Dave Matthews Biography

1. Dave Matthews Biography By Joshua Matyi

2. Dave Matthews • The Beginnings • Early Career • Building an Empire • Present Day

3. The Beginnings • Born January 9, 1967 in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa • Father, John, a physicist, worked for IBM • Moved to Yorktown Heights, NY at the age of 2 • Father passed away from lung cancer in 1977, family moved back to South Africa

4. The Beginnings • Dave taught himself the basic fundamentals of how to play the guitar by age 13 • Graduated from St. Stithians College High School in 1985 • Moved to Charlottesville, Virginia to avoid a strict South African military draft • Started working as a bartender at Miller’s Jazz Club

5. Early Career • In 1990, Dave made a demo tape that was presented to – • Carter Beauford, Drummer • Boyd Tinsley, Violinist • Leroi Moore, Saxophonist • And Stephan Lessard, Bassist • Beginnings of the Dave Matthews Band

6. Early Career • 1993, The Dave Matthews Band released Remember Two Things, their first official album • Remember Two Things reached the top of the College Charts and was certified gold by the RIAA • The lesser known Recently was released shortly after in 1994

7. Building an Empire • In 1994, the Band released Under the Table and Dreaming, which achieved instant success and became platinum • Included well known songs “Ants Marching” and “Satellite” • This album was dedicated to Dave’s older sister, Anne, who was murdered by her husband just one year earlier

8. Building an Empire • Crash, released in 1996, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Charts • Included Grammy-nominated song “Crash Into Me” • Heightened the band’s status when a concert at Madison Square Garden sold out in under three hours

9. Building an Empire • 1997, Live at Red Rocks 8.15.95 was released • This album was used to combat a prevalent bootlegging problem by offering a good quality CD at a lower price • In early 1997, nearly all bootlegging companies had been arrested slowing the momentum of the industry

10. Building an Empire • Before These Crowded Streets was released in 1998 and became The Dave Matthews Band’s fourth consecutive album to reach platinum • After completion of the album, the band decided to change producers to Glen Ballard, formerly associated with Alanis Morissette and Aerosmith

11. Building an Empire • In 2000, Dave Matthews married Jennifer Ashley Harper • One year later, twin daughters Stella and Gracie Ann were born • Since then, in 2007, Jennifer gave birth to Oliver, their first son

12. Building an Empire • With Glen Ballard’s wind at their sails, the DMB was hard at work • 2000, Everyday • 2001, Busted Stuff • 2005, Stand Up • Stand Up brought the fourth consecutive album to hit Billboard’s No. 1, only previously accomplished by U2 and Metallica

13. Building an Empire • Since his debut with the band, Dave Matthews has worked with other artists such as Neil Young and Tim Reynolds • Dave released the solo album, Some Devil in 2003 • The single, “Gravedigger” from this album won Dave a Grammy in 2003 • DMB also received a Grammy for “So Much to Say”, from the Crash album in 1997

14. Building an Empire • In 2008, saxophonist Leroi Moore passed away from complications due to an ATV accident • He was replaced by Jeff Coffin from Bela Fleck • The 2009 album, Big Whiskey and The GrooGrux King is the DMB tribute to Leroi

15. Present Day • Dave Matthews currently resides in Seattle, Washington with his wife and children • Along with multiple charities, Dave set up a relief fund for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Indonesian Tsunami • He has also worked with the U.S.A. and other countries to stimulate agricultural economy

16. Composition History • “So Much To Say”, 1996, Crash album • Lyrics, Lead and rhythm guitars were written and performed by Dave Matthews • Song is about living life to the fullest and has a catchy beat and an uplifting promise • Incorporates entire band; i.e. guitars, sax, violin, and drums • Won a Grammy in 1997 for best performance by a group

17. Composition History • “The Last Stop”, 1998, Before These Crowded Streets album • Has wonderful use of the pentatonic scale • Has been performed on multiple live albums, including Live in Chicago, Live Trax Vol. 1 and Vol. 6 • Incorporates Dave’s wilder side with ranting lyrics and wild howls

18. Composition History • “Gravedigger”, 2003, Some Devil album • Originally performed acoustically, but both acoustic and DMB recordings • Carpe-diem lyrics may be contributed to the deaths in Dave Matthews’ life • Appeared on The Gorge 2002, Live at Radio City, Live Trax Vol. 10 and Live at Mile High

19. Listening Guide • “So Much To Say” – Begins with rhythm guitar and lyrics in a major scale • 0:45 Enter the percussion and bass to accompany the guitar and lyrics • 1:01 The entire band is playing at this point, consisting of guitar, bass, percussion, sax, and violin • http://youtube.com/watch?v=HgJOjB8-e8w

20. Listening Guide • 1:52 First bridge after a succession of verses, contains a set of staccato blasts from the saxophone • 2:29 Chorus plays for the first time, contains an imitation with the violin and saxophone in a descending melody • 3:23-4:02 Chorus repeats and at 3:56 the coda is present with A Cappella lyrics and a final blast from all instruments

21. Listening Guide • “The Last Stop” – Begins with all instruments, guitars, percussion, woodwinds, and violin playing in a pentatonic scale • 0:17 An organized chant is present with the lyrics as all instruments play an arch type melody • 0:35 Verse 1 enters with lyrics sang to the common melody • http://youtube.com/watch?v=ariMzM1Uw5M

22. Listening Guide • 1:11-3:05 A series of breaks and verses that give this song a dark feeling; the violin and woodwinds offer a “spiral” type melody as if falling into despair • 3:08 The song transfers to a major mode with an accompanying bright banjo, signifying hope is not lost • 3:22 Back down to despair as the melody returns to the pentatonic scale

23. Listening Guide • 3:31-5:04 A “tug-o-war” is being played between the two scales, creating a “good vs. evil” feel • 5:52 As the fight continues, all instruments begin to build to crescendo • 6:18 The build fades and the bright banjo and a mandolin are victorious as they fade away

24. Listening Guide • “Gravedigger” – Begins with a simple, descending guitar melody in a minor scale • 0:24 Enter verse 1 with lyrics and a variation of the melody • 0:45 Chorus 1 enters with the same melody as the introduction • 1:03-1:27 The addition of a low string is added to give more depth to the song as it transitions between another verse and chorus • http://youtube.com/watch?v=1po92tr0VEU

25. Listening Guide • 1:47 The only bridge is played; in a major mode with lyrics of “Ring around the Rosie” – origins of pertaining to death • 2:10-3:25 As the last verses and chorus play, the lyrics have been shifted up an octave • 3:33 Coda – The guitar plays a chord progression as the string is held to a diminuendo

26. The End

27. Works Cited • www.biography.com/articles/Dave-Matthews-9542554 • www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/dave-matthews-band-and-dave-matthews-biography/a3eeddf8ec8364ab482568b60012fdd6 • www.mtv.com/music/artist/dave_matthews_band/artist.jhtml • www.imdb.com/name/nm0559986/bio • www.davematthewsband.com/#/history • http://www.youtube.com • http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi