The Lee Boys with Roosevelt Collier: fulfilling their mission

The Lee Boys with Roosevelt Collier: fulfilling their mission

We arrived early Friday evening at Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center in Sarasota in anticipation of the first of three shows celebrating 25 years of The Lee Boys and Roosevelt Collier (Saturday at Suwannee Roots Revival, Sunday at Judson’s in Orlando). They performed one show in February in Boca Raton, and here were three more opportunities to see them together.

I have been remarkably fortunate, having see The Lee Boys for more than 15 years. Their music is based on the sacred steel music of their church and of the family’s patriarch and his eldest son Glenn. Over 25 years, The Lee Boys are recognized as one of the most important proponents of sacred steel and its inclusion of powerful secular music as well.

It has probably been seven years since I had seen vocalist Keith Lee with the group as he worked through some health issues. Keith is the most spiritual man I have ever seen on stage, bar none. Every time I saw the band in the past several years, I spoke to Keith’s “little” brother Derrick Lee, also a vocalist, my first questions were about Keith, asking Derrick to tell Keith I asked after him.

As we entered, the very first person I spotted was Keith. Our smiles were huge as he beckoned me over for a hug, and then he spoke. I cannot recall exactly what he said, but the crux was that Derrick was gone and no longer in pain.

WHAT?

Meanwhile, they were setting up a photo of Derrick on a stool with a rose. In the moment, I had no inkling of when Derrick had transitioned. Donna and I spoke in hushed tones about it.

Important side issues: this was the inaugural show put on by TBP Productions, an amazing multi-media company based in Sarasota. They had a huge video crew and photographers ready to document their first effort as concert producers in conjunction with the amazing people at Fogertyville. CEO Johnnie Barker and others, including Louise Coogan, put this event over the top.

Tony Tyler opened the show with a stunning looper set, the best I have ever heard him.

Back to The Lee Boys.

It wasn’t until Barker returned to the stage to introduce The Lee Boys that we learned that Derrick had transitioned THURSDAY! Collier had arrived at the hotel; three hours later, he was on his way to Miami, the home of The Lee Boys and Derrick Lee’s family.

As the band finally took the stage at 8:34, Keith (I think) first explained that this is exactly what Derrick would have wanted; in his honor, the quintet blew out a righteous, soul-stirring memorial service for all of us lucky enough to be there in attendance. At the end of the first song, the middle brother, Al Lee, noted that the mission of The Lee Boys has forever been to touch everyone in the audience with their incredible music.

They were busy sorting out a setlist they never imagined they’d have to assemble, and “Testify” emerged. Collier, who joked (not counting February’s show) that the last time he had played with them his hair wasn’t gray! The joke aspect was important; you can imagine that this was heart-rending to play this show. Slowly, however, as everyone dug into the music, smiles and laughter flashed back and forth on stage. Credit to Keith, whose enveloping smile was there from the very first moment.

Never, in all of the several dozen Lee Boys shows I had seen with Collier, did he speak; Derrick and Al handled that chore. This night, however, Collier took the mic for several minutes, expressing deepest gratitude for our support and our presence that night. He searched for the right words to describe how difficult this was, knowing there was no other option, given that mission. With that, he encouraged us to GET UP AND DANCE!

Which we did. The smiles said it all. After a magnificent medley of tunes (So Much to Live For > Can’t Tell It All > Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough > Can’t Tell It All > band testimonials > huge coda), Collier returned to the mic as the band vamped to give everyone proper introductions. They told us about the three nephews — Al Cordy, Earl “Big Easy” Walker, and Collier — who joined the Lees in their band. I would not attempt to explain; fortunately we will get to see the video of the entire amazing night.

There is no need for a song-by-song review here; this was a show for the heart, for Derrick, for The Lee Boys family, and for everyone person who has ever been touched by the music of this wonderful collection of men. I will say this much:

I am right about Keith Lee, the most spiritual man I’ve ever know. Alvin Lee has always been a great front man, guitarist, and vocalist. Alvin Cordy on bass and Big Easy are an astonishing rhythm section, truly mind-blowing. And Collier (on pedal steel and this night on the pedal steel guitar), whether he is fronting his band, acting as musical director for Jelly Roll, or returning to his Lee Boy roots, fills the room with his presence.

What began as a celebration of 25 years together became a soul-stirring celebration of life, a memorial service unlike any we have ever experienced, and I expect that speaks for everyone.

Thanks to friends we saw old and new, to TBP Productions, to Fogertyville, to The Lee Boys, and to Matt Hillman and Nauti Rock for letting me share several of his fine photographs.

DERRICK LEE — October 30, 1974 — October 8, 2026

[LEE BOYS: Let’s Celebrate/ We’re Gonna Have a Good Time, Roosevelt Collier intro > long instrumental jam, Testify, Collier at the mic, So Much to Live For > Can’t Tell It All > Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough > Can’t Tell It All > band testimonials > huge coda]