For over half a century, an upbeat form of blues-infused gospel centered on the steel guitar thrived in Church of God services across the country but remained a relative secret to the rest of the world.
In 2001, Alvin Lee decided it was time to change that.
After suffering the loss of both his father, Rev. Robert E. Lee, and brother, Glen, the previous year, Lee was looking for a new direction. “I just decided that I needed to take it out of the four walls,” he remembers. So Alvin enlisted the help of his brothers, Derrick and Keith, and their three nephews, and The Lee Boys struck out to bring what had become known as Sacred Steel to mainstream audiences.
“I got my nephews and my brothers,” he says matter-of-factly of the decision, “and since 2002, we’ve been blessed and fortunate enough to share our music with the world.”
Heavily influenced by funk, and drawing from country and rock, the Lee Boys’ freewheeling, hard-driving worship music sounds more appropriate for a jam festival than in a sermon. And these days, that’s where you’re most likely to find them.
Although it may seem somewhat ironic for a gospel group that forged their sound in the church to make a name playing festivals often associated with a drug and party culture, the summer-festival circuit has become the Lee Boys’ second home. They’ve played alongside such legendary artists as Bob Weir and The Allman Brothers, and the band is already scheduled to appear at nearly 50 festivals this year, including Austin City Limits (an offshoot of the PBS series) and Bonnaroo.
But as Alvin is quick to point out, the Lee Boys’ driving rhythms and feel-good vibe are a natural fit for the carefree festival crowds.
“It’s a type of music that makes people feel better,” he says. “Music that makes people rejoice and feel good, you know. I think that’s definitely why we can play with so many genres of music: country, rock, blues, funk. It’s a style of music that generates a great feeling when you hear it, and it can’t be denied.”
And, he adds, they’re not out there to preach. For the Lee Boys, the music is the message.
“Our music is really about the music,” he explains. “We leave all the trying to convert people to God up to the preachers. We really wanna spread a good positive vibe and create a spiritual awakening through the music.”
The Lee Boys play the Battery Park Stage 4:30-6 p.m. on Sunday.
