LeRoi Moore, founding member and saxophonist for the Dave Matthews Band, died unexpectedly on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 19, from complications stemming from an all-terrain vehicle accident in June. Moore would have been 47 on September 7.
According to a statement on the band’s Web site, Moore died at the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles. He had returned to Los Angeles in July to begin an intensive physical rehabilitation program. The band expressed their shock and deep regrets at Moore’s sudden passing.
Moore sustained serious injuries after a June 30 ATV accident on his farm near Charlottesville, NC. The musician was taken to University of Virginia Health System for treatment where, in the days following the accident, he was upgraded to fair condition.
On July 1, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones’ saxophonist Jeff Coffin began sitting in with the band until Moore could return to the stage. Currently on tour, the Dave Matthews Band is scheduled to perform the second show of a two-night set at the Staples Center in Los Angeles tonight.
According to People magazine, frontman Dave Matthews paid tribute to Moore during last night’s performance. Pausing after the first song, Matthews said, “Our good friend LeRoi Moore passed on and gave his ghost up today, and we will miss him forever.”
Moore was an accomplished musician, who arranged the music for many of Matthews’ songs. In addition to playing bass, baritone, tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones, he also performed on the flute, bass clarinet and penny whistle. “I have plenty of space to improvise, to try new ideas,” Moore is quoted in his band biography. “It’s almost better than a jazz gig.”
Photo from DaveMatthewsBand.com.