the bridge pickup to any configuration and a third switch that adds the second, slant single coil to any configuration. This switch also allows for independent single coil selection. - The second one, the Steve Morse SM Y-2D, is an updated version with quilted maple top same neck & body, 3 pickups ( the slant single coil has been eliminated) and a 5 way super switch.
Both are available with a stop tail piece or floyd rose bridge.
Steve says that the pickup configurations that he uses the most are, the bridge pickup by itself, the neck pickup by itself, bridge and neck HB together, Bridge and first (aligned) single coil together.
The super 5 way switch on the newest SM Y2D guitar replicates these combinations.
Pickups
As far as pickups, Steve has released two signature humbuckers with DiMarzioDiMarzio
DiMarzio, Inc. is an United States manufacturer best known for its revolutionary direct-replacement guitar pickups. The company also produces miscellaneous guitar accessories, such as cables, straps and hardware.DiMarzio became known for its Super Distortion model, which was the first after...
the DP 205 Bridge model and the DP 200 Neck model. They are evenly balanced to allow playing all over the fretboard, since steve plays high notes on the neck pickup and low ones on the bridge. They are the main pickups into his signature model. Dimarzio also wires a custom wound single coil pickup for Music Man
Music Man (company)
Music Man is an American guitar, and bass guitar manufacturer. It is a division of the Ernie Ball corporation.-Early years:The Music Man story began in 1971 when Forrest White and Tom Walker talked with Leo Fender about starting a company they would call Tri-Sonic, Inc...
to use into the SM signture model.
Amplification
Steve is an endorser of ENGL ampsEngl
ENGL is a German company that makes high-end tube amplifiers for electric guitars. Over the years ENGL has succeeded in becoming a global player in this market...
. He has released a signature model , the ENGL E-656 Steve Morse signature Amplifier
Guitar amplifier
A guitar amplifier is an electronic amplifier designed to make the signal of an electric or acoustic guitar louder so that it will produce sound through a loudspeaker...
. It is a 3 channel amp specially designed by Steve with a custom version of the famous ENGL "midrange matrix".
Live setup
Steve's live equipment includes two ENGL E 565 Signture heads and several Music Man guitars (both models), his #1 still being his favorite. He splits up his signal to 3 different cabinets two wet (with FX) and one dry, he uses three Ernie Ball expression pedals to blend the fx into the mix. He uses a custom skrydstrup switching system to perform all the switching and the blending. His FxEffects unit
Effects units are electronic devices that alter how a musical instrument or other audio source sounds. Some effects subtly "color" a sound, while others transform it dramatically. Effects are used during live performances or in the studio, typically with electric guitar, keyboard and bass...
are very simple, consisting only of a Boss OC-3 Octaver and two delays: Electro-Harmonix
Electro-Harmonix
Electro-Harmonix is a New York-based company that makes high-end electronic audio processors. The company was founded by Mike Matthews in 1968. They are most famous for a series of popular guitar effects pedals introduced in the 1970s and 1990s....
memory man now replaced with the newest TC Electronic
TC Electronic
TC Electronic is a Danish audio equipment manufacturer.Its current product ranges include guitar effects, bass amplification, computer audio interfaces, audio plug-in software, live sound equalisers, studio and post production equipment, studio effect processors and broadcast loudness processors...
toneprint delay (Steve has created custom presets). He is also using a TC Electronic
TC Electronic
TC Electronic is a Danish audio equipment manufacturer.Its current product ranges include guitar effects, bass amplification, computer audio interfaces, audio plug-in software, live sound equalisers, studio and post production equipment, studio effect processors and broadcast loudness processors...
Polytune guitar tuner.
with Dixie Dregs
- 1976 The Great SpectacularThe Great SpectacularThe Great Spectacular is the first Dixie Dregs album. It was originally released on vinyl in 1976, and again on CD 21 years later.-Track listing:#"Refried Funky Chicken" – 3:50#"Holiday" – 3:55#"Wages of Weirdness" – 3:54#"T.O...
(formally released in 1997) - 1977 Free Fall
- 1978 What If
- 1979 Night of the Living DregsNight of the Living DregsNight of the Living Dregs is an album by Dixie Dregs, released in 1979. The first half of the album was recorded in the studio, and the second half at the Montreux Jazz Festival on July 23, 1978...
- 1980 Dregs of the EarthDregs of the EarthDregs of the Earth is an album by Dixie Dregs. It received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.-Track listing:All tracks are written by Steve Morse.#"Road Expense" – 3:24#"Pride O' the Farm" – 3:40#"Twiggs Approved" – 4:29...
- 1981 Unsung HeroesUnsung Heroes (album)-Personnel:The DREGS:* Steve Morse – acoustic and electric guitars* Andy West – fretted and fretless bass* Allen Sloan – electric and acoustic 5 string violin* Rod Morgenstein – drums and percussion...
- 1982 Industry StandardIndustry StandardIndustry Standard is a 1982 album by The Dregs. It is their only album featuring vocals and garnered the group their fourth Grammy nomination.-Track listing:All tracks are written by Steve Morse, except where noted.#"Assembly Line" – 4:25...
- 1988 Off the RecordOff the Record (Dixie Dregs album)Off the Record is a 1988 EP CD by The Dregs. It is a limited edition promotional item for Ensoniq, released as a disc single. Notably, the recording of "Leprechaun Promenade" is the first studio recording of the song; the first actual recording was of a live performance.- Track listing :#...
- 1989 Divided We Stand
- 1992 Bring 'Em Back Alive
- 1994 Full Circle
- 1997 King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents – The Dregs 1979
- 2000 California Screamin' – Live In California 1999
- 2002 20th Century Masters: The Best Of The Dixie Dregs (compilation)
- 2002 Sects, Dregs & Rock 'n' Roll (compilation)
with Steve Morse Band and solo
- 1984 The IntroductionThe Introduction (album)The Introduction is the first studio album by the Steve Morse Band, released in 1984 through Elektra Records.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Steve Morse – electric guitar, synthesizer , organ, production...
- 1985 Stand Up
- 1989 High Tension Wires
- 1991 Southern SteelSouthern Steel (album)-Personnel:*Steve Morse – electric guitar, guitar synthesizer, engineering, mixing, production*Jeff Watson – electric guitar , mixing*Van Romaine – drums*Dave LaRue – bass guitar, engineering*Rick Sandidge – mixing, mastering*Glen Meadows – mastering...
- 1992 Coast to Coast
- 1995 Structural DamageStructural Damage-Personnel:*Steve Morse – electric guitar, mixing, production*Van Romaine – drums, percussion*Dave LaRue – bass guitar, mixing, production*Nigel Walker – engineering*Michael Fuller – mastering...
- 1996 StressFestStressFest-Personnel:*Steve Morse – electric guitar, mixing, production*Van Romaine – drums, percussion*Dave LaRue – bass guitar, production*Al Dowson – engineering*Paul Wright – mixing*Darren Schneider – mixing*Greg Rike – mixing*Mike Fuller – mastering...
- 2000 Major Impacts
- 2002 Split Decision
- 2004 Major Impacts 2
- 2005 Prime Cuts – From Steve Morse's Magna Carta sessions (compilation)
- 2009 Out Standing in Their FieldOut Standing in Their FieldOut Standing in Their Field is the eleventh studio album by the Steve Morse Band, released in November 2009 through Eagle Rock Entertainment.A 2CD special edition of the album was released on May 16, 2011...
with Deep Purple
- 1996 PurpendicularPurpendicularPurpendicular is the fifteenth studio album by English rock band, Deep Purple. Released in 1996, it is their first album with Steve Morse, guitarist of Dixie Dregs. It was recorded at Greg Rike Productions, Orlando, Florida, February to October 1995 and engineered by Darren Schneider and Keith...
- 1997 Live at the Olympia '96Live at the Olympia '96"Live at the Olympia '96" is a live double album by British hard rock band Deep Purple. It was recorded at the Olympia in Paris on June 17, 1996 during the Purpendicular tour and released in 1997....
- 1998 AbandonAbandon (album)Abandon is the sixteenth studio album by Deep Purple released in 1998.The album title is actually a pun from Ian Gillan – "A Band On" – and the album was followed by the "A Band On Tour". Uniquely for a Deep Purple studio album, it features a reworking of a previously recorded song...
- 1999 Live at the Royal Albert HallLive at the Royal Albert Hall (Deep Purple album)Live at the Royal Albert Hall is a live album by British hard rock band Deep Purple, recorded on September 25 and September 26, 1999 at the Royal Albert Hall in London with the London Symphony Orchestra, and released on February 8, 2000 on Spitfire records.The album was a project started in 1999 by...
- 1999 Total Abandon: Live in Australia
- 2001 Live at the Rotterdam AhoyLive at the Rotterdam AhoyLive at the Rotterdam Ahoy is a live album recorded by Deep Purple on the 30th of October 2000 and released in 2001. It includes most of a concert performed in Rotterdam, Holland during the 2000/2001 "Concerto Tour". The Concerto for Group and Orchestra itself was performed, but it does not...
- 2001 The Soundboard SeriesThe Soundboard SeriesThe Soundboard Series is a live box set recorded and released by the band Deep Purple in 2001. The set contains six double CDs featuring recordings from six different concerts...
- 2003 BananasBananas (album)Bananas is the 17th studio album by English rock band Deep Purple, released on October 7, 2003. It includes "Contact Lost", a short, slow instrumental about the Columbia astronauts, written by guitarist Steve Morse when he heard the sad news of the crash....
- 2005 Rapture of the DeepRapture of the DeepRapture of the Deep is the 18th studio album by English hard rock band Deep Purple, released in November 2005. It is currently the band's most recent studio album....
- 2006 Live at Montreux 1996Live at Montreux 1996Live at Montreux 1996 is a live album and DVD by British hard rock band Deep Purple, recorded in 1996 and released in 2006.The CD and DVD release features live performances from Montreux in 1996 and 2000.-CD track listing:...
- 2007 They All Came Down to MontreuxThey All Came Down to MontreuxLive At Montreux 2006: They All Came Down To Montreux is the first live release by English hard-rock band Deep Purple's mk VIII lineup. This concert was recorded in Montreux, during 2006 Rapture of the Deep tour...
- 2011 Live At Montreux 2011
with Kansas
- 1986 Power
- 1988 In the Spirit of ThingsIn the Spirit of ThingsIn the Spirit of Things is the 11th studio album, and 13th overall, by American rock band Kansas, released in 1988 . It is a very loosely organized concept album telling the story of a flood hitting the real Kansas town of Neosho Falls in the early 1950s...
- 1998 King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents KansasKing Biscuit Flower Hour Presents KansasKing Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Kansas is the third live album, and the 19th album overall, from American rock band Kansas, released in 1998 . In 2003, the album was re-titled and re-released as Greatest Hits Live...
- 2004 Sail On: The 30th Anniversary CollectionSail On: The 30th Anniversary CollectionSail On: The 30th Anniversary Collection is the fifth compilation from the band Kansas, originally released in 2004. Along with two CDs that include tracks from each one of the band's studio albums, the compilation also includes a 16-track companion DVD which features numerous television...
(compilation) - 2009 There's Know Place Like HomeThere's Know Place Like HomeThere's Know Place Like Home is Kansas' fifth live and 26th overall album. It was released as a double CD and also on DVD on October 13, 2009 and Blu-ray on November 23, 2009...
DVD
with Living Loud
- 2003 Living LoudLiving Loud (album)-Personnel:*Jimmy Barnes - Vocals*Bob Daisley - Bass*Steve Morse - Guitar*Lee Kerslake - Drums*Don Airey - Keyboards...
(US: 2004) - 2005 Live In Sydney 2004 (2CD/DVD)
Guest appearances with other artists
- 1977 Tropical Nights – Liza MinnelliLiza MinnelliLiza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
- 1978 Kamikazee Christian – Rob Cassells Band
- 1980 Schemer-Dreamer – Steve WalshSteve Walsh (musician)Steve Walsh is a singer and songwriter best known for his work as a member of the progressive rock band Kansas.-Introduction:The keyboardist/vocalist/songwriter/producer/percussionist is best known for his visionary work with Kansas...
- 1983 The Trio – Al Di MeolaAl Di MeolaAl Di Meola is an acclaimed American jazz fusion and Latin guitarist, composer, and record producer of Italian origin. With a musical career that has spanned more than three decades, he has become respected as one of the most influential guitarists in jazz to date...
, John McLaughlinJohn McLaughlin (musician)John McLaughlin , also known as Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is an English guitarist, bandleader and composer...
, Paco de LucíaPaco de LucíaPaco de Lucía, born Francisco Sánchez Gómez , is a Spanish virtuoso flamenco guitarist and composer. He is considered by many to be one of the finest guitarists in the world and the greatest guitarist of the flamenco genre... - 1986 Storytime – T LavitzT LavitzTerry "T" Lavitz was an American jazz-rock/fusion keyboardist, composer and producer. He is best known for his work with the Dixie Dregs and Jazz Is Dead.-Biography:Born on April 16, 1956, Lavitz grew up in New Jersey...
- 1987 Stone From Which The Arch Was Made – Mark O'ConnorMark O'ConnorMark O'Connor is an American bluegrass, jazz, country and classical violinist fiddler, composer and music teacher. O'Connor's music is wide-ranging, critically acclaimed, and he has received numerous awards for both his playing and his composition...
- 1987 Surveillance – TriumphTriumph (band)Triumph is a Canadian hard rock power trio that was popular in the late 1970s through the 1980s. Eight of the band's albums were certified gold or higher, and Triumph was nominated for multiple Juno Awards, including Group of the Year Award in 1979, 1985, 1986 and 1987.Like their fellow Canadians...
- 1988 Southern By The Grace Of God: Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour 1987Southern By the Grace of GodSouthern by the Grace of God is a live album by southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, this live concert was a tribute by Lynyrd Skynyrd to the members of the band who had died in the 1977 plane crash. The plane crash killed frontman Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, backing vocalist Cassie...
– Lynyrd SkynyrdLynyrd SkynyrdLynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird... - 1988 Love Your Man – The Rossington Collins Band
- 1990 Nashville Rendez-Vous – Marcel DadiMarcel DadiMarcel Dadi was a Tunisia-born Jewish French guitarist known for his finger-picking style which faithfully recreated the instrumental styles of American guitarists such as Chet Atkins, Merle Travis and Jerry Reed...
- 1991 Fingers Crossing – Marcel Dadi
- 1992 Country Guitar Flavors – Marcel Dadi
- 1992 Lone Ranger – Jeff Watson
- 1993 Coven, Pitrelli, O'Reilly – CPR
- 1994 Thonk – Michael ManringMichael ManringMichael Manring is an American electric bassist from the San Francisco Bay Area, .-Biography:...
- 1995 Carmine Appice's Guitar Zeus
- 2001 Seventh Key – Seventh Key
- 2001 Nylon & Steel – Manuel Barrueco
- 2001 Feeding the WheelFeeding the WheelFeeding the Wheel is the fifth of many albums by keyboardist Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater and Dixie Dregs fame. Many other musicians perform on tracks on this album including Terry Bozzio , Steve Morse , and Dream Theater bandmate John Petrucci, who also worked with Rudess on Liquid Tension...
– Jordan RudessJordan RudessJordan Rudess is an American keyboardist best known as a member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater and the progressive rock supergroup Liquid Tension Experiment.-Biography:... - 2002 Camino Latino/Latin Journey – Liona BoydLiona BoydLiona Maria Carolynne Boyd, LLD, D.Mus, CM, O.Ont, is a Canadian classical guitarist, composer, songwriter and singer. Boyd was born in London, England on July 11, 1949, moved to Canada with her parents when she was eight years old and became a naturalized Canadian citizen in 1975...
- 2004 Rhythm Of Time – Jordan Rudess
- 2006 Gillan's Inn – Ian GillanIan GillanIan Gillan is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd...
- 2007 School of the Arts – School of the Arts (featuring T Lavitz) (Morse contributes acoustic guitar work on 2 tracks, "On Fire" and "Portrait")
- 2011 Testimony 2Testimony 2 (album)-Disc Two :-Disc Three :-Personnel:* Neal Morse - producer, composer, guitars, synth, piano, organ, vocals* Mike Portnoy - drums* Randy George - bass-Additional Musicians:* Steve Morse - guitar solo on "Seeds Of Gold"...
– Neal MorseNeal MorseNeal Morse is an American multi-instrumentalist and progressive rock composer based in Nashville, Tennessee.-Background:... - 2011 Raised in Captivity – John WettonJohn WettonJohn Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
Various artist compilations and tributes
- 1978 Hotels, Motels And Road Shows (Various artists compilation)
- 1989 Guitar's Practicing Musicians (Various artists compilation)
- 1991 Guitar's Practicing Musicians Vol. 2 (Various artists compilation)
- 1991 Guitar Speak III (Various artist compilation)
- 1992 Rock Guitar Greats (Various artists compilation)
- 1992 Guitar On The Edge Vol. 2 (Various artist compilation)
- 1995 Tales From Yesterday (Various artists tribute to YesYes (band)Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
) - 1996 Crossfire – A Tribute To Stevie Ray (Various artists tribute to Stevie Ray VaughanStevie Ray VaughanStephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
) - 1996 Working Man (Various artists tribute to RushRush (band)Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
, Morse plays solos on La Villa Strangiato and Red Barchetta.) - 1996 The Carols Of Christmas (Various artist compilation)
- 1997 The Carols Of Christmas II (Various artist compilation)
- 1997 Merry Axemas – A Guitar Christmas (Various artist compilation)
- 1997 Jazz Fusion Vol. 2 (Various artist compilation)
- 1998 Guitar Battle (Various artist compilation)
- 1999 Tribute to the Titans (Various artist compilation)
- 1999 Rock Guitarists Forever Best (Various artist compilation)
- 2001 Warmth In The Wilderness – A Tribute To Jason Becker (Various artists tribute to Jason Becker)
- 2002 A Southern Rock Christmas (Various artist compilation)
- 2004 Classical Heartbreakers (Various artist compilation)
- 2005 Future of the Blues Vol. 2 (Various artist compilation)
- 2006 Back Against The WallBack Against The WallBack Against the Wall is an album released in 2005 by Billy Sherwood in collaboration with a number of progressive rock artists as a tribute to Pink Floyd's album The Wall...
(Various artist tribute to Pink FloydPink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
's The Wall) - 2006 Visions of an Inner Mounting Apocalypse (Various artist tribute to Mahavishnu Orchestra)
- 2006 The Royal Dan: A Tribute (instrumental guitar tribute to jazz rock band Steely Dan, featuring a different lead guitarist on 10 different songs, Morse plays Bodhisattva)