Leaving South Africa to avoid military service, Dave Matthews – born in
Johannesburg on January 9, 1967 - worked as a bar man in Charlottesville,
Virginia until he teamed up with some of the local jazz musicians and started
recording demos. The Dave Matthews Band initially featured the group’s namesake
on lead vocals and guitar plus Stefan Lessard (bass), Carter Beauford (drums),
LeRoi Moore (saxophone), Boyd Tinsley (violin), and Peter Griesar (keyboards),
who would leave in 1993. Mixing together rock, funk, jazz and blues influences,
the band built up a loyal fan base and relea...