BIOGRAPHY

As a young musician, Neal’s dream was like many others—to find success in the pop music world. But after years of struggling in the Los Angeles singer-songwriter scene, he realized that his dream would not materialize. Eschewing conventional wisdom, Morse took a courageous step: he about-faced and devoted himself to progressive rock, the music truly in his heart. The obscure and fiercely competitive genre held little chance of commercial success.

Undaunted, he formed the quirkily-named Spock’s Beard with his brother, Alan. They recorded The Light with what money they could scrape together. Against all odds, it was a breakout success, sending shockwaves through the small genre’s community.

Over the next 10 years, Spock’s Beard released 10 critically acclaimed CDs and 2 DVDs, ascending to the top of the prog world. Neal also released 6 CDs and 3 DVDs with Transatlantic, the heralded prog supergroup comprised of the genre’s best musicians.

The proverbial wayward son, Neal had finally found the success he sought. On the outside he seemed to have it all. On the inside, however, something was missing.

Morse came to realize that for him, embracing the Christian faith was the fulfillment of his spiritual quest. His walk was at once gradual and sudden—and like with so many, completely unexpected. As he continued, his path increasingly revealed more of what his heart had sought all along. Yet he also began to find his career growing at odds with his faith. The rising spiritual tension and increasing commercial success finally came to a head with the release of Snow (2002), Spock’s Beard’s (with Morse) magnum opus...and swan song.

The extraordinary 2-CD rock opera, composed by Morse, was widely acclaimed as the group’s finest. But it was the end of the era. Neal felt God calling him out of his former musical life and into the unknown. He made the agonizing decision to leave both Spock’s Beard and Transatlantic. Despite having finally achieved the success he had long sought, Morse had to begin all over again; musically, emotionally and spiritually.

Neal then embarked upon the most ambitious musical project of his career. Entitled Testimony (2003), it chronicles his spiritual and musical journey in words and music. The 2 CD set (3 CDs for the Special Edition) spans over two hours as one continuous piece of music. Genre-wise ranges in style from a full gospel choir to hard rock; from a symphony orchestra to contemporary pop. It also marked the occasion of Neal’s collaboration with drummer Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), who has since played on ever Morse studio album. A deftly woven musical tapestry, the Testimony takes the listener on a fascinating journey as unique as the man behind it.

The ensuing world tour was captured on one unforgettable night for the 2-DVD set, Testimony Live (2004). The performance (and tour) won him “Best Rock Tour” from the Dutch Progressive Rock Poll, besting nominees Peter Gabriel, Radiohead, RUSH and others. A remarkably passionate and engaging live performer, England’s Classic Rock Magazine included him in their “100 Greatest Frontmen of Rock” listing.

Morse’s next studio album was a conceptual, progressive rock album entitled One. Mike Portnoy returned to perform on drums (in what is regarded as perhaps his finest performance), with up-and-coming bassist Randy George. They were joined by legendary guitarist Phil Keaggy. The result was a band-focused sound, harkening back to Neal’s Transatlantic work. Continuing in the tradition of Snow and Testimony, One proved epic in scope and sublime in nature.

For Morse’s third progressive rock album, he took a new approach, artistically. With a pared down sound, Question (2005). It’s a journey on the timeless quest to find the dwelling place of God. Morse creates a compelling storyline that owes as much to C.S. Lewis as Indiana Jones. Joining Neal are more of prog’s brightest stars, including Mike Portnoy and Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), Roine Stolt (Flower Kings, Transatlantic) and Steve Hackett (Genesis).

Bringing Question to the stage required an outstanding band. Fusing technical wizardry with musical nuance, a young band of then-unknowns prove themselves in the fire of Question’s musical rollercoaster. The audience responds with equal energy and passion, and the rendered to CD. Unrestrained, raw, and magnificent, the resulting 2 CD set Question: Live (2007) was to be further unveiled on the DVD, Sola Sciptura & Beyond.

Neal's next prog epic is his most daring, stirring passion and controversy. On Sola Scriptura (2007), Morse tells a compelling and sometimes macabre tale of the darkness that inevitably falls when Humankind elevates itself to God. Focusing on the Church in the Middle Ages, Morse is unflinching in his description of its abuses. Neal frames the issue as just one example of faith separated from its true foundations. The album closes not with an end but a beginning—for us to consider our world, and feel called to illuminate it.

Question and Sola Scriptura have been received as Neal’s best to date, and the ensuing tours were captured on film for a future DVD release. That future is now, with a new 2 DVD set that brings both albums to life, live, with two full-length concerts. Beyond that are generous selections from One and Testimony, a sizable Transatlantic interlude, the final three songs of Spock’s Beard’s Snow (never previously performed by Neal), and 2 hours of behind-the-scenes tour footage.

Never to rest the past or even present, Neal’s next studio album is already completed for a Fall 2008 release. Mike Portnoy returns on drums, and Morse returns to Spock’s beard inspired sound, fused with his more recent, agressive aesthetic. Twelve years after The Light, Neal continues to blaze new musical trails. This Fall, he shines brighter than ever with the next remarkable chapter in Neal's musical and spiritual journey.