Dave Matthews

Dave Matthews the Travel Bug's goal is to end up in Charlottesville, VA, along the way visiting as many music events as possible. Once in C-Ville, I would like his picture to be taken in front of a bar called Miller's, which is where Dave Matthews was working as a bartender when he met the other members of the Dave Matthews Band. Please then contact me so he may be returned. (I would LOVE for Dave Matthews the Travel Bug to go to South Africa, but I know it's a stretch)

David John Matthews was born on January 9, 1967 in Johannesburg, South Africa. His family moved around quite a bit, living briefly in Yorktown Heights, NY and Cambridge, England, eventually ending up again in NY. It was back in the USA when Dave first began his guitar playing. At age 9, Dave took his first guitar lesson. After his father passed away his mother then moved the family back to South Africa.
Dave fled the apartheid in 1986, and settled in Charlottesville, VA, where his parents lived before he was born. It was in Charlottesville where Matthews became part of the local music community and hatched the idea for his own band. The Dave Matthews Band formed in early 1991, when Dave decided to put some songs he had written on tape. Instead of simply recording himself with a guitar, he opted to bring in some instrumental help to give his musical ideas more depth. Dave found assistance in drummer Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore, who were both accomplished jazz musicians in the local Charlottesville music scene. Based on the recommendation of distinguished local jazz guru John D’earth, 16-year-old musical prodigy Stefan Lessard came on board to play bass. Completing the band was the talented and classically trained violinist, Boyd Tinsley. Seven studio albums and five live albums later, the Dave Matthews Band has become one of the most successful touring bands in the country.