Lonesome Lyle Morse

I am Lyle Morse, also known as “Lonesome Lyle“. An outstanding acoustic guitarist, harmonica player and stunning singer-songwriter-performer who currently calls Eastern Washington state his home. I have been refining my musical vision and talents over a number of decades, and I currently entertain in countless acoustic music friendly private functions, coffee houses, bistros, restaurants, street fairs, resorts, theaters, wineries and folk and arts festivals throughout Washington, Idaho and Montana.

My music has been highlighted, and performed live on National Public Radio affiliates as well as commercial and college radio programs featuring blues, folk and original music. I have also performed on network television and cable TV. Purely because I find the music so expressive, moving and profound, I concentrate my energies on acoustic blues music, but I do venture into other forms of American roots music.

Some of my primary “soul shadows” and musical influences have been Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, Muddy Waters and Keb Mo. My sound is “groove-based” and other influences include British blues, the Chicago blues stylists, Detroit soul/rhythm & blues, country blues, folk, jazz and “Americana” music. Great blues music is found in a wide variety of musical contexts, and I try to incorporate this music into my performances. Throughout my life, music has been my constant companion. I cannot remember a time when I did not desire to play the guitar, and sing a song. I came to the blues later in life, probably because it seems to me that one has to experience the passage of time and circumstance in it’s many forms before you can convincingly interpret that style of music. Experience does teach volumes. I feel the performance of music suspends the passage of time. When I perform and feel “in the zone”, hours feel like minutes, and with the endorphins flowing, I experience no pain, no worries, no regrets. In that somewhat transcendental space I hope to make a connection to the spirits of the individuals in my audience.

I hope we can all walk away from such an experience feeling transformed. I owe never-ending gratitude to those early bluesmen, and other musicians who came before me and set the stage for what I do. All music is derivative, yet I always strive to make it my own, or give it a different interpretation. A wise bluesman once said to me, “Don’t do it like I do it, make it your own!” I also owe much love to those in my life that support my music, and allow me the time and space to prepare and perform.