What would a classical enthusiast pay to hear a brand new Mozart composition, or to what lengths would a die-hard rock & roll fan go to see Jimi Hendrix in concert again? The answer is nearer than you think! Let’s dig into the makings of this underrated Bach of the new millennium.
Steven J. Morse was born on July 28, 1954 in Hamilton, Ohio, USA, the son of a minister (father) and musically trained pianist (mother). Both being psychologists too. Steve spent his first few years in Ohio before moving to Georgia via Tennessee and Michigan (where Steve played in his first band, The Plague, with his brother Dave). The move to Georgia played a significant part in Steve's musical development, as enrolled in the Richmond Academy in Augusta, Steve met future Dregs bassist Andy West while in the 10th grade. By the late 60's the Dixie Grit were formed, consisting of Morse and West on guitar and bass respectively, Johnny Carr on keyboards, Frank Brittingham on vocals/guitar and Steve's older brother filling in on drums. The band's repertoire included covers of Led Zeppelin and Cream amongst others.
Morse comments on his musical upbringing in Augusta and this particular era of his career: "Dixie Grit became loved and hated in that town. Many of the folks that went to that coffeehouse (The Glass Onion) and our concerts loved the band. Everybody that went to the dances we played at hated us. Well, at that time, originals and covers like Zeppelin were considered unacceptable material to play at a dance. Still, we played some actual gigs, including opening at some local concerts. The guys were all talented, and we really had a pretty cool band. Anyway, we eventually disbanded. At that point, Andy and I were keen to keep on playing instrumental music on our own to the same people that liked the Dixie Grit band. So, since we were the only ones left from the group, or the dregs of the group, we called it Dixie Dregs. Our first gig as the Dregs probably was in 1971 or 1972, not that I wrote it down, but just using cues from my own educational timeline."
