NCCU awards to honor saxophonist

DURHAM -- The estate of a founding member of the Dave Matthews Band has funded a scholarship for students at N.C. Central University.

The Leroi H. Moore Scholarship Fund will provide $5,000 scholarships annually for four students.

Moore played bass, baritone, tenor, alto and soprano saxophones, as well as the flute, bass clarinet, wooden penny whistle and oboe.

He died in August 2008 from injuries suffered in an ATV accident earlier that summer.

The scholarships will begin in 2010 and will eventually be awarded to one student in each of the first-, second-, third-, and fourth-year classes. Students with a financial need who study business, education or music will be eligible. Consideration will also be given to students' community service involvement.

The scholarships honor Moore's parents, who are both NCCU alumni: Roxie Holloway Moore and Albert P. Moore. NCCU is one of the three recipient schools of this fund.

The Dave Matthews Band dedicated its latest album, "Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King," to Moore. Since 1994 the band has sold 35 million units - records, tapes, discs and digital downloads.