Neal Morse

by Heather Phares & Thom JurekL.A.-based singer/songwriter and guitarist Neal Morse began his musical career early, taking piano lessons at five and performing in musicals and beginning guitar by the age of nine. By the time he reached his twenties, Morse wrote two musicals and played with Al Stewart and Peter White. After returning from an extensive European trip, Morse formed the progressive rock band Spock's Beard with his brother Al; the group released its debut album, The Light, in 1994. In addition to his duties with Spock's Beard, Morse released his self-titled solo debut 1999 on Metal Blade Records, and produced and arranged all of the album's tracks. With 2003's Testimony, Morse began to infuse his deeply held religious convictions into his work, a trend that continued with 2004's One and 2005's ?. In 2006 he collaborated with Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy and bassist Randy George on Cover to Cover, yes, a covers collection. Morse resumed that collaboration in 2007 on his highly controversial concept album Sola Scriptura.