Leroi Moore
Encyclopedia
LeRoi Holloway Moore was an American saxophonist best known as a founding member of the Dave Matthews Band
. Moore often arranged
music for the songs written by frontman Dave Matthews
. Moore also co-wrote many of the band's songs, notably "Too Much
" and "Stay (Wasting Time)
".
, to Roxie Moore (née Holloway) and Albert P. Moore. Raised in Virginia, he attended college at James Madison University
studying tenor saxophone
, and later became an accomplished jazz musician in Charlottesville, Virginia
, playing with artists such as John D'earth
and Dawn Thompson. Moore began playing professionally after a brief stay in college. Moore helped found the Charlottesville Swing Orchestra (1982), and the John D'earth Quintet. The latter played at Miller's, a Charlottesville bar, every Thursday night in the late 1980s, where Moore first met Dave Matthews in 1991. In an effort to bring in some instrumental help for some songs Matthews had written, Moore began recording songs with Matthews.
Moore played bass, baritone, tenor, alto, and soprano saxophone
s, as well as the flute
, bass clarinet
, the wooden penny whistle
, and the oboe
. Moore's woodwind technician, David Saull, notes that Moore had "quite an extensive horn collection."
In addition to performing with the Dave Matthews Band, Moore appeared on Code Magenta's self-titled album and Soko
's album In November Sunlight
.
Moore also worked as a producer with artist Samantha Farrell on her second album, Luminous.
accident on his farm outside Charlottesville, Virginia, breaking several ribs and puncturing a lung, and was hospitalized at UVA
for several days. Moore was riding the ATV to another part of his farm to check a fence when the vehicle hit a grass-covered ditch. This caused the ATV to flip and partially land on Moore. His last live performance took place two days prior at the Nissan Pavilion
in Bristow, Virginia
. Jeff Coffin
, the saxophonist from Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
, stood in for Moore on subsequent tour dates. July 1, 2008, in Charlotte, North Carolina, marked the first time a band member has missed a show since 1993, two years after the band was formed. Though released several days later, Moore was re-hospitalized in mid-July for complications related to the accident.
After Moore was released from the University of Virginia Health System, he traveled to his home in Los Angeles, California, to start his rehabilitation program. On the morning of August 19, Moore was feeling unwell and those who were present could see that his lips were turning blue. It was at this point that he was rushed to the hospital, but died shortly thereafter. While it was widely reported that he had died from a blood clot
, the coroner's office determined his cause of death to be pneumonia
. The following statement was released on the band's website:
Matthews paid tribute to Moore on the day of his passing at the Staples Center
, Los Angeles, after the band's first song of the performance, "Bartender
". "We all had some bad news today," Matthews told the sold-out crowd. "Our good friend LeRoi Moore passed on and gave his ghost up today and we will miss him forever." Fans then shouted Moore's name in remembrance.
On August 27, Moore was entombed at Holly Memorial Gardens in Albemarle County. Attendance at the funeral numbered in the thousands, including the rest of the band, Moore's family, and dedicated fans.
Moore died 3 months shy of his November 8, 2008 wedding to his longtime love and best friend, Lisa Beane.
“Roi loved people,” said Matthews, “but he had the hardest time loving himself, and that was the most difficult thing about being his friend for me, watching him torture himself.” Matthews said the 46-year-old Moore was “a good soul, but he was a tortured soul. But he loved his family and he loved his friends. He was finding himself, finding the light inside himself, and it was shining more than it had for a very long time.” Matthews credited Moore’s fiance, Lisa Bean, for his newfound happiness. “I believe her unwavering love for him,” Matthews said, “and her willingness to stand in front of him, as he was reluctant to love himself, and insisted on it, caused him to eventually see the light. “It was so bright,” Matthews continued, “that we could all see it so much all of the time, when he would put that horn in his mouth and make the most astonishingly honest music that could knock you over, and it would sink right to the middle of you.”
Dave Matthews Band released LeRoi Moore's final concert performance as Live Trax Vol. 14
. The concert took place in the band's home state of Virginia in Bristow on June 28, 2008. Proceeds from the CD will be donated to local charities that Moore valued.
," "Proudest Monkey
," "Bartender
," and "Loving Wings
." Other musicians and artists, such as John Mayer
, Jeff Coffin
(who took over horn duties for Moore following his passing), Kenny Chesney
, The Allman Brothers, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
, Victor Wooten
, and Phish
paid tribute to Moore on their websites and at their shows.
With the release of the band's newest studio album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King
, the band became more open to talk about Moore's death and their reaction to that day with the media. In the documentary The Road to Big Whiskey, each band member talked about the day that LeRoi passed and how it has affected them.
," Brazilian fans spread white balloons around the concert house in order to pay homage to Moore. At this point, the band almost completely stopped playing and thanked the crowd for this amazing show of thanks to Moore. Violinist Boyd Tinsley was driven to tears by this amazing homage to Moore.
After Moore's death, Methane Studios, the company that creates most of the band's show posters, paid tribute to Moore on the posters that were sold at the shows. One such poster that was sold at a show on September 7, 2008, which would have been Moore's 47th birthday, has become a sought after collectors item among fans. Some sales of the poster have been seen as high as $600 on eBay.
A second tribute poster was printed and released on Sept 6, 2009, and was sold during the final day of the Gorge '09 show. The poster was the King of Spades, a part of the Royal Flush series. There were 1100 printed and all prints sold out in the first hour. It shows the King of Spades playing a saxophone with his eyes closed. Across the base of his crown, it says "GrooGrux King."
Glow sticks were also tossed by the crowd during the Gorge shows in 2008, as well as a tribute slide show video with photos of Moore, played along with the studio version of "#34
" during the encore breaks.
At the 51st Grammy Awards
, the first one following Moore's death, a video tribute to musicians who had died in the previous year excluded Moore, disappointing and angering fans. Neil Portnow
, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
, responded with a statement noting that Moore was included in a list of deceased musicians in the program for the event, and "unfortunately we are unable to include all of the talented and wonderful people within the allotted timeframe." This created a tremendous outrage from the band's fans and many other music celebrities.
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
. Moore often arranged
Orchestration
Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...
music for the songs written by frontman Dave Matthews
Dave Matthews
David John "Dave" Matthews is a South African–born American musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band...
. Moore also co-wrote many of the band's songs, notably "Too Much
Too Much (Dave Matthews Band song)
"Too Much" is a song by Dave Matthews Band. It was the first single off their album Crash, and reached #5 on the Billboard magazine Modern Rock Tracks chart. It is also featured on the Dave Matthews Band compilation album The Best of What's Around Vol. 1...
" and "Stay (Wasting Time)
Stay (Wasting Time)
"Stay " is a song by the Dave Matthews Band, released as the second single off their album Before These Crowded Streets. As a single, it reached #8 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, #33 on the Top 40 Mainstream, and #20 on the Adult 40...
".
Biography
Moore was born on September 7, 1961, in Durham, North CarolinaDurham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
, to Roxie Moore (née Holloway) and Albert P. Moore. Raised in Virginia, he attended college at James Madison University
James Madison University
James Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
studying tenor saxophone
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
, and later became an accomplished jazz musician in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
, playing with artists such as John D'earth
John D'earth
John D'earth is an American post bop/hard bop jazz trumpeter born in Holliston, Massachusetts has appeared on recordings by Dave Matthews and Bruce Hornsby as well as recording a number of CDs on his own. D'earth attended Harvard University briefly only to drop out and pursue his musical career....
and Dawn Thompson. Moore began playing professionally after a brief stay in college. Moore helped found the Charlottesville Swing Orchestra (1982), and the John D'earth Quintet. The latter played at Miller's, a Charlottesville bar, every Thursday night in the late 1980s, where Moore first met Dave Matthews in 1991. In an effort to bring in some instrumental help for some songs Matthews had written, Moore began recording songs with Matthews.
Moore played bass, baritone, tenor, alto, and soprano saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
s, as well as the flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, bass clarinet
Bass clarinet
The bass clarinet is a musical instrument of the clarinet family. Like the more common soprano B clarinet, it is usually pitched in B , but it plays notes an octave below the soprano B clarinet...
, the wooden penny whistle
Tin whistle
The tin whistle, also called the penny whistle, English Flageolet, Scottish penny whistle, Tin Flageolet, Irish whistle and Clarke London Flageolet is a simple six-holed woodwind instrument. It is an end blown fipple flute, putting it in the same category as the recorder, American Indian flute, and...
, and the oboe
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
. Moore's woodwind technician, David Saull, notes that Moore had "quite an extensive horn collection."
In addition to performing with the Dave Matthews Band, Moore appeared on Code Magenta's self-titled album and Soko
Soko
Sokoband, formerly known as Soko, is a jazz fusion duo, featuring pianist Michael Sokolowski and bassist Houston Ross. The group formed as a trio in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991, with Sokolowski, Ross, and drummer John Gilmore. The group performed live for several years, then released their...
's album In November Sunlight
In November Sunlight
In November Sunlight is the debut album by the instrumental band Soko, released on December 17, 1996. This is the only album featuring John Gilmore as a member of the band, who left the band after the album, turning Soko into a duet, although did perform as a guest on the following album...
.
Moore also worked as a producer with artist Samantha Farrell on her second album, Luminous.
Death
Moore was injured on June 30, 2008, in an all-terrain vehicleAll-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
accident on his farm outside Charlottesville, Virginia, breaking several ribs and puncturing a lung, and was hospitalized at UVA
University of Virginia Health System
The University of Virginia Health System is a nationally renowned healthcare provider based in Charlottesville, Virginia and associated with the University of Virginia. The health system includes a medical center, school of medicine and health sciences library...
for several days. Moore was riding the ATV to another part of his farm to check a fence when the vehicle hit a grass-covered ditch. This caused the ATV to flip and partially land on Moore. His last live performance took place two days prior at the Nissan Pavilion
Nissan Pavilion
Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia, is an outdoor live performance amphitheater in suburban Prince William County, about 35 miles west of Washington, DC...
in Bristow, Virginia
Bristow, Virginia
Bristow is an unincorporated town in Prince William County, Virginia, United States. The population was 8,910 in the 2000 census, and the 2009 estimate was 15,137....
. Jeff Coffin
Jeff Coffin
Jeff Coffin is an American jazz and alternative rock musician best known as the saxophonist for Dave Matthews Band and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones. In addition to the saxophone, he plays clarinet, flute and oboe.-Biography:...
, the saxophonist from Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
Béla Fleck and the Flecktones is a primarily instrumental group from the United States, that draws equally on bluegrass, fusion and jazz, sometimes dubbed "blu-bop". The band formed in 1988, initially to perform once on the PBS series Lonesome Pine Specials. The Flecktones have toured extensively...
, stood in for Moore on subsequent tour dates. July 1, 2008, in Charlotte, North Carolina, marked the first time a band member has missed a show since 1993, two years after the band was formed. Though released several days later, Moore was re-hospitalized in mid-July for complications related to the accident.
After Moore was released from the University of Virginia Health System, he traveled to his home in Los Angeles, California, to start his rehabilitation program. On the morning of August 19, Moore was feeling unwell and those who were present could see that his lips were turning blue. It was at this point that he was rushed to the hospital, but died shortly thereafter. While it was widely reported that he had died from a blood clot
Thrombus
A thrombus , or blood clot, is the final product of the blood coagulation step in hemostasis. It is achieved via the aggregation of platelets that form a platelet plug, and the activation of the humoral coagulation system...
, the coroner's office determined his cause of death to be pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. The following statement was released on the band's website:
We are deeply saddened that LeRoi Moore, saxophonist and founding member of Dave Matthews Band, died unexpectedly Tuesday afternoon, August 19, 2008, at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles from sudden complications stemming from his June ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia. LeRoi had recently returned to his Los Angeles home to begin an intensive physical rehabilitation program.
Matthews paid tribute to Moore on the day of his passing at the Staples Center
Staples Center
Staples Center is a multi-purpose sports arena in Downtown Los Angeles. Adjacent to the L.A. Live development, it is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex along Figueroa Street. Opening on October 17, 1999, it is one of the major sporting facilities in the Greater Los Angeles...
, Los Angeles, after the band's first song of the performance, "Bartender
Bartender (Dave Matthews Band song)
"Bartender" is one of Dave Matthews Band's most popular live songs, featured on their studio album Busted Stuff. The song was one of the many that carried over from the near-abandoned project that is The Lillywhite Sessions...
". "We all had some bad news today," Matthews told the sold-out crowd. "Our good friend LeRoi Moore passed on and gave his ghost up today and we will miss him forever." Fans then shouted Moore's name in remembrance.
On August 27, Moore was entombed at Holly Memorial Gardens in Albemarle County. Attendance at the funeral numbered in the thousands, including the rest of the band, Moore's family, and dedicated fans.
Moore died 3 months shy of his November 8, 2008 wedding to his longtime love and best friend, Lisa Beane.
“Roi loved people,” said Matthews, “but he had the hardest time loving himself, and that was the most difficult thing about being his friend for me, watching him torture himself.” Matthews said the 46-year-old Moore was “a good soul, but he was a tortured soul. But he loved his family and he loved his friends. He was finding himself, finding the light inside himself, and it was shining more than it had for a very long time.” Matthews credited Moore’s fiance, Lisa Bean, for his newfound happiness. “I believe her unwavering love for him,” Matthews said, “and her willingness to stand in front of him, as he was reluctant to love himself, and insisted on it, caused him to eventually see the light. “It was so bright,” Matthews continued, “that we could all see it so much all of the time, when he would put that horn in his mouth and make the most astonishingly honest music that could knock you over, and it would sink right to the middle of you.”
Dave Matthews Band released LeRoi Moore's final concert performance as Live Trax Vol. 14
Live Trax Vol. 14
Live Trax Vol. 14 is a live album by Dave Matthews Band, and is the 14th volume in the band's Live Trax series. The album was recorded on June 28, 2008 at Nissan Pavilion in Bristow, Virginia. This show is notable because it is the last concert performance by the band's founding saxophonist,...
. The concert took place in the band's home state of Virginia in Bristow on June 28, 2008. Proceeds from the CD will be donated to local charities that Moore valued.
Reaction
The reaction from Dave Matthews Band fans and management was tremendous after Moore's death. Almost from the second Moore's death was known, fans started to honor LeRoi in many ways. This included the creation of wristbands, bumper stickers, and memorial recordings honoring his accomplishments and his life. For the final shows of Dave Matthews Band's summer tour, the band played songs that were LeRoi's favorites such as "Eh HeeEh Hee
"Eh Hee" is a song written and recorded by Dave Matthews that was released as a digital single on September 4, 2007. An accompanying music video was also released on the same date, and was available as a free download from the iTunes Store for one week following its release. The music video was...
," "Proudest Monkey
Proudest Monkey
"Proudest Monkey" is a song by the Dave Matthews Band, featured on the 1996 album Crash.-Origins:"Proudest Monkey" has its roots in a live soundcheck done before the audience at a gig at Williams College on December 11, 1993. The band arrived two hours late for the gig due to a terrible snowstorm...
," "Bartender
Bartender (Dave Matthews Band song)
"Bartender" is one of Dave Matthews Band's most popular live songs, featured on their studio album Busted Stuff. The song was one of the many that carried over from the near-abandoned project that is The Lillywhite Sessions...
," and "Loving Wings
Loving Wings
"Loving Wings" is a song by the American band Dave Matthews Band . Having been released on 6 different live albums, "Loving Wings" is the most widely released song that has not been recorded for a studio album that Dave Matthews Band has released...
." Other musicians and artists, such as John Mayer
John Mayer
John Clayton Mayer is an American pop rock and blues rock musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, and music producer. Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Fairfield, Connecticut, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He moved to Atlanta in 1997, where he refined his...
, Jeff Coffin
Jeff Coffin
Jeff Coffin is an American jazz and alternative rock musician best known as the saxophonist for Dave Matthews Band and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones. In addition to the saxophone, he plays clarinet, flute and oboe.-Biography:...
(who took over horn duties for Moore following his passing), Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
, The Allman Brothers, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
Béla Fleck and the Flecktones is a primarily instrumental group from the United States, that draws equally on bluegrass, fusion and jazz, sometimes dubbed "blu-bop". The band formed in 1988, initially to perform once on the PBS series Lonesome Pine Specials. The Flecktones have toured extensively...
, Victor Wooten
Victor Wooten
Victor Lemonte Wooten is an American bass player, composer, author, and producer, and has been the recipient of five Grammy Awards....
, and Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
paid tribute to Moore on their websites and at their shows.
With the release of the band's newest studio album, Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King
Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King
The track listing was made available on April 14 on the Dave Matthews Band website, and the first single from the album, "Funny the Way It Is", was made available for free download on the Dave Matthews Band website for the week of 14 April 2009.-Little Red Bird:...
, the band became more open to talk about Moore's death and their reaction to that day with the media. In the documentary The Road to Big Whiskey, each band member talked about the day that LeRoi passed and how it has affected them.
Tribute
On September 30, 2008, during a concert in Brazil for the South American Tour, while the Dave Matthews Band was playing the introduction of "#4141 (song)
"#41" is a song by the Dave Matthews Band, featured on the 1996 album Crash.-Song history:"#41" was originally written by Dave Matthews as a reply to lawsuits brought forth by Ross Hoffman, a former associate and manager of the band...
," Brazilian fans spread white balloons around the concert house in order to pay homage to Moore. At this point, the band almost completely stopped playing and thanked the crowd for this amazing show of thanks to Moore. Violinist Boyd Tinsley was driven to tears by this amazing homage to Moore.
After Moore's death, Methane Studios, the company that creates most of the band's show posters, paid tribute to Moore on the posters that were sold at the shows. One such poster that was sold at a show on September 7, 2008, which would have been Moore's 47th birthday, has become a sought after collectors item among fans. Some sales of the poster have been seen as high as $600 on eBay.
A second tribute poster was printed and released on Sept 6, 2009, and was sold during the final day of the Gorge '09 show. The poster was the King of Spades, a part of the Royal Flush series. There were 1100 printed and all prints sold out in the first hour. It shows the King of Spades playing a saxophone with his eyes closed. Across the base of his crown, it says "GrooGrux King."
Glow sticks were also tossed by the crowd during the Gorge shows in 2008, as well as a tribute slide show video with photos of Moore, played along with the studio version of "#34
34 (song)
"#34" is a song by Dave Matthews Band, featured as an instrumental piece on their debut album, Under the Table and Dreaming. The song was inspired by and written for Miguel Valdez, a percussionist who collaborated with the band in 1992 and died due to hepatitis in 1993...
" during the encore breaks.
At the 51st Grammy Awards
51st Grammy Awards
The 51st Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA on February 8, 2009. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were the biggest winners of the night, jointly winning five awards including Album of the Year and Record of the Year...
, the first one following Moore's death, a video tribute to musicians who had died in the previous year excluded Moore, disappointing and angering fans. Neil Portnow
Neil Portnow
Neil R. Portnow is the current president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences . Portnow was formerly the vice-president of the West Coast division of Jive Records.-Early career:...
, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., known variously as The Recording Academy or NARAS, is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other recording professionals dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its...
, responded with a statement noting that Moore was included in a list of deceased musicians in the program for the event, and "unfortunately we are unable to include all of the talented and wonderful people within the allotted timeframe." This created a tremendous outrage from the band's fans and many other music celebrities.
Equipment
- Selmer Mark VISelmer Mark VIThe Selmer Mark VI is a professional model saxophone that is generally considered the Selmer Company's finest saxophone. Although tastes in saxophones differ the Mk VI design is universally regarded as one of the best saxophone models ever produced by any manufacturer...
Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Baritone saxophones - Selmer Super Balanced Action Alto and Tenor
- Buescher Copper Plated Bass Sax
- Borgani Custom Soprano
- Muramatsu Solid Silver flute
- Abell Wood Flute
- Abell Penny Whistles
- Rico Jazz Select Reeds
- Furman PL-Plus Power Conditioner
- Peterson R450 Strobe Tuner
- TC Electronic M5000
- EventideEventide, IncEventide is an audio & broadcast, communications, and avionics company in the United States whose audio division manufactures digital audio processors and DSP software, and guitar effects...
4500 Ultra-Harmonizer - Eventide 7500 Ultra-Harmonizer