Born in Johannesburg, South Africa on January 9th 1967, David John Matthews is affectionately called Dave Matthews. Today he is the lead vocalist and guitarist of the Dave Matthews Band which he founded in 1991. In 1986, Matthews relocated to Charlottesville, Virginia where he first cut in on the local music scene. His interests apart from music included bartending and theater. Growing up as an introvert, Dave first wrote songs he visualized someone else singing; he later decided to sing them himself. He soon formed a band along with Boyd Tinsley, Leroi Moore, Carter Beauford, Stefan Lessard, and Peter Greisar, whom he met while working as a bartender. Their first performance was at the rooftop of Lydia Condor at the South Street Warehouse in downtown Charlottesville. They continue to enthrall audiences even today.
Their first major album ‘Under the Table and Dreaming’ was released in 1994. Dedicated to his sister Anne whom he lost to a domestic accident, this album earned the band a Grammy nomination. Their 1996 album ‘Crash’ featured at the #2 spot on the charts. ‘Before These Crowded Streets’ (1998), ‘Everyday (2001), Busted Stuff 2002 and ‘Stand Up’ (2005) consecutively debuted on the number one spot on the US music charts. “American Baby” (Stand Up), “Where Are You Going”, “I Did It” (Everyday), and “Don't Drink the Water” (Before These Crowded Streets) are some of their chart busting numbers that have helped them garner a worldwide fan following . In the September of 2003, Dave Matthews released his solo debut album ‘Some Devil’. A platinum selling album, its first single ‘Gravedigger’ won him his first Grammy. The album featured collaborations with Tim Reynolds and Trey Anastasio.
Dave Matthews is an active environmentalist. One of the directors of ‘Farm Aid’, his band performed at its benefit concert on September 22, 1995. All proceeds were donated towards the benefit of the United States framers and their families. “I grew up in a family that loved nature from the birds in the backyard to camping trips in all kinds of beautiful places. That is what has given me a love and respect for the majesty of the natural world and an awareness of how fragile and precious a resource it is. Everything we do to the environment we do to ourselves. It’s truly about self-preservation.” Dave Matthews. |
