Peter Griesar

Peter Griesar (born 1969) is an American musician, known for playing keyboards, harmonica and providing backing vocals with the Dave Matthews Band from August 1990 to March 1993. He grew up in Westchester County, New York and moved to Charlottesville, Virginia to attend the University of Virginia. He met Dave Matthews, later joining his band. After leaving the band in 1993, he continued playing, releasing several solo albums.

While living in Charlottesville, he got a job at a bar called Miller's. Starting out as a waiter he became friends with a bartender, Dave Matthews.

Griesar was recruited to join the band The Basics, by bassist Houston Ross. LeRoi Moore and Tim Reynolds were also in the group. As a result, he began recording his own music with Matthews. When Matthews quit bartending, they started playing shows at another bar called Eastern Standard.

In August 1990, Miller's hosted practice sessions for Matthews, Moore, Carter Beauford, and Stefan Lessard, while they were closed for late summer cleaning. Before long, he was practising with them.

By 1991, the band (entertaining using the name Dumela) became the Dave Matthews Band, and added violinist Boyd Tinsley, playing at fraternity houses and other bars. During the fall of 1992, as attendance was skyrocketing, the band began planning to cut an album.

Due to the almost constant touring with Dave Matthews Band for 3 years and, owing to his mother's failing health, Griesar left the band. However, after the band's March 23, 1993 show, preferring to play at smaller venues and theatres, as opposed to arenas that the band began to play. He felt that he no longer had a role in the group, unlike Matthews, Tinsley, and Beauford, who had grown into their roles.

Two years later, in 1995, he returned to music, working with artist Lauren Hoffman. In 1996, he joined The Ninth, which included Lessard. The band didn't take off, so Griesar decided to record his own album for his relatives.

...
Wikipedia