Steve Morse

Steven J. Morse is a rock guitarist, best known for his position as guitarist in the Dixie Dregs. His career has encompassed rock, country, funk, jazz, classical, and fusions of these genres. In addition t

Steven J. Morse is a rock guitarist, best known for his position as guitarist in the Dixie Dregs. His career has encompassed rock, country, funk, jazz, classical, and fusions of these genres. In addition to a thriving solo career, he has enjoyed a brief stint with Kansas and has worked with Deep Purple since 1994.

Morse was born July 28, 1954 in Hamilton, Ohio. His father was a minister and his mother a classically trained pianist; both psychologists. The family moved to Tennessee, then Ypsalanti, Michigan where Morse spent his childhood. Although familiar with piano and clarinet, he became interested in guitar and his real musical career began. He worked briefly with his brother Dave in a band called The Plague until the family moved to Augusta, Georgia. Enrolled in Richmond Academy, he met bassist Andy West and together they formed the nucleus of Dixie Grit, adding keyboardist Johnny Carr, guitarist and vocalist Frank Brittingham with Dave Morse drumming. However, this effort was shortlived, since covering Led Zeppelin, Cream and the like limited their ability to get higher-paying dance gigs. 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 enrollment at University of Miami's School of Music.