Steven J. "Steve" Morse (born July 28, 1954) is an American guitarist and composer, best known as the founder of the
Dixie Dregs; and since 1994, the guitar player of
Deep Purple. Morse's career has encompassed rock,
country,
funk,
jazz,
classical, and fusion of these musical genres. In addition to his successful solo career, he was briefly a member of
Kansas in the mid 1980s.