Dave Matthews
David John Matthews (born January 9, 1967) is a South African-American musician, songwriter, record producer and political activist.[1] He is best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band (DMB). Matthews was born in Johannesburg,[2][3] and moved frequently between South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States while growing up. Matthews started playing acoustic guitar at the age of nine.
For other people named David Matthews, see David Matthews (disambiguation).
Dave Matthews
David John Matthews
January 9, 1967
Johannesburg, South Africa
- Musician
- songwriter
- record producer
- political activist
- Vocals
- guitar
- piano
1976–present
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 sold more tickets and earned more money than any other act in North America.[4] 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.[5] 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[6] in Johannesburg, the third of four children of John and Val Matthews. At age two, Matthews moved with his family to Yorktown Heights, New York, where his father, a physicist, started working for IBM.[7]
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.[8] At some point, while residing in New York, Matthews attended his first concert, when his mother took him to a performance by Pete Seeger.[9] The family returned to Johannesburg in 1977.[10]
Matthews naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1980.[11]
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.[12] As a Quaker (and consequently pacifist), Matthews left South Africa to avoid service.[13]
Matthews moved to New York in 1986 where he worked for IBM for a short time,[10] then joined his mother that same year in Charlottesville, Virginia, a town Matthews's family had lived in before he was born.[10] In Charlottesville, he became part of the local music community, rehearsing in a warehouse owned by Roulhac Toledano.[14] Although Matthews had started playing the guitar at age nine, it was only in Charlottesville that he started performing publicly.[10] 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.[10][15] 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.[16] In 1991, he hatched the idea to form his own band.[10] Before recording his first demo, Matthews bartended at Miller's in Charlottesville.[17]
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.[18] 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.[19] 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.[19] 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.[19]
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[30] 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.[31] He played Will Coleman in the 2003 adaptation of the novel Where the Red Fern Grows.[32] 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.[33] In 2008, he appeared in the Adam Sandler movie You Don't Mess with the Zohan as a racist redneck character named James.[34] He also had a significant role in Lake City with Sissy Spacek and Troy Garity, in which he portrays the character Red.[35] He was in one movie in 2011: the Adam Sandler/Jennifer Aniston comedy Just Go with It.
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.[36] 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".[37]
The fifth time Matthews appeared as musical guest on Saturday Night Live in November 2009 (which was also the fourth time the Dave Matthews Band appeared on the show), he made an appearance as Ozzy Osbourne in a skit called "The Mellow Show". Bill Hader impersonated Matthews in the same skit.
Matthews was also a cast member and performer in the popular music documentary Before the Music Dies.[38] In 2018, Matthews guest-starred on Pete the Cat as the voice of Gustavo's father, a platypus.
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.[39]
In 2011, Matthews collaborated with wine makers Steve Reeder and Sean McKenzie in creating the Dreaming Tree Wines.[40][41][42]
In April 2012, Matthews was credited as producer on the documentary Last Call at the Oasis, directed by Jessica Yu.[43]
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. However, there has been no news regarding an album release since that jam session.[44]
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".[45]