First off, Dave Mathews was born in South Africa and when his father died he just happened to move to Charlottesville. Carter Beauford started his music career at age 3, who was born & raised in Charlottesville. 

      The youngest member, Steffan Lessard, was pulled away from  school to join Leroi Moore in their fledgling band. Steffan, who wasn't legally allowed  to drink was most of the time whisked away from clubs when cops came in looking for ID's. Living in Anaheim, CA, both of his parents were musicians. That being the case, they moved to Charlottesville, where the young Lessard took up piano and violin before moving on to the guitar. 

       Leroi and Carter have been jazz compatriots for years, playing together at paying gigs and informal jazz sessions. Leroi Moore still does not consider him jazz musician when Dave says, "I credit him for arranging many of the songs he writes, it's almost better than a jazz gig." 

       As the last member to join the band, Boyd Tinsley, may be the member least surprised by his success. "When I first heard these songs played by this band, I knew it was something special," says Tinsley who was asked to play the demo song "Tripping Hillbillies" in 1991 and hooked up with the band full time later that year. Boyd grew up in the same neighborhood as drummer Carter Beauford. That which is Charlottesville, NC. He first wanted to play the guitar but ended up playing the violin. "Learning to play the violin, my family hated me," he claimed. And that is the story of the Dave Mathews Band.