Boyd Tinsley
Encyclopedia
Boyd Calvin Tinsley is an American
violin
ist and mandolin
ist who performs as a member of the Dave Matthews Band
. Within the band, Tinsley has collaborated in writing songs, harmonizing, and singing backing vocals.
who also played the trumpet
for local bands. He grew up in the same neighborhood as future Dave Matthews Band
drummer Carter Beauford
and their late saxophonist, LeRoi Moore
. He was not an avid music lover or player. He learned violin
by accidentally signing up for a middle school orchestra class, under the impression that guitar would be taught. The idea of learning the violin, however, was interesting enough for him that he stuck with it.
As a teenager, he took part in forming the Charlottesville-Albemarle Youth Orchestra, in which future Dave Matthews Band
member and bass
ist Stefan Lessard
also took part. He studied under Isidor Saslav, concertmaster of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
. Saslav offered him the chance to move to Baltimore to work with him more closely. Tinsley was 16 at the time, and declined the offer. Tinsley's interest began to transfer from orchestral music to popular music, listening to other musicians who performed rock, blues, and jazz.
, where he became a member of the Sigma Nu
fraternity. While there, he started participating in regular musical jam sessions. In the early 1990s, he formed the Boyd Tinsley Band, which lasted only a couple of years.
In 1991 Dave Matthews
asked him to play violin on the song "Tripping Billies" with his band for their demo tape
. Tinsley eventually joined the band, abandoning the Boyd Tinsley Band, and has remained with them to date.
Tinsley has a small side career of endorsing products including Twix
, JanSport
, and Tommy Hilfiger
.
In 2000, Tinsley made a guest appearance on The Getaway People
's second album, "Turnpike Diaries".
In 2003, Tinsley released a solo album, True Reflections
, featuring the title track he had written over a decade earlier.
On March 20, 2009, Tinsley appeared with former U.S. poet laureate Rita Dove
at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville when she premiered her poetry book "Sonata Mulattica," about 19th century violin virtuoso George Bridgetower
; Tinsley is mentioned in the first poem in the book, "The Bridgetower." He composed and performed a musical piece for the event, read a poem from the book and discussed his musical life in particular and the role of classically trained African-American musicians in general with Dove.
Tinsley is an avid tennis fan. He has his own tournament, held annually in Charlottesville, Virginia. He often attends the Championships at Wimbledon, and in 2007 played doubles with John McEnroe
and Pete Sampras
. He has recorded a song called "The Ghosts of Wimbledon" for the 2006 ESPN
coverage of the tournament. He is a friend of tennis players Andy Roddick
, Mardy Fish and tennis doubles players Bob and Mike Bryan. Tinsley sponsors the Boyd Tinsley Tennis Program in Charlottesville.
While performing on Rove Live
, host Rove McManus
called Boyd "Booker T" because of his similar looks to Booker Huffman
, a professional wrestler for WWE and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist and mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
ist who performs as a member of the Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
. Within the band, Tinsley has collaborated in writing songs, harmonizing, and singing backing vocals.
Early life
Tinsley was raised in a musical family. His father was a choir director and his uncle a bassistBass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
who also played the trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
for local bands. He grew up in the same neighborhood as future Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
drummer Carter Beauford
Carter Beauford
Carter Anthony Beauford is an American drummer, percussionist, and founding member of Dave Matthews Band. He is known for his ability to adapt to a variety of genres, and both his ambidextrous and his open hand drumming styles. He plays the drums and sings backing vocals in the band...
and their late saxophonist, LeRoi Moore
Leroi Moore
LeRoi Holloway Moore was an American saxophonist best known as a founding member of the Dave Matthews Band. Moore often arranged music for the songs written by frontman Dave Matthews...
. He was not an avid music lover or player. He learned violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
by accidentally signing up for a middle school orchestra class, under the impression that guitar would be taught. The idea of learning the violin, however, was interesting enough for him that he stuck with it.
As a teenager, he took part in forming the Charlottesville-Albemarle Youth Orchestra, in which future Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band
Dave Matthews Band, sometimes shortened to DMB, is a U.S. rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991. The founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Boyd Tinsley was...
member and bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist Stefan Lessard
Stefan Lessard
Stefan Kahil Lessard is an American musician, most famous as the bassist for the Dave Matthews Band.-Early life:Lessard was born in Anaheim, California, to musicians Ron and Janaki Lessard. After moving a number of times during his childhood, Lessard and his family eventually settled in...
also took part. He studied under Isidor Saslav, concertmaster of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is a professional American symphony orchestra based in Baltimore, Maryland.In September 2007, Maestra Marin Alsop led her inaugural concerts as the Orchestra’s twelfth music director, making her the first woman to head a major American orchestra.The BSO Board...
. Saslav offered him the chance to move to Baltimore to work with him more closely. Tinsley was 16 at the time, and declined the offer. Tinsley's interest began to transfer from orchestral music to popular music, listening to other musicians who performed rock, blues, and jazz.
Career
He attended the University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, where he became a member of the Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
fraternity. While there, he started participating in regular musical jam sessions. In the early 1990s, he formed the Boyd Tinsley Band, which lasted only a couple of years.
In 1991 Dave Matthews
Dave Matthews
David John "Dave" Matthews is a South African–born American musician and occasional actor, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band...
asked him to play violin on the song "Tripping Billies" with his band for their demo tape
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
. Tinsley eventually joined the band, abandoning the Boyd Tinsley Band, and has remained with them to date.
Tinsley has a small side career of endorsing products including Twix
Twix
Twix is a chocolate bar made by Mars, Inc., consisting of a biscuit finger, topped with caramel and coated in milk chocolate. Being somewhat smaller in width than other confectionery bars, Twix bars are typically packaged in pairs...
, JanSport
JanSport
JanSport is a brand of backpacks owned by VF Corporation, one of the world's largest apparel companies. The company was founded in 1967 in Seattle, Washington by Jan Lewis , Murray Pletz and Skip Yowell...
, and Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Hilfiger
Thomas Jacob "Tommy" Hilfiger is an American fashion designer and founder of the premium lifestyle brand Tommy Hilfiger.-Early life:...
.
In 2000, Tinsley made a guest appearance on The Getaway People
The Getaway People
The Getaway People is a musical group formed in 1994 in Stavanger, Norway. A modified version of their song "Six Pacs" from the album Turnpike Diaries was used as the theme song for the TV series Young Americans. Their song "Good Life" from the same album has been covered by Jesse McCartney...
's second album, "Turnpike Diaries".
In 2003, Tinsley released a solo album, True Reflections
True Reflections
True Reflections is a rock album by violinist Boyd Tinsley of the Dave Matthews Band, released in June 2003. Tinsley was the first member of the group to release a solo album. Despite that Tinsley is a violinist, his album makes spare use of the instrument. The album was not well-received by...
, featuring the title track he had written over a decade earlier.
On March 20, 2009, Tinsley appeared with former U.S. poet laureate Rita Dove
Rita Dove
Rita Frances Dove is an American poet and author. From 1993-1995 she served as Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, a position now popularly known as "U.S. Poet Laureate"...
at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville when she premiered her poetry book "Sonata Mulattica," about 19th century violin virtuoso George Bridgetower
George Bridgetower
George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower was an Afro-Polish-born virtuoso violinist, who lived in England for much of his life. He was born in Biala in Galicia, where his father worked for Hieronimus Wincenty Radziwill, in 1778. He was baptised Hieronimo Hyppolito de Augusto on 11 October 1778...
; Tinsley is mentioned in the first poem in the book, "The Bridgetower." He composed and performed a musical piece for the event, read a poem from the book and discussed his musical life in particular and the role of classically trained African-American musicians in general with Dove.
Personal life
Tinsley has two children with his wife, Emily: a daughter, Abagail (born 1996) and a son, Noah (born 1999).Tinsley is an avid tennis fan. He has his own tournament, held annually in Charlottesville, Virginia. He often attends the Championships at Wimbledon, and in 2007 played doubles with John McEnroe
John McEnroe
John Patrick McEnroe, Jr. is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from the United States. During his career, he won seven Grand Slam singles titles , nine Grand Slam men's doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title...
and Pete Sampras
Pete Sampras
Pete Sampras is a retired American tennis player and former world no. 1. During his 15-year tour career, he won 14 Grand Slam singles titles and became recognized as one of the greatest tennis players of all time....
. He has recorded a song called "The Ghosts of Wimbledon" for the 2006 ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
coverage of the tournament. He is a friend of tennis players Andy Roddick
Andy Roddick
Andrew Stephen "Andy" Roddick is an American professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. He is currently the second highest-ranked American player, behind Mardy Fish....
, Mardy Fish and tennis doubles players Bob and Mike Bryan. Tinsley sponsors the Boyd Tinsley Tennis Program in Charlottesville.
While performing on Rove Live
Rove Live
Rove, formerly Rove Live, was an Australian television talk show which premiered on the Nine Network on 22 September 1999, before moving to Network Ten which aired the program from 2000 until November, 2009. The show was hosted by comedian Rove McManus, and featured an ensemble cast, who presented...
, host Rove McManus
Rove McManus
John Henry Michael "Rove" McManus is an Australian comedian, television presenter, producer and media personality. He was the host of the self-titled variety show Rove, and is the owner of the production company Roving Enterprises...
called Boyd "Booker T" because of his similar looks to Booker Huffman
Booker Huffman
Robert Booker Tio Huffman , better known by his ring name Booker T, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and currently signed to WWE, on its SmackDown brand, as part of the announcing team. Booker is best known for his time in both the World Wrestling Entertainment and World...
, a professional wrestler for WWE and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
.
Equipment
- Zeta Boyd Tinsley Model violinElectric violinAn electric violin is a violin equipped with an electronic output of its sound. The term most properly refers to an instrument purposely made to be electrified with built-in pickups, usually with a solid body...
- John Norwood Lee bowsBow (music)In music, a bow is moved across some part of a musical instrument, causing vibration which the instrument emits as sound. The vast majority of bows are used with string instruments, although some bows are used with musical saws and other bowed idiophones....
- Thomastik-InfeldThomastik-InfeldThomastik-Infeld is an Austrian company founded in 1919, located in Vienna developing and producing strings and rosins for bowed and fretted string instruments....
stringStrings (music)A string is the vibrating element that produces sound in string instruments, such as the guitar, harp, piano, and members of the violin family. Strings are lengths of a flexible material kept under tension so that they may vibrate freely, but controllably. Strings may be "plain"... - Furman PL-8 power conditionerPower conditionerA power conditioner is a device intended to improve the quality of the power that is delivered to electrical load equipment...
- Coleman audio switcher
- ShureShureShure Incorporated is an American corporation originally founded by Sidney N. Shure in Chicago, Illinois in 1925 as a supplier of radio parts kits. The company became a consumer and professional audio-electronics manufacturer of microphones, wireless microphone systems, phonograph cartridges,...
U4D-UB wireless units - Shure UHE antenna distro
- API 500HPR preamplifierPreamplifierA preamplifier is an electronic amplifier that prepares a small electrical signal for further amplification or processing. A preamplifier is often placed close to the sensor to reduce the effects of noise and interference. It is used to boost the signal strength to drive the cable to the main...
- Eventide GTR-7000 Ultra-Harmonizer
- KorgKorgis a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
DTR-1 digital tuner - Fishman acoustic ampGuitar amplifierA guitar amplifier is an electronic amplifier designed to make the signal of an electric or acoustic guitar louder so that it will produce sound through a loudspeaker...
External links
- Tinsley's works mirror his past (Link Broken)
- "Central perk: DMB provides the sound of money" article in which Tinsley talks of the Central Park concert to the Hook weeklyThe Hook weeklyThe Hook is a weekly newspaper published in Charlottesville, Virginia and distributed throughout Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. It was founded in 2002 by a number of former employees of another Charlottesville weekly, C-ville Weekly, including its co-founder and editor Hawes Spencer.In...
(Link Broken) - "The boys are back: DMB come home to finish up" interview in the Hook weeklyThe Hook weeklyThe Hook is a weekly newspaper published in Charlottesville, Virginia and distributed throughout Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. It was founded in 2002 by a number of former employees of another Charlottesville weekly, C-ville Weekly, including its co-founder and editor Hawes Spencer.In...
- Dave Matthews Band Live from The Beacon Theatre on Fuse TV June 1, 2009