Bamboo Room - The Lee Boys
Friday, October 04, 2013, 09:00pm
The Lee Boys
FRI. 10.04.2013 · 09:00PM · Tickets: TBA
The Lee Boys are one of America’s finest
African-American sacred steel ensembles. This family group consists of
three brothers, Alvin Lee (guitar), Derrick Lee and Keith Lee (vocals)
along with their three nephews, Roosevelt Collier (pedal steel guitar),
Alvin Cordy Jr. (7-string bass) and Earl Walker (drums). Each member
began making music at the ages of 7 and 8 in the House of God church
they attended in Perrine, FL. Here they underwent a rigorous course of
training in a variety of musical instruments, including lap and pedal
steel guitars. Born and raised in Miami, each of The Lee Boys grew up in
the church where their father and grandfather, Rev. Robert E. Lee, was
the pastor and a steel player himself.
“Sacred steel” is a type of music described as an inspired, unique form
of Gospel music with a hard-driving, blues-based beat. The musical genre
is rooted in Gospel, but infused with rhythm and blues, jazz, rock,
funk, hip-hop, country and ideas from other nations. Influenced by the
Hawaiian steel guitar fad of the 1930′s, brothers Willie and Troman
Eason brought the electric lap steel guitar into the worship services of
the House of God church in Jacksonville, FL. The Pentecostal
congregation embraced the soulful sound, and over time this unique sound
became the hallmark of the church. The pedal steel guitar was added to
the mix and soon became the central instrument. The Lee Boys are part of
the fourth generation of musicians in this faith.
This music form was totally unknown to the world outside the church
until the mid-1990′s, when folklorist Robert Stone attended House of God
services and recorded the music, as well as its history, contributing
the name “sacred steel.” A series of compilations featuring artists such
as Aubrey Ghent, Calvin Cooke and the Campbell Brothers, as well as the
late Glenn Lee followed on legendary roots label Arhoolie Records, for
whom The Lee Boys also record.
When The Lee Boys bring their joyous spiritual sound to the stage,
audiences instantly recognize that this is not “sitting and listening”
music: dancing, shouting out, and having fun are considered essential
parts of their tradition. Founder and bandleader Alvin Lee explains “The
inspiration and feeling that comes along with our music is the reason
that people feel good. It is like the new music on the block and it’s
just getting ready to explode!” It’s mostly original material, with a
few standards and hymns the group “blueses up a little.” Audiences often
dance, shout out, and always have a great time. In 2008-09 alone they
performed for more than 250,000 music fans at festivals throughout the
United States. In the process, their unique sound has attracted musical
artists such as Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, The Allman Brothers Band,
The Black Crowes, Los Lobos, Michelle Shocked, Gov’t Mule, Derek Trucks
Band w/ Susan Tedeschi, The North Mississippi Allstars, Hill Country
Revue, Umphrey’s McGee, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Oteil & Kofi
Burbridge, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Toubab Krewe, Victor Wooten, The
Del McCoury Band and The Travelin’ McCourys- all of whom have played
with the Lee Boys and/or invited them to tour with them.
The press has caught on as well, as evidenced by the USA Today review of
their set at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in May 2008: “The
Lee Boys, from Miami, rocked the blues tent with their rollicking
‘You’ve Got to Move.’ The song started slow and low but steadily picked
up pace, taking on the feel and sound of a runaway train. As guitarist
Roosevelt Collier plucked at his pedal steel guitar, an electric guitar
mounted on a stand and played from a sitting position, audience members
danced in the aisles, jumped up and down and waved their arms to the
mounting melody.” As well in March 2009, Billboard Magazine wrote: “The
band’s dexterity with multiple genres is its strongest point; it
combines folk, soul, funk, blues, country and gospel into upbeat, steel
guitar-led performances that can’t help but inspire secular and sacred
revelry.”
These engaging artists work well in a variety of venues ranging from
intimate club settings to performing arts centers to large festival
stages. Their music attracts audiences from the jamband, folk, blues and
Gospel worlds. They’ve performed throughout the United States, Canada
and Europe and will continue influencing audiences worldwide with their
“sacred steel”. Their tour calendar includes over 100 major festival
performances, including headline stops at the New Orleans Jazz and
Heritage Festival, Memphis in May, Bonnaroo, High Sierra, Austin City
Limits, Philadelphia Folk Festivals, MerleFest, DelFest, Wanee and All
Good Festival. In December, 2008, the band debuted on national
television with a rousing performance on NBC’s Late Night with Conan
O’Brien that had the host jumping out of his chair and raving about the
band.
http://www.leeboys.com/