Biography
Steve Morse Biography
Steve Morse is a guitarist renowned for his intricate compositions, innovative techniques, and versatility across musical genres. Having started playing guitar around the age of 11, he later attended the University of Miami’s School of Music, where he studied classical guitar and jazz. A “guitarist’s guitarist”, he was voted “Best Overall Guitarist” in the Guitar Player magazine Readers Poll for five consecutive years, before being removed from eligibility to open the award to other musicians and being inducted into the magazine’s Gallery of Greats. His work has received seven Grammy Award nominations.
Steve has established himself in a wide range of musical genres, from classical guitar to jazz and fusion to country and bluegrass to progressive rock, pop rock and hard rock. Beginning with his own bands the Dixie Dregs and the Steve Morse Band, he went on to join Kansas for a while, was Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Deep Purple’s longest-serving guitarist for 28 years and joined progressive pop/rock supergroup Flying Colors.
Steve plays a series of signature guitars designed with Ernie Ball Music Man, outfitted with his signature DiMarzio pickups, and uses his signature ENGL amplifiers, all of which contribute to his unique guitar sound. In between work with his bands, Steve appears and records with other artists, guesting on over 65 albums to date.
In addition to being a musician, Steve also is a licensed pilot and self-proclaimed aviation addict, a part-time hay farmer, and inspired by Native American and other indigenous cultures.