Dave Matthews
Template:Short description Template:Other people Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist
David John Matthews (born January 9, 1967) is an American musician and the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band (DMB).
Matthews was born in Johannesburg, South Africa<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and moved frequently between South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States while growing up. He started playing acoustic guitar at the age of nine.
From 1991 to 2003, Matthews predominantly focused on songwriting and performing with the Dave Matthews Band, which he started in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1991. He also has done various solo performances and produced other records. During the period from 2000 to 2010, his band toured constantly, selling more tickets and earning more money than any other act in North America.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The band's 2012 album Away from the World made them the only group to have six consecutive studio albums debut at number one on the Billboard charts. This record was extended to seven consecutive number one albums with the 2018 release, Come Tomorrow.
In addition to music, Matthews has had multiple acting roles.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He has also won two Grammy Awards: one with the Dave Matthews Band in 1997 for Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group ("So Much to Say") and one in 2004 for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance ("Gravedigger") from his solo album.
Early life
[edit]David John Matthews was born on January 9, 1967 in Johannesburg,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> the third of four children born to South African parents, John and Val Matthews.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At age two, Matthews moved with his family to Yorktown Heights, New York, where his father, a physicist, started working for IBM.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In 1974, the Matthews family moved to Cambridge, England, for a year, then returned to New York, where his father died from lung cancer in 1977 when Matthews was ten years old.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At some point, while residing in New York, Matthews attended his first concert, when his mother took him to a performance by Pete Seeger.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The family returned to Johannesburg in 1977.<ref name=nyt/>
Matthews naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1980.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Upon Matthews's graduation from secondary school in 1985, he was faced with conscription into the South African military just as civil disobedience to the practice was becoming widespread.<ref>At Ease, ECC newsletter, May 1986, cited in Template:Cite book</ref> As a Quaker (and consequently pacifist), Matthews left South Africa to avoid service.<ref name=CNN>Whitefield, Fredricka (2005). "Profiles of U2 and The Dave Matthews Band" Template:Webarchive CNN.com (accessed May 3, 2006)</ref>
Matthews moved to New York in 1986 where he worked for IBM for a short time,<ref name=nyt>Template:Cite news</ref> then joined his mother that same year in Charlottesville, Virginia, a town Matthews's family had lived in before he was born.<ref name=nyt/> In Charlottesville, he became part of the local music community, rehearsing in a warehouse owned by Roulhac Toledano.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Although Matthews had started playing the guitar at age nine, it was only in Charlottesville that he started performing publicly.<ref name=nyt/> Matthews met local star (and future collaborator) Tim Reynolds through mutual friend, Nic Cappon. In time, Reynolds had Matthews join him on stage, and Matthews was persuaded to record some of his own songs.<ref name=nyt/><ref name=VH1>"Driven: Dave Matthews – About the Episode" Template:Webarchive VH1.com (accessed May 4, 2006)</ref> This led to his first professional musical gig at a modern dance performance by the Miki Liszt Dance Company, based at McGuffey Art Center in Charlottesville, singing "Meaningful Love", composed by John D'earth and Dawn Thompson.<ref name=nancies>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1991, he hatched the idea to form his own band.<ref name=nyt/> Before recording his first demo, Matthews bartended at Miller's in Charlottesville.<ref name=ProQuest1194320>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Formation of Dave Matthews Band
[edit]After writing his first few songs, including "I'll Back You Up", "The Song That Jane Likes" and "Recently", Matthews formed Dave Matthews Band in early 1991 with LeRoi Moore, Carter Beauford, Stefan Lessard, Peter Griesar (who left the band in 1993), and Boyd Tinsley while working at Miller's as a bartender.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The band's first show was on March 14, 1991, as part of a benefit for the Middle East Children's Alliance at Trax Nightclub in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Matthews's older sister Anne, who lived in South Africa, was murdered by her husband in early 1994. Her husband then died by suicide on or around January 27 of that year.<ref name="books.google.com">Template:Cite book</ref> The event had a profound effect on Matthews's outlook on life and was referenced in a few of his songs. On January 29, 1994, he performed with Tim Reynolds at the Wetlands in New York, where he dedicated that performance "to her [Anne's] memory". Dave Matthews Band's Under the Table and Dreaming, released later that year, was dedicated to her.<ref name="books.google.com"/> Anne Matthews was survived by her two children, and they traveled to the United States following her death. Dave and his younger sister Jane (after whom the Dave Matthews Band song "The Song That Jane Likes" is named) took responsibility for the children's upbringing.<ref name="books.google.com"/>
Other musical work
[edit]
Matthews focused primarily on songwriting and performances with Dave Matthews Band from 1990 to 2003. The band's sound blends acoustic guitar, bass, saxophone, drums and violin. In 1994, DMB signed with RCA Records.<ref name=ProQuest1194320/><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Since that period, he has occasionally ventured outside the band in various solo performances and records. Matthews sang on the track "Sing Along" on Blue Man Group's second album The Complex in 2003.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Later that year he released the solo album Some Devil, which went platinum; its single "Gravedigger" won a Grammy Award in 2004.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> To support the album, Matthews toured with a group of musicians (many of whom performed on "Some Devil") under the name Dave Matthews & Friends.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Dave often collaborates with banjoist Béla Fleck.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Fleck is the frontman and namesake of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones; Matthews appears as guest vocalist with the band on their 1998 release, Left of Cool. Both Fleck and the Flecktones' bassist Victor Wooten have made numerous live appearances and in studio with the Dave Matthews Band. Wooten soloed in the second part of the Daniel Lanois song "The Maker", and also in "#41" on the 1998 live album Live in Chicago. The Flecktones also opened for DMB on several tours. Matthews performed a duet with Emmylou Harris on "My Antonia" on her 2000 album Red Dirt Girl.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They also appeared together on the musical television show CMT Crossroads,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> where the two performed Matthews's "Gravedigger" and the folk song "Long Black Veil".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Matthews played a cover of Neil Young's song "The Needle and the Damage Done" at the 2010 tribute MusiCares Person of the Year, honoring Young on January 29, 2010.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Acting
[edit]Before he was known as a musician, Dave Matthews was an amateur actor, appearing onstage in several productions at Charlottesville's Offstage Theatre and Live Arts theater<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in the early 1990s; the role for which he is best remembered is as a used car salesman in Offstage Theatre's "Just Say No," directed by John Quinn, co-starring Kylie Suture.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He played Will Coleman in the 2003 adaptation of the novel Where the Red Fern Grows.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2005, he played in Because of Winn-Dixie as Otis, a man who works at a pet store and plays guitar. In 2007, Matthews appeared briefly in the movie I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, where he plays a homosexual salesman.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2008, he appeared in the Adam Sandler movie You Don't Mess with the Zohan as a racist redneck character named James.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also had a significant role in Lake City with Sissy Spacek and Troy Garity, in which he portrays the character Red.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2007, Matthews guest-starred in the medical-drama series House in the episode "Half-Wit". He played a piano-playing musical savant who had the two hemispheres of his brain severed from each other in order to recover from his epilepsy, but at the expense of his musical abilities. Dave had a piano double for the complex pieces, but played the simpler pieces himself.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the season one episode of House, "Love Hurts", the song "Some Devil" can be heard playing at the end. In another episode, one of the tracks from Stand Up, "You Might Die Trying" was played in the season five episode, "Not Cancer".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Matthews was also a cast member and performer in the popular music documentary Before the Music Dies.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Other activities
[edit]In 1999, Matthews purchased more than 10 acres of land in Albemarle County, Virginia, known as Blenheim Farm, to preserve its historical significance. He later decided to plant grapes on the property, since it is located within both the Virginia and Monticello viticultural areas. Blenheim Vineyards was founded in 2000, and currently produces 5,500 cases of wine per year, including its signature Petit Verdot and several special edition wines that have featured unique labels with drawings by Matthews.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2011, Matthews collaborated with wine makers Steve Reeder and Sean McKenzie in creating the Dreaming Tree Wines.<ref name="Spec">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Huff">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Zimbio">Template:Cite web</ref>
In April 2012, Matthews was credited as producer on the documentary Last Call at the Oasis, directed by Jessica Yu.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In early 2013, Matthews participated in a jam session at Blade Studios in Shreveport, Louisiana, with Jakob Dylan, Charlie Sexton, Blade studios co-owner Brady Blade, and Sexton's brother Will. This led to the formation of a band named The Nauts with Matthews, Dylan, Blade, and the Sexton brothers as members.<ref name="Rolling Stone">Template:Cite web</ref>
On May 16, 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 quarantine, Matthews appeared streaming on the virtual graduation ceremonies for the University of Virginia. He wished students his best and said "it is now your small opportunity to make the world a better place, as you see fit." He then sang the song "Singing from the Windows".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Personal life
[edit]Dave Matthews married longtime girlfriend Jennifer Ashley Harper in 2000. They have twin daughters born in 2001, and a son born in 2007.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They reside in Seattle.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In a 2001 interview, Matthews stated that he was agnostic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He joined the Farm Aid board of directors in 2001,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> to serve alongside fellow musicians Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young to raise money for family farmers in the United States.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Political activism
[edit]Matthews supported Barack Obama for president in 2008, both in the primaries and in the general election.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On April 6, 2008, he and Tim Reynolds played a concert titled "Change Rocks"<ref name="Change Rocks">Template:Cite web</ref> at Indiana University to encourage students to register to vote. The tickets were distributed by the Obama campaign.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Questions regarding his citizenship were answered by advertisements and videos on YouTube, where he says he is a "real American" and a "real Virginian," stating that "real Virginians get out and vote."<ref name="Citizen">Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Although bereaved by the loss of band co-founder and saxophonist LeRoi Moore on August 19, 2008, he and Tim Reynolds played for the Democratic National Convention delegates on Sunday, August 24 at Red Rocks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On September 21, 2009, Matthews stated that some of Obama's harsher critics were motivated by racism, and stated that he "sees it [racism] everywhere" in the United States.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Matthews is also a strong supporter of gay rights and participated in "Love Unites Shepard Fairey Equality Project", a gay marriage advocacy project.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On May 10, 2012, Matthews entertained a sellout crowd at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle where Obama was hosting a campaign fundraiser.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In a September 28, 2015, interview with Rolling Stone, Matthews said that "when I hear someone like Bernie Sanders talking, I think there's a hope."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Matthews performed at a San Francisco rally for Sanders during the 2016 presidential primaries and later, during the general election campaign. He was a major donor to the 2017 gubernatorial campaign of progressive Charlottesville politician Tom Perriello.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On October 30, 2021, Matthews performed at a Democratic get out the vote event in Charlottesville, Virginia with gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During the 2022 election campaign, Matthews performed at campaign events for Democratic candidates Tim Ryan in Ohio and John Fetterman in Pennsylvania.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Awards and accolades
[edit]Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
[edit]The Dave Matthews Band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024.
Grammy Awards
[edit]- 1997: Best Rock Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group – "So Much to Say", Dave Matthews Band
- 2004: Best Male Rock Vocal Performance – "Gravedigger", Dave Matthews
ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards
[edit]- Most Performed Song from a Motion Picture – "Where Are You Going" (for Mr. Deeds)
- Dave Matthews was awarded D.M.A. honoris causa by Haverford College on May 15, 2005.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
- 2002: Matthews was the recipient of the Orville Gibson Award for Best Acoustic Guitarist.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]- Under the Table and Dreaming (1994)
- Crash (1996)
- Before These Crowded Streets (1998)
- Everyday (2001)
- Busted Stuff (2002)
- Some Devil (2003)
- Stand Up (2005)
- Imagine We Were (2005) – as Tribe of Heaven; originally recorded in 1989
- Big Whiskey & the GrooGrux King (2009)
- Away from the World (2012)
- Come Tomorrow (2018)
- Walk Around the Moon (2023)
Live solo albums
[edit]- Live at Sweet Briar College (2016); originally recorded in 1996
Digital downloads
[edit]Two shows have been released as part of the Dave Matthews Band's DMBlive series available only for online download.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Dave Matthews Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA (October 24, 2002) – 2008
- Dave Matthews China Club, NYC (01/09/2004) – 2008
Live albums with Tim Reynolds
[edit]- Live at Luther College – (1999)
- Live at Radio City – (2007)
- DMBLive. Prism Coffeehouse, Charlottesville, VA (04.22.1993) – (2008)
- DMBLive. Appalachian State University, Boone, NC (03.29.2003) – (2008)
- Live in Las Vegas – (2010)
- Live Trax Vol. 23 Whittemore Center Arena, Durham, NH (02.19.96) – (2012)
- Live Trax Vol. 24 Spartanburg Memorial, Spartanburg, SC (02.08.97) – (2012)
- DMBLive. Memphis, Richmond, VA (06.13.1993) – (2012)
- DMBLive. J.T. Kingsbury Hall, Salt Lake City, UT (03.03.1999) – (2014)
- Live Trax Vol. 41 Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley, CA (03.13.99) – (2017)
- Live Trax Vol. 48 The Birchmere, Alexandria, VA (08.25.94) – (2019)
- Live Trax Vol. 49 Constellation Brands – Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center, Canandaigua, NY, (06.18.19) – (2019)
Singles
[edit]| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Mod | US Adult | US Pop | |||||||
| 2003 | "Gravedigger" | 35 | 35 | — | Some Devil | ||||
| "Save Me" | — | 26 | — | ||||||
| 2004 | "Oh" | — | — | — | |||||
| 2007 | "Eh Hee" | — | — | 73 | Non-album single | ||||
| 2024 | "Pretty Bird" | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
Guest singles
[edit]| Year | Single | Artist | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | US | CAN | ||||
| 2009 | "I'm Alive"A | Kenny Chesney | 6 | 32 | 73 | Greatest Hits II |
- A "I What What" charted as an album cut in 2008 before being released as a single in 2009
Videography
[edit]Video albums
[edit]| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Live at Radio City |
|
Collaborations
[edit]- "Eleanor" and "See Jane" (1994), off the Shannon Worrell album Three Wishes
- "Communication" and "Trouble and Strife" (1998), off the Béla Fleck and the Flecktones album Left of Cool
- "Love Of My Life" (1999), off the Santana album Supernatural (Santana album)
- "My Antonia" (2000) off the Emmylou Harris studio album Red Dirt Girl, where Dave duets with Emmylou on her composition
- "For You" (2002) off the We Were Soldiers soundtrack with Johnny Cash
- "Iwoya" (2002) off the Angélique Kidjo album Black Ivory Soul
- "Joyful Girl" (2002) off the Soulive album Next
- "Sing Along" (2003) off the Blue Man Group album The Complex with music video
- "Tremendous Brunettes" (2005) off the Mike Doughty album Haughty Melodic
- "Love Is The Only Way" (2006) off the Robert Randolph and the Family Band album Colorblind
- "Work It Out" produced by DJ Nu-Mark (2006) off the Jurassic 5 album Feedback
- "Fat Man in the Bathtub" (2008) off the Little Feat album "Join the Band"
- "I'm Alive" (2008) off the Kenny Chesney album Lucky Old Sun
- "Mamma Boulet" (2008) off the Dave Grant album Bubbalon by Bass
- "Caveman", "Sleep" & "Overdue" (2009) off the Danny Barnes album Pizza Box
- "Tomorrow Never Knows" (2010), off the Herbie Hancock album The Imagine Project
- "You Should Know Me", "Oh, Bangladesh" & "And He Slayed Her" (2010) off the Liz Phair album Funstyle
- "All the Same"(2011) off the Vieux Farka Touré album – The Secret
- "A Pirate Looks at Forty" (2012) with Jack Johnson and Tim Reynolds, off the live album Jack Johnson and Friends – Best of Kokua Festival
- "Walk of Shame" (2012) with Jimmy Fallon, off the comedy album Blow Your Pants Off
- "Take Me to Tomorrow" (2013) off the John Denver tribute album – The Music Is You: A Tribute to John Denver
- "Forsaken Savior" (2013) off the Gov't Mule album Shout!
- "Sweetheart" (2018), off the Sarah White album "High Flyer"
See also
[edit]References
[edit]External links
[edit]- Template:Official website
- The Warehouse: The Official Dave Matthews Band Fan Association
- Template:Allmusic
- Template:Discogs artist
- Template:IMDb name
Template:Sister bar Template:Dave Matthews Template:Davematthewsband Template:2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Template:Authority control
- Pages with broken file links
- Dave Matthews
- 1967 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American singers
- 21st-century American singers
- Alumni of St Stithians College
- American agnostics
- American male singers
- American pacifists
- Record producers from New York (state)
- American rock guitarists
- American male guitarists
- American rock singers
- American Quakers
- Dave Matthews Band members
- Grammy Award winners
- American LGBTQ rights activists
- Singers from Virginia
- Musicians from Charlottesville, Virginia
- People from Yorktown Heights, New York
- South African emigrants to the United States
- Guitarists from Virginia
- 20th-century American guitarists
- White South African people
- American activists for Palestinian solidarity