Dave Matthews Biography By Joshua Matyi Dave Matthews

Dave Matthews Biography By Joshua Matyi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 U 2 and Metallica

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

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 Groo. Grux King is the DMB tribute to Leroi

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

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

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

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

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=Hg. JOj. B 8 -e 8 w

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

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=ari. Mz. M 1 Uw 5 M

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

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

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=1 po 92 tr 0 VEU

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

The End

Works Cited • • www. biography. com/articles/Dave-Matthews-9542554 www. sing 365. com/music/lyric. nsf/dave-matthews-band -and-dave-matthewsbiography/a 3 eeddf 8 ec 8364 ab 482568 b 60012 fdd 6 www. mtv. com/music/artist/dave_matthews_band/artist. jhtml www. imdb. com/name/nm 0559986/bio www. davematthewsband. com/#/history http: //www. youtube. com http: //www. google. com/imghp? hl=en&tab=wi