Neal Morse (born August 2, 1960) is an American singer, musician, and composer based in Nashville, Tennessee. He is best known as the founder of the progressive rock band Spock’s Beard and as a member of several supergroups, including Transatlantic, Flying Colors, and the Neal Morse Band.
Morse grew up in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles as one of four children. His father was a choral director. He began playing the piano at the age of five and learned the guitar at nine. During his twenties, Morse wrote two musicals titled "Hit Man" and "Homeland", worked as a session musician, and recorded country and western demos with his brother Richard.
In 1992, Morse formed the progressive rock band Spock’s Beard with his brother Alan. Their debut album "The Light" (1995) received positive critical attention and helped establish the band in the progressive rock community. Despite this, Morse faced financial challenges and spent periods performing as a one-man band in pubs in Germany to supplement his income. Alongside Spock’s Beard, he toured with the Eric Burdon Band and continued composing new material.
In 1999, Morse joined Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater, Roine Stolt of the Flower Kings, and Pete Trewavas of Marillion to form the supergroup Transatlantic. The band released several albums, including "SMPT:e", "Bridge Across Forever", "The Whirlwind", "Kaleidoscope", and "The Absolute Universe", as well as multiple live recordings from their tours. Guest musicians on tour have included Daniel Gildenlöw of Pain of Salvation and Ted Leonard, who later became Morse’s successor in Spock’s Beard.
In 2002, Morse left Spock’s Beard after becoming a born-again Christian and began a solo career focused on Christian-themed progressive rock.
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