5 Degrees of Separation: Dave Matthews Band

By Jennie Goldenberg

Dave Matthews Bandhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H67uEgRZs2Y&feature=channel

Joined together in 1991, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Original band consisted of Dave Matthews, Carter Beauford, LeRoi Moore, Stefan Lessard, Boyd Tinsley, Peter Griesar.

Peter Griesar eventually left the band and LeRoi Moore died and was replaced by Jeff Coffin.

"We take a lot of different influences and make something new out of them by playing each song the best that we can play it," says LeRoi Moore (dmbcrash.com)

The DMB catalog is a fusion of multiple genres including folk, jazz, reggae, funk, blues, pop, rock, classical, and various types of world music.

Matthews says one of his personal artistic influences were the Beatles.

http://wknc.org/blog/post/2937/dave-matthews-band-avett-brothers-giveaways-april-13th-17th/ , retrieved on 11-9-10

The Beatleshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hIV7jwLXt8

Formed in 1957 in Liverpool, England and broke-up in 1970

Members were George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and John Lennon.

Paul and Ringo are still alive, John was tragically assassinated and George died from brain cancer.

Believed to be the greatest and most influential act of the rock era.

The Beatles have influenced many musicians and even a movie. They also made five movies of their own.

Were influenced by many people/bands two of them being Bob Dylan and the Beach Boys.

After hearing the work of Bob Dylan, Lennon was heavily influenced by folk music

Lennon is said to have been stunned by Dylan's song Subterranean Homesick Blues, and made to wonder at how he could ever outdo it.

http://www.allposters.com/-sp/The-Beatles-Yellow-Submarine-Posters_i2687965_.htm , retrieved on 11-9-10

“At the end of the Beatles, I really was done in for the first time in my life. Until then, I really was a kind of cocky sod.”

-Paul McCartney

“Think globally, act locally” –John Lennon

Bob Dylanhttp://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4289937090569513129#

Born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24, 1941, in Duluth Minnesota.

Started singing/writing songs in 1959 and is still an active musician to this day.

Performs vocals, guitar, harmonica and keyboard.

Some of his songs became the anthem for civil rights and anti-war movements.

Woody Guthrie was on of his biggest influences.

"The songs themselves had the infinite sweep of humanity in them ... [He] was the true voice of the American spirit. I said to myself I was going to be Guthrie's greatest disciple."

http://www.last.fm/music/Bob+Dylan/+images/245641, retrieved on 11-9-10

Woody Guthriehttp://allmusic.com/artist/woody-guthrie-p1995

Born Woodrow Wilson Guthrie on July 14, 1912, in Okemah, OK.Almost at the age of 15 Woody had to live with his siblings or family friends because his mom had put herself in an institution and his dad had been badly burned and moved to Texas.Guthrie first began writing his own songs in1932Guthrie did not make it passed the 10th grade, instead went on to pursue his musical career and joined a band called the Corncob Trio.He also had 2 popular radio programs.His song “This Land is Your Land” is dated back to February 23rd, 1940, but he didn’t perform it until later. In the 1950s Guthrie was put into permanent hospitalization, but his music was still being released/reissued. Woody died in1967.Was strongly influenced by The Carter Family

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postrock/2009/06/woody_guthrie_is_the_mayor_of.html, Retrieved on 11-11-10

“If you play more than two chords, you're showing off.” -Woody Guthrie

The Carter Familyhttp://video.yahoo.com/watch/874047/3538521

Group included Mother Maybelle Carter (mother of June Carter Cash, married to Johnny Cash), A.P. Carter, Sara Carter, and Alvin Pleasant Delaney Carter.

Considered to be the most influential group in country music history.

Made a style of guitar playing, “Carter picking," the dominant technique for decades.

Sung folk songs that became known as Carter Songs

Had unique instrumentation to help them, including guitar tuned down to act as a bass, an autoharp, regular guitar along with other instruments and their wide-range of vocals.

Formed in 1926 in Virginia and broke-up in 1943.

Reformed in 1952 with only Sara, A.P. and their children, but then broke-up a second time in 1956.

In 1970 became the first group to be elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame

Was influenced by Lesley Riddle

http://orenrosenthal.com/ojway/39/archiving-part-ii-what-makes-music-classic/ retrieved on 11-11-10

“This is the bunch of songs I did first, and it's just the type of thing I do. I am a Carter Family girl, so the record is book-ended with Carter Family songs.”

-June Carter Cash

Bibliography

Walt Mueller, THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND: VENERATED MASTERS OF JAM, 11-9-10, http://www.cpyu.org/Page.aspx?id=76712

Richie Unterberger, The Beatles, 11-9-10, http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-beatles-p3644

Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Bob Dylan, 11-11-10, http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bob-dylan-p4147

William Ruhlmann, Woody Guthrie, 11-11-10, http://allmusic.com/artist/woody-guthrie-p1995/biography

David Vinopal, The Carter Family, 11-11-10, http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-carter-family-p1546/biography