Formed in 1991, The Dave Matthews Band is composed of the widely varied musical interests of five musicians to create a uniquely impressive sound that combines the influences of folk, Jazz, rock, world beat, and reggae. South African David Matthews, the band's lead guitarist, began to assemble the players in 1991 to accompany him on a demo tape of original songs. Matthews, at the timewas a bartender at a Charlottesville, Va. Jazz venue, called Millers. Matthews decided toapproach the area musicians he most respected, and invite them to listen to his musicalideas. He approached Leroi Moore and Carter Beauford first, two musicians that herespected greatly. After listening to a few songs he had recorded, They decided to make atape together. Before joining The Dave Matthews Band, Leroi played Jazz at many night spots inthe Charlottesville-Richmond area. Leroi, was trained in the classics, one reason for theband's sometimes classical sound. Leroi plays a Haynes closed hole C foot flute, a YamahaSoprano saxophone, as well as Selmer Alto and Tenor Saxophones. Prior to joining Matthews and Moore, Carter Beauford had been playing Jazzdrums since his childhood. His father played trumpet in a Jazz band, and Beauford grewup with Jazz music surrounding him. Other than his father Beauford names Jazz GreatsJhon Coltrane and Miles Davis to be among his biggest influences in music. After playingthe drums through college, Carter abandoned his musical aspirations and began teachinghistory. But he soon went back to music. He signed with a fusion Jazz band called Secrets,which lasted from 1984 to 1990. Secrets grew to have a huge following on the VirginiaJazz circuit, including Dave Matthews. After the band dissolved, Carter went to Californiato try out for the Arsenio Hall Show. After he failed to make it into the Arsenio band,Carter landed a job on pianist Ramsey Lewis's BET Jazz show, "Bet on Jazz. In Januaryof 1991, Carter moved back to Charlot...
