Bummed out to learn this morning of the death of the sax player in the Dave Matthews Band, LeRoi Moore.

Beside some hit tunes, one of the things I really liked about the Dave Matthews Band is that it was a true college band gone golden story. The band was formed in Charlottesville, VA, which is a little college town in central Virginia.

LeRoi was a sax player trying to chase dreams of a jazz band but ended up hooking up with his friend and fellow jazz player, Carter Beauford (drums) and Dave Matthews who was working as a bartender, back in 1991. They went on to create a great sound and the band has a string of hit records and tours constantly.

LeRoi was riding an ATV on his farm in Charlottesville on June 30 when he wrecked it and got hurt. He’s been recovering at his L.A. home while Jeff Coffin filled in for him on the Dave Matthews Band summer gigs, but was rushed to the hospital yesterday where he died from “complications.”

Jeff Coffin has played with Bela Fleck and I wonder if he will end up staying with Dave Matthews? He has big riffs to fill with the loss of LeRoi.