Smart bets: The Lee Boys

Posted on by Alli Marshall
Photo of The Lee Boys by Edwin Cardona

It takes approximately 30 seconds of a Lee Boys video to get what the band is all about. The musicians all instantly lock into a superdeep grove, their voices fall into tight harmonies and, even as they tap into a higher power, they totally rock. Drawing on gospel and sacred steel traditions, the family band — brothers Alvin Lee (guitar), Derrick Lee and Keith Lee (vocals), with nephews Roosevelt Collier (pedal steel guitar), Alvin Cordy Jr. (seven-string bass) and Earl Walker (drums) and brother-from-another-mother Chris Johnson (pedal steel) — has traveled a long way from the House of God Church in Miami. Sharing stages with the likes of Robert Plant, Mavis Staples, Gov’t Mule and many others, The Lee Boys are musicians’ musicians and festival favorites. They help close out the final RiverMusic installment of the season Friday, Oct. 9. Music starts at 5:30 p.m. with Lyric; Fred Wesley & The New JBs headline at 8:15 p.m. Free. riverlink.org. Photo by Edwin Cardona

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About Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall
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