Composer's Details
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BiographySince Stefan Lessard can remember, music has been a huge influence in his life. Lessard was born in Anaheim, California on June 4, 1974 to 2 very musically talented parents. His father, Ron Lessard would come home from work ever night and pick up an acoustic or bass guitar or even the flute and start playing. Lessard looked up to his father who was also a bass player in a band and still performs today. His mother had a beautiful voice and scored a record deal in Spain in the 1960s. Obviously music was destined to be part of Stefans future and ended up being sooner than later. The Lessard family moved to the Charlottesville, Virginia area in the 1980s where Stephen started pursuing his love for music. His first music teacher, who Lessard gives credit to for teaching him about believing in expressing himself through music, taught him how to play the violin and piano first. After he learned these instruments, she taught Stefan how to play the guitar. He took these skills into high school and began to play at local Jazz bars when some other artists would ask him to play with them. At these local bars, John Lessard met John D earth. This man became his mentor/teacher, as well as the man who would recommend him playing with the Dave Matthews Band. Stephen became the youngest member of the Dave Matthews Band and had to drop out of high school due to time issues when the band gained its popularity. He later went back and got his GED and tried college, but after 10 days, Lessard gave it up and put his full time in with the band. Stephen has been married twice and is still with his second wife, Jacklyn, whom he has two daughters with named Hazel and Flora. He also has a son named Diggy from his previous marriage. When Stephen is not recording or on tour with the band, he spends his time playing with his kids. Though Stephen Lessard is the youngest in the band and just a kid at heart, the musical talent he brings to Dave Matthew's Band is far mature beyond his age. |