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Biography

 

 

David John Matthews is the lead singer and guitar player for the Dave Matthews Band. He was born in Johannesburg South Africa on January 9, 1967. Dave is a self-taught lifelong lover of music. Dave draws from the folk traditions of many cultures from around the globe, finding common themes among their complex rhythms. He finally settled in America. Without a high school diploma, there wasn't much he could do. He got a job as a bartender at Miller's, a Charlottesville, Virginia jazz club, and dreamed of starting his own band. He decided to make a demo tape of some songs he had written over the years. He and his manager, Ross Hoffman, approached his favorite jazz players to accompany him. He approached LeRoi Moore and Carter Beauford first. They listened to a few songs Dave had recorded and  really liked them. They decided to make a tape together.

 

Leroi Moore is the saxophone and flute player for the Dave Matthews Band. He was born in Durham, NC. on September 7th 1961. Leroi and Carter Beauford were the first to join Dave in 1991. Leroi plays many different saxophones on stage for Dave Matthews Band. Before joining Dave Matthews Band, Leroi played jazz at the many night spots in the Charlottesville - Richmond area. Leroi, like Boyd, was trained in the classics, one reason for the band's sometimes classical sound. For him, the Dave Matthews Band remains a challenge because there is room to explore, to respond to the expressions of the other four players.

 

Boyd Tinsley is the bands violinist. He was born on May 16, 1964 in Charlottesville, VA and grew to become a classical violinist until 1985, when he switched over to rock and roll. He had his Boyd Tinsley Band until 1993 and he played with Down Boy Down, an acoustic duo that played fraternity parties and college bars around Charlottesville. Boyd then met Dave, Carter, LeRoi, and Stefan and started jamming with the boys on a demo tape. He then told them he liked what they're were doing and he would quit his band and would like to join them.

 

Stefan Lessard is the bass player for the Dave Matthews Band. He was born on June 4th 1974, which makes him the youngest member of the band. At the age of 16 he was approached by Dave, Carter, & Leroi to help produce a demo tape. Stefan was already a very well respected bass player in the jazz circles of Virginia. His teacher, John D'earth reccomended him to Dave Matthews when he was in search of a bass player. Though his original instrument was the upright bass, he converted to the electric bass for the band. Sometimes, though, he'll pull out the good ole upright for a show or two.

 

Carter Beauford is the drummer for the Dave Mathews Band. He was born and raised in Charlottesville VA on November 2, 1957. After playing the drums in college, Carter decided to try teaching. Soon he returned to music and signed with a fusion band called Secrets. The band amassed a huge following on the Virginia jazz circuit where he met Dave Mathews.  After Carter's band dissolved, he moved back to Charlottesville playing random gigs. When Dave heard Carter was back in Virginia, he decided to approach him about making the tape he had been dreaming.