RIP LeRoi Moore

Very rarely does the death of a celebrity hit me so hard. I was saddened to hear about the recent passing of Bernie Mac and Issac Hayes, Heath Ledger last year, and even Jerry Orbach a few years ago. But I don't know these people, despite how many movies or TV shows of theirs I may have watched or how many songs of theirs I have listened to.

But the death of LeRoi Moore, saxophonist for the Dave Matthews Band, came as such a shock, I had to write.

First off, he didn't just play the sax. He was a one-man woodwind (and brass?) section. He played tenor, bass, soprano, baritone, and alto saxophones, penny whistles, flutes, and probably a ton of other instruments that I've never heard of. The song that keeps coming to mind right now is Say Goodbye. Go to about 2 minutes in, after Carter's equally amazing drum solo.

I started listening to the DMB when I was about 15 or 16. Went to my first concert when I was 17 and from then on, saw them every year sometimes 2, 3, or even 4 times a year. I never got tired of seeing these 5 incredible talents make the music they did.

The Dave Matthews Band (not "Dave," as some people would refer to them--there were always at least 5 members of the band who equally contributed) has been a huge part of my life. Every song that I hear evokes a memory from my adolescent and college years. Whether it was looking at colleges with dad (who now can recognize a song by the DMB a mile away), getting ready for my junior semi-formal in high school, taking numerous road trips to see the band, playing "I'll Back You Up" on repeat every time I suffered a break-up, the music of the Dave Matthews Band always played a part. The thought of not seeing LeRoi in his shades, chilling on stage left with his assorted instruments surrounding him at the next concert seems impossible to me.

There's really not much I can say about LeRoi Moore. As stated earlier, I didn't know him. I know very little about his life. I don't know what his favorite food was, what he liked to watch on TV; I don't even know if he was married or if he had children. What I do know is that he helped create music that touched me and for that I am grateful.

One of my favorite songs by DMB - #41. About 4:30 in says it all. He has the sax around his neck while he plays the flute. And the sax solo that follows is never anything short of amazing.

One more song (unfortunately couldn't find it live) - Lover Lay Down.

RIP LeRoi Moore.