Saxobit: LeRoi Moore

The saxophonist LeRoi Moore, a founding member of the Dave Matthews Band, has died.

Born Gary Lee Moore in North Carolina, LeRoi was a classically-trained musician who had command of a wide range of instruments: bass, baritone, tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones; and the flute, bass clarinet and wooden penny whistle. He was working as a jazz musician in Charlottesville when approached by Dave Matthews to form a band in 1991; LeRoi's contribution went further than just providing performances, as he also arranged the band's music from Matthews' ideas.

Moore suffered an accident on an ATV on his farm in June; although he had appeared to be on the road to recovery he went back into hospital in mid-July and, according to the Dave Matthews Band website, had recently returned to LA to undergo physical rehabilitation.

Moore was 46. As part of the DMB, he had shared in a 1997 Grammy for best song, So Much To Say.