Steve Morse, one in every of many nation’s most established and well-respected music critics all through his three-decade run on the Boston Globe, died Saturday at age 76.
Morse died beneath care Care Dimensions Hospice in Lincoln, Mass. He had launched to buddies on social media that he had been acknowledged with stage 4 lung most cancers, 10 days earlier.
The creator was so revered by the musicians he lined over time — even when he didn’t permit them to off the hook for a weak effectivity — that no a lot much less a luminary than Bono crashed Morse’s retirement event at J.J. Foley’s Bar in 2005, after U2 carried out a gig at TD Banknorth Yard that exact same night. The creator recalled the singer saluting him on the event by saying, “One issue we favored about Steve was he wasn’t afraid to kick us throughout the arse.” (The singer had further trigger than that to grasp Morse, who had been among the many many first every day critics to jot down about U2 on the outset of their career.)
Morse’s first byline throughout the Globe, written as a freelancer, was an appraisal of Vassar Clements that appeared throughout the newspaper in December 1975. He joined as full-time chief music critic in 1978 and saved the perform until taking a buyout in 2005. Even then, he continued to contribute to the Globe’s pages in retirement. His closing piece throughout the paper was an interview with Bonnie Raitt, printed in June.
Morse was a faithful lover of reside music, whether or not or not he was on duty or not All through his three a few years writing full-time about music for the Globe, he estimated that he out seeing stay exhibits a imply of 250 nights a yr. (“When he was going by way of a divorce, it went as a lot as 300,” a profile of Morse as quickly as quipped.)
Although many rock critics of his interval earned a standing as crusty, Morse was one thing nevertheless, and after his demise, buddies, fellow writers, musicians and publicists spoke of his helpful and avuncular nature.
Former Globe film critic Ty Burr said, “Steve and I overlapped by solely 4 years after I arrived on the Globe in 2002, nevertheless he was such an infinite presence on the Boston music scene that he remained in my and completely different Globies’ lives as a colleague and good, good pal. Any time I went to a rock stay efficiency in town, Steve was there — exhausting to miss, since he stood 8’13”, with jet black hair that was form of his model. If the favored image of a rock critic is a wizened crank (or maybe that’s merely movie critics!), Steve was its reverse: garrulous, open-hearted, good. An actual gentleman of the circuit. And so pleased with (his son) Nick, always ready with {a photograph} on his cellphone of the newest painting. How cool was Steve Morse? Bono carried out his retirement event. It’s not merely that he’ll be missed, it’s that an entire chapter in Boston cultural historic previous has ended.”
“A incredible critic and creator — and satisfying to talk to,” said former Warner Bros. Info publicist Bill Bentley, who has frolicked as a music critic himself. “Made being a publicist gig.”
Morse grew up throughout the Boston suburb of Weymouth, adopted by a family switch to Wellesley. His first stay efficiency had him seeing the Rolling Stones in 1966. In 1970, he graduated from Brown School, and began doing freelance writing for publications like PopTop on prime of his job as a social analysis teacher.
An actual fan of regional music, he championed up-and-coming native bands and practitioners of lesser heard genres like blues along with being intimately involved in chronicling the rise and reign of bands similar to the Cars, Aerosmith, Boston and the J. Geils Band.
Following his retirement from the Globe, Morse spent a decade instructing a class on the Berklee College of Music, and spent two years web internet hosting a radio current on hosted a radio, “Morse on Music,” on WBOS, on prime of his continued freelance writing.
He served on the nominating committee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and was himself inducted into the New England Music Hall of Fame.
“I’ve had a blessed career. Beats an precise job,” he said in a 2021 profile. Kidding aside, Morse said, “I’ve been within the correct place on the correct time. I’ve participated throughout the glory days of the newspaper commerce, the music commerce and the Boston music scene. I actually just like the reside music most of all; it’s the lifeblood of rock ‘n’ roll and always has been.”
Morse’s son, Nick, has explicit desires and has excelled in his artwork work, along with being chosen by Hallmark Enjoying playing cards to make use of some of his designs, as organized by ArtLifting.com.
The Paradise Rock Membership in Boston cleared its marquee to place up an “RIP Steve Morse” message in solidarity with mourning music followers.
Aside from his son, Morse is survived by his fiancee, Jessa, and a sister, Cindy Carbeau. A GoFundMe will doubtless be prepare for Nick’s care. Suppliers will doubtless be for fast family, at his request.
