Dave Matthews Band

Dave Matthews Band is an American rock band, originally formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991 by singer and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, Leroi Moore, who plays a wide variety of instruments from the saxophone to the flute, violin player Boyd Tinsley, drummer Carter Beauford, and keyboardist Peter Griesar (who left the band in 1993), all of whom Dave met in Charlottesville. Since 1998 the band has performed at most of their shows with keyboardist Butch Taylor, although he is not officially a member of the band. Moore, Beauford, Tinsley and Taylor also do back up vocals.

History

In lieu of military service, a Quaker-raised Matthews attended the University of Virginia beginning in 1986. He had played piano and guitar as a child, as was beginning to decide that he wanted a career in music. Working as a bartender in Charlottesville, Virginia, he started to encounter jazz musicians, who had some local fame in their own right. After hours jam sessions turned into an idea for a band.

They were, however, in need of bass player. When a fellow musician at the bar recommended a local high school student (also of a jazz background), they decided to bring him in. The 16 year old Stefan Lessard played well, and, after getting his parents permission, dropped out of school to tour full-time.

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