R.L. Boyce’s Epic Adventures in North and South America With Carlos Elliot and The Cornlickers
- Steve Likens
- Dec 10, 2023
- 27 min read
Updated: Aug 14
Las aventuras épicas de R.L. Boyce en América del Norte y del Sur con Carlos Elliot y Los Cornlickers
The road to Medellín goes through Clarksdale.
At least it does if you are a hill country bluesman from Como, Mississippi, and your name is R.L. Boyce.
The lives and careers of R.L. and Carlos Elliot overlapped substantially throughout the last decade of R.L.'s life - performing, recording, touring, and just hanging around together. I was blessed to be in the mix.
Part One:
You Just Think You're Ready
Parte Uno:
Solo piensas que estás listo
The year was 2012. The event was Juke Joint Festival. The place was Clarksdale, Mississippi. Carlos Elliot Jr., a bluesman from the Andes hill country of Colombia, South America, met R.L. Boyce, a bluesman from the hill country of north Mississippi.
I met R.L. the following year at the Hill Country Blues stage during the 2013 Juke Joint Festival.[1] Throughout the day, I also kept seeing this tall, young man wearing a hat and a white suit hanging around everywhere.
Then, during R.L.'s set, R.L. called the guy in the hat and white suit up on stage to sing with him!
That "guy" and I started corresponding a few weeks later about photos I took during the festival. I learned that his name is Carlos Elliot; he lives in Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia, South America; and he plays hill country blues.
The Party of the First Part
In January 2014, Carlos returned to the States as the Colombian Blues Society's entry in the annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Brian LaPrade, whom I met the previous summer at the North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, served as one of the early-round judges. At the time, Dawn and I still lived in Tate County, Mississippi. I asked Brian to let me know if there were any acts I needed to drive up for. Brian called Friday afternoon to tell me about this Colombian blues player that cranked out the best version of Junior Kimbrough's "All Night Long" he ever heard by anyone not named Junior Kimbrough. They were booked at Blues City Cafe's Band Box on Beale St. that night. I quickly messaged Carlos. It was him.
His band was the The Cornlickers. Carlos was from South America, but the band (Dale Wise - drums, Bobby Gentilo - guitar, Dave Groninger - guitar, and Tony Ryder - bass) was based out of Pennsylvania. The Cornlickers had served as Big Jack Johnson's band in his later years and held court as the house band, of sorts, at Red's juke joint in Clarksdale, Mississippi, during various music festivals. Dale Wise earned his chops as the drum technician for the legendary Buddy Rich and owns Dale's Drum Shop. Bobby Gentilo is co-owner of Right Coast Recording in Pennsylvania, a producer, and a recording engineer.
Between numbers, Carlos talked about his "buddy and friend" R.L. Boyce and how R.L. influenced the style of blues he played. After their first set, I told The Cornlickers I also knew R.L. We talked hill country blues until they returned to the stage for their next set. That was Friday night. Carlos called me Sunday. He and the band were driving down to Como to jam with R.L. and asked if I wanted to hang out for the afternoon. Of course, I did.
R.L. was still on his way from his nephew's place when I arrived. Not long after I pulled into R.L.'s driveway, Dale's van pulled in - loaded with gear, instruments, and the band. A few minutes later, R.L. turned the corner and pulled in behind the van. After a quick round of "Good to see ya" and "Hey, buddy", we followed R.L. through town, under the interstate, and north a few miles into rural Panola County. Our little caravan finally turned right onto a gravel driveway leading back to a cleared piece of property on which R.L.'s nephew, June, lived.
We set up in the yard - drums, amps, mics, PA., everything. Extension cords ran from the equipment into June's trailer. R.L.'s nephew and his friends started grilling meat. Tables with food and supplies appeared out of nowhere. As Tony Ryder exclaimed, "Oh, man! This is the real deal." R.L. finally picked up his Delta King guitar and looked around at the assembled band. "You ready?" he asked. Then, in response to the chorus of "yeahs," R.L. chuckled and announced, "You just think you're ready. I'll lose you when I want to."
In addition to family and other friends, Red Paden, owner of Red's juke joint in Clarksdale, and Rosalind "Mississippi Rose" Wilcox stopped by.
The following year, Raise the Fire America, Carlos's second album, included 16 minutes of uncut audio from that afternoon, featuring R.L., Carlos, and the band, as a "bonus track."[2]
For the full flavor of the afternoon, please see the complete photo gallery. The link will open in a new tab.
The Party of the Second Part
Carlos returned to the States in the summer of 2014. We planned another hill country blues party to celebrate R.L.'s birthday (a few days early) on August 7, when Carlos and The Cornlickers could be in Como. The location this time - the parking lot for the residents of the back row of trailers in the Como mobile home park.
The sky grew more ominous as the day went on and, sure enough, as soon as we unloaded the PA, the bottom fell out - treating us to a torrential downpour. R.L.'s friend lived in the trailer directly in front of us and said we could set up inside. In addition to R.L., Carlos, and The Cornlickers (Bobby, Dale, Tony, and Dave), Lightin' Malcolm joined in, as did the late Martin "Big Boy" Grant (harmonica) and Shimmy Smallhands from Japan (harmonica). That trailer rocked all night long!
Rather than me try to describe the scene, you should see and hear some of the action for yourself:
Pictures also tell the story:
Returning home to South America, Carlos took R.L. with him in spirit:
The Party of the Third Part
When the calendar rolls around to April, it's Juke Joint Festival time in Clarksdale, again. Carlos returned for the 2015 edition. In addition to his own shows, Carlos and The Cornlickers backed up R.L. for his set. Also, without anyone asking, a hill country backyard blues party with R.L. was arranged for April 10. That year, we were back at June's property. In addition to Carlos and The Cornlickers, new faces showed up - bass player and artist J.D. Sipe and his daughter Aiysha, harmonica player Richard Malcolm, tambourine man Willie "William the Shaker" Miles, blues legend Little Joe Ayers, and Tamara Jackiw (manager for the late Tail Dragger Jones).
Little Joe Ayers, speaking that afternoon about the Cornlickers's drummer, said, "I like playing with that Dale. He's back there correcting my mistakes two beats before I make them." Dale, for his part, thought Willie was a human metronome. At some point, Dale wanted Willie mic'd up and sitting right next him. We had an extra chair and microphone. The problem was we were short one microphone stand. After a quick search of the tool shed, my son Cory, who brought the PA, slammed a post hole digger into the ground and duct-taped the mic to one of the handles. Problem solved.
Even in Mississippi, April can be a little chilly. So, of course, someone doused a stack of tires with gasoline and set the torch to it to keep everyone warm. When I got home that evening, the back of my jeans was so black from tire smoke that Mrs. L. made me take them off before she let me back in the house.
Please see the full photo gallery from the afternoon here. The link will open in a new tab.
As the afternoon wound down, Carlos told me that he and the band were driving to Bobby's studio in Pennsylvania to finish their new album when they left Mississippi. They wanted R.L. to be on the record, but the van was full. It would be a 16-hour drive and they could not squeeze in anything or anyone else. Also, they would not need him for the first few days. "I'll get him up there when you need him," I promised.
Part Two:
This is My Band
La Segunda Parte:
Esta es mi banda
Carlos titled the new album Del Otún & el Mississippi, after the two rivers that influenced and played major roles in his life - the Rio Otún, in his home country, and the Mississippi River, in his adopted country.
The hill country blues parties back in Como had inspired Carlos to write "Down in Como." It would become the first track.
Coming down, down in Como
Mississippi, dancing around
With my buddies and my friends!
Down in Como, Mississippi
Hanging around! Hanging around!
Come on down, down in Como
Mississippi, just hanging around!
Me and my buddy, and my friends
RL Boyce, boogying around!
Bobby and Steve
Tony and Dale, ...
in Mississippi, boogying around,
Just boogying around
....
Dale and Red
and ... Rosalinda ...
Boogying around, boogying around.
("Down in Como" - © 2015 Carlos Elliot Jr.)
Driving R.L. to Pennsylvania was my original plan, but with each passing day the thought of a 16-hour drive, each way, sounded less appealing. R.L. and I flew from Memphis to Baltimore on April 15, 2015.
We rented a car at the airport; drove directly to Right Coast Recording in Columbia, Pennsylvania; and caught up with Carlos and the rest of the guys. In recorded sessions over the next several days, R.L. played guitar on "Down in Como," drums on "My Mule Brays in Otha's Hood," and guitar (and handled vocals) on his original song, "This is My Band."
Dale lived outside Harrisburg and had a guest house down the hill from his residence, where R.L., Carlos, and I stayed. R.L. was the first person up every morning. "I always wake up at 5 a.m. wherever I am," he told me. "No alarm. It just happens." One morning, R.L. asked me to drive him to the grocery store. He bought eggs, sausage, bacon, hash browns, and biscuits. Back at Dale's guest house, R.L. and I fixed everyone a big Southern breakfast.
The basement of Dale's guest house served as a rehearsal room. One morning before heading to the studio, R.L. sat down behind the drum kit. Carlos came downstairs and picked up a guitar. This happened:
Carlos also plays the fife. Hearing R.L. play in the style of his time as a drummer with Otha Turner's Rising Stars Fife & Drum Band inspired Carlos to include an original fife and drum tune, "My Mule Brays in Otha's Hood," on the album. Both R.L. and Dale play drums on the track.
Carlos also included R.L.'s original song, "This is My Band," on the album. In typical fashion, R.L. improvised the lyrics, in which he gives a series of shout-outs to everyone in the studio, while the tape was rolling. It may have been Carlos's album they played on, but they were now R.L.'s band.
R.L. and I were also in the studio for the recording of "Katrina the Mule" and "I Got This Feeling."
We did leave the confines of the studio from time to time. We took a night off from recording and they played a gig at River City Blues & Darts Club in Harrisburg.
Dave Groninger was on a hiatus from the band at the time. R.L. kept asking about him. Dave lived nearby, so on Sunday morning I drove R.L. to Dave's house. His wife invited us in, saying that Dave had stepped out, but would be back any minute. Just then, we heard a car pull up in the driveway and moved back out to the front porch. Grinning from ear to ear, Dave ran down the front walk and leapt into R.L.'s arms. Seeing R.L., he said, really lifted his spirits and made his day. R.L. had that effect on people.
The night before we left Pennsylvania, R.L. played a live session in the studio with Carlos and The Cornlickers for members of the Central Pennsylvania Blues Society and a few others. R.L. wore a black, long-sleeved shirt covered in patterns of small, silver, diamond shapes. On the way over, I asked him where he got it, because I wanted to get me one. The next morning, that shirt was laying folded on the top of my duffle bag. When I asked R.L., he said, "Since you like it, I want you to have it." The man literally gave me the shirt off his back.
As for that live studio session - Bobby had the tape rolling all night long. Who knows, maybe one day?
In May or early June, Carlos called. The City of Pereira's culture and arts commission planned a big event and concert in the city's central park on August 27 for the release of Del Otún & el Mississippi. After that, he and The Cornlickers were booked to play the Medellin Blues Festival. Carlos invited me to join them in Colombia. He also said there were opportunities for R.L. to be in the festival lineup and it would be nice if he could be a part of both events, since he played on the album. Once again, I said, "I'll get him there." As it turned out, that was easier said than done.
Part Three:
I Chose the $35 Option
Parte Tres:
Elegí la opción de $35
As the date approached, Carlos wrote, "I'll be making my dreams come true next week having [R.L. Boyce] in my country and get him to meet all my peoples! Celebration time!" (Carlos Elliot, 8/15/2015.)
Preparations
The Medellin Blues Festival released the following promotional video to announce the addition of Carlos, R.L. and The Cornlickers to the lineup. I filmed R.L.'s spot backstage during the North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic in late June.
Newspaper and billboard coverage of the album release concert followed:
The Cornlickers were already in Colombia for earlier tour dates. Carlos scheduled an afternoon press conference and reception for R.L.'s arrival. Everything was set. Now, we just needed to get R.L. down there.
While previously making R.L.'s flight arrangements, I called and told him the airline required his name to be spelled on his ticket exactly as it appeared on his driver's license. I always wondered if "R.L." stood for something. I told him to spell it out, so I got it right. "You got a pencil?" he asked. "I'm gonna go real slow for ya. ... R period, L period, B-O-Y-C-E."
At that time. we also learned that R.L.'s passport was about to expire. Dawn made arrangements to meet him at the Senatobia Post Office on a Monday to fill out the renewal paperwork. I called R.L. Sunday afternoon to remind him. "I already took care of it on Friday," he reported. "They said it would be here in time." I felt a twinge of panic, but it eventually subsided as we moved on to other business. A few days before our scheduled departure, R.L. called with the news that his new passport arrived in the mail. There had been nothing to worry about after all, I assured myself.
The Midnight Ride to Atlanta
We had an early morning flight from Memphis to Miami (then Miami to Bogatá, and finally a commuter flight from Bogatá over the Andes Mountains to Pereira). I picked up R.L. at his house in Como the night before and drove him back to our place in Memphis to spend the night. Before leaving Como, I asked R.L. to see his new passport to make sure he had with him. R.L. reached in his wallet and handed me a card about the size of a driver's license.
"What's this?" I asked.
"That's what they sent me in the mail."
"This doesn't look like a passport."
"They had two options. One was 260 dollars and the other one was 35 dollars. I chose the 35 dollar option."
The "$35 Option" was a border crossing card for auto, rail, and cruise ship entry into Canada, Mexico, and certain islands in the Caribbean. Written across the back: "NOT VALID FOR AIR TRAVEL." Our plane left in ten hours.
As soon as we walked in my house, Dawn called the 24-Hour U.S. Passport Service Hotline. The closest office that processed same-day, emergency renewals was in Atlanta. It had an appointment available at 9 a.m. the following morning. Dawn booked it. By that time, we would not be able to catch the last flight from Memphis to Atlanta or get one early enough in the morning. R.L. and I were going to have to drive, and we needed to leave right then.
In route, R.L. called his niece, Bridget, who lived in Atlanta. She said we could crash at her place for a few hours before his appointment.[3] While R.L. talked to Bridget, I tried to reach someone in the band to let them know what was happening. Dale was the first to call back. Over the next two hours, I stayed in constant contact with Dawn and Dale; often at the same time, on two different phones. Dawn looked up schedules and set up multi-party calls for us and people at the airlines to rebook our flights. Between those calls, I kept Dale updated on our progress. Finally, we were good to go, but had to rebook on a later flight leaving Miami, which pushed back our connecting flight in Bogatá, to ensure we had time to get R.L.'s new passport in hand. Now, we would not arrive in Pereira until late in the evening. Carlos decided to cancel the press conference and reception. Fortunately, that was the last disappointment of the trip.
The passport office in Atlanta resides in a tall, multi-occupant office building. The U.S. Department of State issues U.S. passports and rented space on one of the floors. The State Department is an agency of the federal government. Therefore, when R.L. and I stepped out of the elevator, we had to pass through a metal detector before entering the passport office. Despite claiming to have emptied his pockets, R.L. set off the alarm. He had five .38 caliber bullets on him. They could not go in with him. They could not stay with the guards. They could not be left in the bathroom down the hall past the elevators. They had to leave the building. So, I took R.L.'s bullets back down the elevator and scattered them under a bush in one of the concrete planter boxes outside the front doors. Hopefully, we would be out of the country before they were found and the building locked down.
A similar incident had recently happened with someone else we both knew and that incident was now fresh on my mind. Jeff Konkel of Broke & Hungry Records had accompanied the late Mississippi bluesman L.C. Ulmer on his European tour a few months earlier. They almost didn't make it. L.C. set off the alarms as he passed through security in the Memphis Airport with a loaded hand gun on his person. As Jeff recounted, that lead to a lot of explaining needing to be done before they could get on the plane. On the way back up the elevator in Atlanta, I wondered what it was with these Mississippi bluesmen and regretted giving Jeff so much grief about L.C.
Back in the passport office, it was our turn to approach the window. I started explaining the situation, but the civil servant on the other side of the screen stopped me and asked,
"Now, just who are you?"
"I'm Mr. Boyce's manager. I handle his travel arrangements," I replied.
"Well, I need to talk with Mr. Boyce. Is he here? Let's let him speak for himself, okay."
[R.L. slides in front of the window.]
"Are you Mr. Boyce?"
"Yes, I am."
"Now, what seems to be your emergency?"
"You'll need to ask him," R.L. said, pointing at me.
The lady who actually processed R.L.'s renewal was friendly and helpful. She said she was sorry to hear about his predicament, understood how it happened, and was excited for him to be playing at the festival. Before we left the counter, she also told R.L. she would look him up on the internet and could not wait to listen to some of his music. Shortly before Noon, we had what we came for and were back on track.
Part Four
Samuel L. Jackson Wishes He Was Me
Cuarta Parte:
Samuel L. Jackson desearía ser yo
When we finally did arrive in Colombia, an admonition and reminder hung in the gift shop window across from our gate. It's double meaning, for us, was not lost.
Pereira
The album release concert on August 27, 2015, was a success. The crowd spilled out of the park and into the blocked off streets. Carlos and The Cornlickers played a mix of tunes from the new album; their first album, Mystic Juke Joint Blues; and Carlos's Raise the Fire America. They called R.L. up to play the next set with them, and then called him back up during the encore to sing on "All Night Long."
Here are a few video clips and photos from the afternoon soundcheck.
Before the show, a local television crew, reporting live from the park, approached R.L. and asked why it was important for him to be a part of this event. R.L. turned to me and said, "You tell 'em." Blurting out the first and only thing that came to my mind, I looked into the camera and said, "Because he likes to boogie and he wants you to boogie, too."
That morning, Carlos drove us around and showed off his town.
The Road to Medellín
We set off for Medellín early the morning of August 28 in two cars. Carlos - with videographer Alejandro Ardilla, R.L., and me on board - led the way in one. Bobby - with Tony and Dale - followed in the other.
To get to Medellín from Pereira by car, one must eventually drive over the Andes on a twisting, turning, narrow two-lane road hugging the side of the mountain. Drivers on this road were not patient, especially those in command of large trucks. They often passed multiple vehicles at a time as we approached - which means they were coming right at us, at high rates of speed, with little space left in "their" lane to spare. We had good tunes, at least. Carlos popped in his Mississippi blues mix tape and we listened to Robert "Wolfman" Belfour, Paul "Wine" Jones, Junior Kimbrough, T-Model Ford, Son House, Otha Turner, and even a little R.L. Boyce.
When we reached the top, Carlos pulled over to let us take in the view. I had looked up at the tops of mountains poking through clouds before, but this was the first time I looked down and saw the tops of mountains poking up through the clouds. Coincidence or not, when we reached the summit, Carlos's mix tape was playing Mississippi Fred McDowell's "Sittin' on Top of the World."
Before we got back in the cars, Bobby and I looked at each other and shrugged. Even though we were in separate cars, we knew we shared the same unspoken thought: We were either going to die on that narrow, two-lane road on the side of that mountain or not. Fortunately, we reached Medellin without incident.
Medellín
Carlos released "Katrina the Mule" as a single to generate interest in the album in advance of its full release. In the weeks before our arrival, Katrina steadily climbed the Radioníca network top 20 countdown. So, it was with a great deal of anticipation that we listened to the countdown while driving into Medellín with Carlos. Then, the moment we'd all been waiting for: "There's a new number one song this week - 'Katrina the Mule' by Carlos Elliot Jr. and The Cornlickers!"
First stop in town - Festival headquarters to met production manager Santiago Monsalve, sit for a press conference, and eat lunch with the other participating artists.
Next stop - the hotel, and then to work. For, R.L., the 5th Annual Medellín Blues Festival meant two shows billed as R.L. Boyce (backed by the Cornlickers) at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, August 28, and the headline show billed as The Cornlickers with Carlos Elliot Jr., featuring R.L. Boyce, on Saturday night, August 29,
Friday afternoon's 4 p.m. show took place in the university's outdoor amphitheater.
Friday night's 8 p.m. show took place at Contenedores - Envigado. They really got the butts to shake at that place! Here's the proof:
R.L., Carlos, and The Cornlickers closed out the festival with the headline show at the Hard Rock - Medellín on Saturday night. A jam session followed with other artists who played throughout the festival.
Outside the Hard Rock, after the show, R.L. autographed everything people handed him - posters, photographs, programs, cds, t-shirts, napkins - mostly using my back as a table. Finally, he got tired and leaned over and said to me:
"Hey, buddy. The next one comes, you do it. I'm gonna sit down over there for a while."
"You mean," I asked, "when the next person walks up and asks for your autograph, I'm supposed to say, 'I am R.L. Boyce'?"
"That's right."
A few minutes later, I heard R.L. calling from behind me.
"Hey, Steve! Hey, Steve!"
I turned around. A very pretty young lady had her arm around R.L.'s shoulders.
"Look what the good Lord done sent me now," he shouted. "I think she wants her picture with me. Can you take one with your phone?"
"Don't you mean she wants her picture with me? Because, ... I am R.L. Boyce, remember?"
"I think it'll be ok this time."
"Are you sure? All the pictures I've been taking with this phone go up on the internet. You ok if people see this?"
"Oh, I want you to show this to Joe Ayers!"
La Florida and Termales
We drove back over the mountains the following morning to a cabin along the Rio Otún in the La Florida community outside Pereira. Here, the Otún streams down a mountain and then tumbles along beside pastures and cilantro farms through the hill country of Colombia's Risaralda district.
Carlos wanted "Down in Como" to be the next single released from the album. He also wanted a music video put out at the same time. The band set up on the deck with R.L. in front. The cameramen pressed "record." The band began to play. The crowd of family and friends on hand began to boogie. By coincidence, I just happened to be wearing my "Red's" juke joint t-shirt that afternoon. Here we were, immersed in a Mississippi hill country blues party vibe, jukin' along the banks of the Rio Otún in the hill country of Colombia, South America.
Once back in the city of Pereira, we had an important errand to run. We met Carlos's mom, Janeth, downtown. She wanted to purchase a gift for R.L., one she really thought he needed - an ear piercing and a small gold circle earring. Without protest, R.L. went along with it.
The night before R.L. and I flew back,[4] Carlos treated the entire crew to a relaxing evening of soaking in a Termales (thermal waters) park outside Pereira. This particular location collects the hot mineral-enriched water that streams down the side of a nearby volcano and diverts it into several large waist high swimming pools. At one point, R.L. leaned back against the side of the pool, shirtless, with his arms outstretched and drooping over the edge. He wore his new earring, and a gold chain around his neck. Carlos, Bobby, Dale, and I flanked R.L. on his left and right. A group of bathers across the pool began pointing in our direction and talking amongst themselves. Finally, one of the group waded over to R.L. and asked, “Are you Samuel L. Jackson?” R.L. grinned and told him, “Samuel L. Jackson wishes he was me.”
Part Five:
I Reached Down in My Sock Tonight and Pulled it Out Just For You
Quinta Parte:
Me metí la mano en el calcetín y lo saqué esta noche solo para ti
R.L. and I made our own promotional videos for his Mississippi appearances with Carlos. We did not have the production budget that Carlos did for his professional looking videos, but we pulled it off. Here's one announcing a show with Carlos at Red's:
Carlos and The Cornlickers continued to back up R.L. for his Juke Joint Festival sets every April. They usually performed together at Red's and Bluesberry Cafe a couple of nights during the extended weekend, as well. One of those nights at Bluesberry lasted almost 5 hours and R.L. was on fire beyond anything I'd ever witnessed. As we loaded out, I asked, "Where you been hidin' that stuff? I heard you play notes tonight I ain't never heard come out of you." "Well," he laughed. "I've been keeping it down in my sock. I had to reach down in there tonight and pull it out just for you, buddy."
In addition to Juke Joint Festival-related activities, April was also Carlos's time to take care of other business in Mississippi. Peter Whitham, co-founder and president of the Mississippi Music Foundation, invited Carlos for an interview and performance on his radio program April 11, 2016. Carlos wanted R.L. to be there. R.L. agreed. Ricardo "Mr. Wonderful" Garcia Huidobro from Panama and Julio Restrepo from Colombia, who were both in "town" for Juke Joint, and I tagged along with them to Infused Studios in Eudora, Mississippi. R.L. was on fire that afternoon, as well.
Our son, Cory, booked Carlos and The Cornlickers to play Tin Roof on Beale Street in Memphis on April 13, 2016. Carlos invited R.L. to join them. Stud Ford, the grandson of blues legend T-Model Ford (another of Carlos's heroes) played drums that night. Stacey and Stefan Bock, the proprietors of Bock's Juke Joint in Amherst, Ohio, were staying with us in Memphis for a few days before they headed south to Clarksdale for Juke Joint. Carlos, Bobby, Julio, and Tony had an open invitation to stay at our place whenever they were in the area and needed a place to stay that night before heading to Clarksdale themselves. What was four more?
In exchange, we all invaded the Bock's the following year. Stefan organized a hill country blues party at Bock's Juke Joint for May 20, 2017, with R.L., Carlos, and The Cornlickers as the headliners. He booked local musicians, including bluesman Luther Trammel with Cedric Ridgeway, to open. Stacey put us in touch with Forts Tavern in nearby Wellington, who booked the band for May 19.
Carlos was on an extended stay in north Mississippi at the time. I drove him, R.L. and Heather Crosse (who was tapped to play bass in Tony's absence) to Ohio for the weekend. Bobby and Dale drove over from Pennsylvania with the equipment and gear.
As this short video shows, the groove was strong at Bock's Juke Joint that night:
I even got to give Dale a breather for a few numbers
The previous weekend, we were at the Hut in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Robert Kimbrough, with help from his brothers David and Kinney, organized the first Kimbrough Cotton Patch Blues Festival to honor the life and legacy of their father, the late blues Hall of Famer Junior Kimbrough. R.L. and Carlos performed May 14 in a band that included Lightin Malcolm' and Junior's grandson, Cameron Kimbrough.
The weekend before the Kimbrough Festival, Carlos and The Cornlickers played in the Blues Tent at the Beale St. Music Festival in Memphis, with special guest Ruben Vaneske from Argentina on harmonica. They brought R.L. out to join them for the encore - "This is My Band."
Part Six:
Sending Love for R.L.'s Journey
Sexta Parte:
Enviandor amor por R.L.'s viaje
Carlos described his relationship with R.L. in these words:
R.L. Boyce has been a mentor to me. You know I had the blessing in my life to meet him in a very special time, and it has meant so much to me. His inspiration and knowledge has been unbelievable for me; for that I owe him a lot for my musical career.
("Carlos Elliot Jr. Is Taking His Blues Around The World," American Blues Scene, Oct. 25, 2016)
The year is now 2023. Venues in France were promoting and announcing concerts in October and November by The Mississippi Juke Ambassadors, featuring R.L. Boyce, Carlos Elliot, Anthony “Big A” Sherrod, and The Cornlickers. R.L. was excited. As the dates approached, he became too ill to travel and the tour went on without him.
Back home, R.L.’s condition worsened in early November. While still in France, Carlos organized a benefit concert for R.L.’s care to be held at Red’s in Clarksdale, Mississippi, on Thursday, November 16, 2023. Sadly, it would not be needed for that purpose. R.L. died on November 9. That night, Carlos and The Cornlickers played in Paris. Carlos wrote: "RL Boyce we love you! The shaman left the land!" Dale Wise called me after the show. The loss was especially deep for him. Commenting on that show, Bobby Gentilo wrote: “Brother RL was with us last night. His name was already on the bill and his influence and spirit took us to an amazing musical and soulful place. We love you RL, rest easy.” Carlos doubled his efforts and turned the care benefit into a legacy and life benefit concert to raise the funds needed to cover R.L.’s burial expenses - "Blues Family Gathering, Sending Love to R.L.'s Journey."
After the last show in France, Carlos flew to Detroit and then to Memphis on Wednesday night, November 15. Dawn drove us down to Clarksdale Thursday afternoon. Carlos and I made the rounds to remind everyone about the benefit.
R.L.'s friends and fans packed Red’s that night. At any given moment, the number of people on the sidewalk and in the street out front equaled the number of bodies squeezed into the club.
The Blues Foundation graciously covered the funeral home’s expenses through its H.A.R.T. fund (Handy Artists Relief Trust). Money was still needed, though, to pay for the burial plot, the expenses of “opening and closing” (digging and recovering) the grave, the Church’s and pastor’s expenses for the service, and a headstone. Before the music started, Carlos asked me to say a few words and explain what the money raised would be used for: “We are here because we all love R.L. And if he knew you, he loved you, too. And you know that.” I then explained about the expenses needed and announced details for his upcoming service.
Carlos started the musical portion of the evening with a few songs and then handed it over to the long line of performers who were there to play in honor of their friend. For me, the impromptu jam led by Lightin’ Malcolm that started about 11 p.m. and, in true homage to R.L., lasted well over 20 minutes was the highlight of an evening of deep blues. As I recall, it began as “Jumper on the Line,” seamlessly morphed into “R.L.’s Boogie,” and then kicked into a groove of cosmic proportions. By the end, Malcolm, Kenny Brown, Bill Abel, Clark Winkle, Jesse Cotton Stone, Sharde Thomas, Chris Mallory, Willie “William the Shaker” Miles, Sherena Boyce, and Bonnie Renfroe were all on “stage.” I put the word “stage” in quotatiion marks because Red’s does not have a stage - just a big carpet remnant on the floor where the band, often standing shoulder to shoulder with each other and the crowd, does its thing.
Red Paden donated the use of his club. Jesse Cotton Stone supplied amps and mics. Heather Cross provided another amp. A Clarksdale resident made the big donation box that, when not sitting front and center of the band, we passed around several times. Carlos also live-streamed the event. Bobby Gentilo published a PayPal account so those watching could donate if they were so inclined. There was no cover and no charge to stream. It was a give what you can, if you can, event. Through the generosity and big hearts of the folks who came to Red’s and watched at home, and the help of a few others, we raised what was needed to cover the outstanding expenses.
On Saturday morning Dawn drove us up to the Felix Cauthen Funeral Home in Senatobia. With the money raised, we paid off the remaining expenses. While there, Carlos mentioned that he had to be at the airport soon and would not be able to attend the wake that evening or the funeral service on Saturday. The director said R.L. was “ready” and laid out in an open coffin in the next room. Carlos could go in and pay his respects now if he wanted. We went in. Carlos spent a few final moments with his friend and mentor and said, “Hey, that's so cool. He’s going to be buried wearing the earring my mom got him.”
UPDATE: R.L.'s headstone was erected at his grave in Hunters Chapel Cemetery in Como, Mississippi, on August 13, 2025 - just in time for his birthday.
Epilogue
World Boogie
Epílogo
Baile mundial
More than mutual assistance and lasting friendship resulted from that meeting in Clarksdale back in 2012. Thanks to Carlos, a new generation of emerging blues artists throughout South America have been introduced to, and continue to be influenced by, R.L. Boyce and his music. They include: Raul Garcia, Eduardo “Edu” Oviedo, Santiago Monsalve, and Santiago “Lier Slim” Garcia in Colombia; Ricardo “Mr. Wonderful” Garcia Huidobro in Panama; Rueben Vaneske in Argentina; and Bryan Blue in Chile.[5]
In 2016, Carlos sent this video greeting for R.L. from the South American blues community gathered backstage at a festival in Chile:
That seems an appropriate way to close.
Thanks for stopping by,
~ Steve
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text © 2023 Steve W. Likens, except as otherwise credited
all photos and video, except tour posters © Steve W. Likens, except as otherwise credited
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Notes:
[1] I caught up with R.L. in Como, Mississippi, in May after the 2013 Juke Joint Festival. R.L. then played at my 50th birthday party the following August. You can read about those adventures in the post "The Beginning of The Endless Boogie."
[2] Carlos received 6 nominations at the 2015 Subterranica Music Awards. Raise the Fire America won Disco del ãno (Album of the Year). Carlos also took home the award for Artista del ãno (Artist of the Year).
[3] Eight years later, Bridget walked up to me after R.L.'s funeral service. "Excuse me," she said. "I'm R.L.'s niece Bridget. I live in Atlanta. Are you that man who came down with R.L. and slept on my couch?"
[4] R.L. returned to Pereira, Colombia, on December 2, 2017, for the International Blues & Fusion Festival.
[5] Bryan Blue booked time at Sun Studios in Memphis on May 12, 2023. At Bryan's invitation, and persistent insistence, I brought R.L. over that night and he played on a few tracks that also feature Watermelon Slim on harmonica. It was R.L.’s last studio session. For photos and a bit of video, see Bryan Blue / R.L. Boyce Sun Studio Session Photo Gallery (5/27/2023).
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