Dave Matthews Band Sax Player Dies

Leroi Moore Died Of Injuries Sustained In June ATV Accident

(AP)  Dave Matthews Band saxophone player LeRoi Moore, one of the group's founding members and a key part of its eclectic jazz-infused sound, died Tuesday from sudden complications stemming from injuries he suffered in an all-terrain vehicle accident in June. He was 46.

Moore died at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, according to a statement released on the band's Web site. The statement did not specify what led to his death.

Moore was initially hospitalized in late June after the accident on his farm outside Charlottesville, Va. He was later discharged and had recently returned to his Los Angeles home to begin a physical rehabilitation program when complications forced him back to the hospital on July 17, the band said.

Galina Shinder, a nursing supervisor at Hollywood Presbyterian, said the hospital could not release any details.

Ambrosia Healy, the band's publicist, said the band's show Tuesday night in Los Angeles was not canceled. Saxophonist Jeff Coffin, who played with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, had been sitting in for Moore during the band's summer tour.

Moore, who liked to wear his trademark dark sunglasses at the band's live concerts, had classical training but said jazz was his main musical influence, according to a biography on the band's Web site.

"But at this stage I don't really consider myself a jazz musician," Moore said in the biography. Playing with the Dave Matthews Band was "almost better than a jazz gig," he said. "I have plenty of space to improvise, to try new ideas."

Lead singer Dave Matthews credited Moore with arranging many of his songs, which combine Cajun fiddle-playing, African-influenced rhythms and Matthews' playful but haunting voice.

The band formed in 1991 in Charlottesville, Va., when Matthews was working as a bartender. He gave a demo tape of his songs to Moore, who liked what he heard and recruited his friend and fellow jazzman Carter Beauford to play drums, and other musicians.

The group broke out of the local music scene with the album "Under the Table and Dreaming." The band won a Grammy Award in 1997 for its hit song "So Much to Say" off its second album "Crash." Other hits include "What Would You Say," "Crash Into Me" and "Satellite."

[marcosis78]

Wow, I cant believe it...

[baye13]

Shocked , sadden Roi was a real talent and will be missed. My Heart goes out to Roi''s family and the rest of the band.

[baye13]

"Celebrate we will... cuz life is short but sweet for certain."

[toldyouso12]

Another high profile black entertainer goes to the hospital and expects a full recovery...only to inexplicably die. Let''s see...within a one year span--this guy, Isaac Hayes, Bernie Mac, Luther VanDross, Gerald Levert....Uhm....be careful in hospitals guys--or 100 thousand cases of negligence, bad hygiene or mistakes cost patients their lives in hospitals each year.......

[gstevens13]

Are you serious? Did you actually just use the race card of this guy dieing? Have you ever heard of the boy who cried wolf? At some point, people are going to stop listening when it truly is racism because they''ve heard it so much when it really wasn''t.

[last121868]

Rest in Peace... : (

[missybelle-2009]

Posted by toldyouso12 at 09:22 AM : Aug 20, 2008


You are a jerk. That was uncalled for.

[Renegade.Rivers]

Posted by toldyouso12

I do believe that what you have pointed out is relevant. It is unfortunate, but the track record for the way that black Americans have been treated is quite tainted. beyond that, one only has to reference the Tuskegee Syphilis Study to know that the medical profession has in the past committed atrocities on Blacks.

We do not live in a perfect world, and their are those who have a deep seated and unrevealed side that may never rare its head, but at times it does. Whether it has in these cases, is not readily visible, when I researched their deaths, I found it troubling that in each case there were what would appeared to be red flags surrounding their deaths, and in some cases their treatment. Whether this is by coincidence or design, is debatable, but I would believe that one would be hard pressed to believe that the possibility of it being coincidence considering the odds is questionable. Especially since all of them were 65 years of age or less, and as you pointed out, some were expected to make a full recovery.

We live in a very troubled world, and anything is possible. At the very least, it would seem that the care that they received, and the questionable circumstances in their deaths does merit some investigation.

[catherine195]

This is yet another truly sad death - unnecessarily. Don''t know exactly what he was doing with/in the ATV but this is where his foolishness landed him. If you can''t drive whatever vehicle, then stop being a jerk driver.

This goes for EVERYONE who THINKS it''s okay to talk on cell phones while, oh I don''t know, DRIVING a motor vechile!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rushlimpdrug]

No more sax for Dave.

[e7eryday]

Catherine195- To say that his accident was caused by foolishness is a little hasty, perhaps there was simply an accident. How horrible must it be for his family to read such comments? Shame on you.

All the best to Roi''s family and loved ones. He was a very talented man who helped to build one of the most imspirational forces in music history. We fans were truly touched by his work and will never forget him.

[last121868]

Don''''t know exactly what he was doing with/in the ATV but this is where his foolishness landed him. If you can''''t drive whatever vehicle, then stop being a jerk driver.

This goes for EVERYONE who THINKS it''''s okay to talk on cell phones while, oh I don''''t know, DRIVING a motor vechile!!!!!!!!!!!!


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Posted by Catherine195 at 12:10 PM : Aug 20, 2008
+ report abuse
EXACTLY..You DON''T know what he was doing, and until you do, just please ****!

[e7eryday]

Also- it would have been good to hear THIS story on the Early Show this morning versus a fluff piece on "Bromances". Way to keep us informed, CBS.

[thinkharder-]

RIP friend...can''t tell you how many nights I spent "under the table and dreaming"...this man was an incredible talent.

[lovesamerica]

toldyouso, you are an idiot,are you related to acouple of particular rabble rousers? Al,Jessie? That kind of thinking is hate filled.