Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 10, 2026

Buddy Strong

Arthur "Buddy" Strong II is an American musician. He has worked as a touring keyboardist for artists including Usher and Ariana Grande, and joined Dave Matthews Band in 2018.

Last revised
Jul 10, 2026
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≈ 2 min
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Buddy Strong
Strong performing with Usher (2015)
Strong performing with Usher (2015)
Background information
Born
Arthur Strong II

(1980-07-07) July 7, 1980
Occupations
Instruments
Years active2000-present
Member ofDave Matthews Band

Arthur "Buddy" Strong II (born July 7, 1980) is an American musician. He has worked as a touring keyboardist for artists including Usher and Ariana Grande, and joined Dave Matthews Band in 2018.

Early life and education

Buddy Strong was born Arthur Strong II on July 7,1 1980 to Kathy and Arthur Strong.2

He began playing the organ in church from the age of eight, alongside his brother Chris on drums and his father, a pastor. He became musical director of Faith Tabernacle while still at high school, leading three choirs there. He won several jazz-band competitions for his drumming, and also played keyboards and bass guitar.2

He attended South Mountain High School in Phoenix, Arizona, where he was a senior in the school's "magnet music" program.2

Career

In the early 2000s, he joined Usher to tour behind the album 8701 (2001), on which Strong also contributed to songwriting.3 He continued to work with Usher afterwards, including co-producing his 2004 album Confessions and joining the 2014–15 UR Experience Tour.4 He also joined Ariana Grande for the 2016-17 Dangerous Woman Tour and the 2017 benefit concert One Love Manchester.4

Strong joined Dave Matthews Band in 2018,56 replacing violinist Boyd Tinsley. His first work with the band was on the song "Black and Blue Bird" from Come Tomorrow (2018).6

In addition to piano and keyboards, Strong plays Hammond organ7 and contributes backing and occasional lead vocals. The band released their first full album with Strong, Walk Around the Moon, in 2023.8

References

References

  1. "Happy Birthday, Buddy!". davematthewsband.com. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  2. Rubin, Paul (October 30, 1997). "The Prodigious Son". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  3. Rubin, Paul (May 23, 2002). "Going Strong". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  4. "Arthur "Buddy" Strong". Nord Keyboards. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  5. Bream, Jon (November 13, 2022). "Review: Dave Matthews Band gets funky in triumphant concert at Target Center". The Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  6. Reed, Ryan (October 5, 2018). "Relix 44: Dave Matthews Band's Buddy Strong". Relix. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  7. Todd, Nate (June 27, 2024). "Usher's Musical Director Valdez Brantley Brings Keytar To Dave Matthews Band Stage". Jambase. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  8. "Dave Matthews Band's 'Walk Around The Moon' Among Today's New Album Releases". Jambase. May 19, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2026.