"The World Needs R.L."
- Steve Likens
- Dec 20, 2023
- 11 min read
Updated: Mar 9
Get up fellow,
ride all around the world.
(Blind Willie McTell - "Travelin' Blues")
Luther Dickinson ended a September 17, 2017, email with these words: "The world needs R.L.!" Ten days later I received a letter from friend and Boston-based musician Ilana Katz Katz that beautifully explained why:
I always wanted to do my own thing. ...
I migrated to old-time Appalachian fiddle, which I still love to play very much, but my heart is in the Blues. As I played Appalachian music, I didn't quite fit into the world. My sound was different - my own - with lots of Blues, but I wasn't in the Blues community. ...
[M]y friend Holly [Harris] interviewed R.L. It wasn't a long interview, but his message was important, about how he played what he played, how it came from God into his arm, and there was nobody who played like him. ... There were messages in [that interview] for me. ...
And now I will do what I do. That was part of R.L.'s message. He does what he does. And that message inspired and reminded me that I need to do that too. Really we all do, but not everyone understands that.
(Ilana Katz Katz 9/27/2017)
In 2017 - 2019, the world got what it needed!
During that period, R.L. traveled to and performed in eight countries spanning four continents - North America, South America, Europe, and Australia.
There were lots of emails, phone calls, documents, arrangements, and drop-offs and pick-ups at the Memphis airport. Despite R.L.'s busy schedule, I was fortunate to spend time with him during extended Mississippi and Memphis-area events. Dawn and I also managed to do some traveling with him, too.
Later ... with Jools Holland (London)
In really big news, R.L. received an invitation to appear on the BBC's Later ... with Jools Holland television program in London on October 17, 2017.
Lightin' Malcolm and I had many email exchanges with the label and the advance team about what R.L. should wear and what song he should play. The label wanted to make an appointment with a tailor in Memphis to fit R.L. for a classic black suit and white shirt in the style of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, or Fred McDowell. Malcolm, who was to back R.L. for the show, thought R.L. would be more comfortable dressed casually. After much hand wringing and confirmation that Jools Holland booked R.L. "as is," the label gave the "ok" for R.L. to wear jeans and his red jacket with a hat - although I don't think we told R.L. it was "ok" or that R.L. cared whether anyone else thought it was "ok". He was going to wear what he wanted to wear anyway. I'm pretty sure he was oblivious to the entire discussion.
As for what he should play, the label wanted R.L. to play either "Roll & Tumble" or the radio edit version of "R.L.'s Boogie". Further, they deemed it vital to "the trajectory of his career" that he play whichever song was chosen exactly as it was released. Well, ... that's not exactly how R.L. rolled. He was going to play whatever hit him at the moment. Also, he never played the same version of a song twice.
The television producers also insisted that R.L. tell them the song he was going to perform (for the onscreen banner) and to play it during soundcheck so they could verify duration and audio levels for the live performance. Reluctantly, R.L. finally told them "Roll & Tumble". Malcolm and R.L. then played a version of that song during soundcheck. When R.L.'s portion of the program started, the on-screen banner proudly stated that the song was "Roll & Tumble," but R.L. was singing something mostly improvised, laid over another one of his classic hill country riffs - neither of which sounded anything like the song title flashed up on the television screen.
Malcolm told me afterward:
After the rehearsal, I made R.L. swear not to the change the song. But while I'm sitting behind the drum kit waiting for them to give us the "action" cue, I'm saying to myself, "He's gonna change it. He's gonna change it." So, I decided to give him one beat before I jumped in to see what he does."
If you watch the archived video of that show, you can see Malcolm grin from ear to ear and slightly shake his head just as R.L. hits the opening note and start to play. He knew. But, as Malcolm also said, "We ended on time, so it's all good."
From R.L.'s point of view, it was mission accomplished. "They mobbed me after the show," R.L. told me during a call the next day. "They said they ain't never heard nothing like that before and wanted more." That's the same thing I said after hearing R.L. the first time years before.
International Blues & Fusion Festival (Colombia)
In December 2017, R.L. returned to Colombia, South America, for the International Blues & Fusion Festival in Pereira, Colombia, South America. [1] His support for that show included Carlos Elliot, Bobby Gentilo of The Cornlickers, and Lightin' Malcolm. R.L. wore a black leather jacket on that trip. Sources told me that jacket was the envy of several band members.
Briggs Farm Blues Festival (Pennsylvania)
Dale Wise of The Cornlickers arranged for R.L. to appear at the 2017 Briggs Farm Blues Festival for the first time.[2] Elmore magazine described R.L.'s set with The Cornlickers as "hypnotic."
Oxford Blues Festival (Mississippi)
R.L. played the Oxford Blues Festival in Oxford, Mississippi, on July 15, 2017, with Cedric Burnside (grandson of R.L. Burnside) on drums and Lightin' Malcolm on guitar. Both played on R.L.'s Grammy nominated album Roll & Tumble and a few others. In preparation for Oxford, R.L. and Malcolm warmed up in R.L.'s front yard in Como on July 12:
Blues Rules (Switzerland)
Vincent Delsupexhe and his team at Blues Rules in Crissier, Switzerland, consistently book such a strong contingent of North Mississippi Hill Country and Clarksdale-area blues acts that the festival grounds are affectionately known as "Crississipi." Blues Rules invited R.L. to headline the June 2018 festival.
I sent R.L. with greetings for Geneva-based blues photographer Christophe Losberger. Christophe superbly documents many of the music festivals across Europe. I highly recommend you look into his work.
"What Do I Do With These?"
On the road in May 2018, Lightin' Malcolm, R.L., and I stopped for dinner at a Japanese-style steakhouse somewhere west of Columbus, Mississippi. R.L. said he had never eaten at one before. Malcolm gave him a quick lesson in using chopsticks while we waited for our main courses.
Jus' Blues Music Awards - Little Milton Campbell Lifetime Blues Award
On August 2, 2018, R.L. opened the Jus' Blues Music Foundation Awards ceremony with a rare acoustic performance of "Jesus Gonna Meet Me at the River Jordan." Later in the evening, Bobby Rush presented R.L. with the Little Milton Campbell Lifetime Blues Award. The presentation itself followed a biographical video tribute on the big screen. "I want to thank my friend Bobby Rush," R.L. humbly said. "I thank all y'all for being here. Thank you." Forever a man a few words.
Singer Trudy Lynn was in the house that evening. I had never known R.L. to be star-struck around anyone, but he sure seemed exicted to talk to her. I remember this because he reminded me several times throughout the evening that he talked to Trudy Lynn.
The previous afternoon, R.L. sat for an interview with Foundation director Charles Mitchell. Before the interview, Marquise Knox, who was also being honored, and R.L. took turns playing tunes for each other in the lobby on the mezzanine.
We caught up with Charles Mitchell again the following year at the 2019 Chicago Blues Festival.
Road Music Documentary
In January 2019, the Road Music documentary crew rolled through Memphis and asked to film and interview R.L. They were also trying to schedule a session with Bobby Rush while he was in town. After several time and location changes due to the shifting nature of Bobby Rush's other commitments, we ended up using a local music producer's home in downtown Memphis, overlooking the Mississippi River, that my son Cory arranged for us. The film is currently in post-production.
Thacker Mountain Radio / Neshoba County Fair
On July 27, 2019, R.L. played on the Thacker Mountain Radio Hour, which is broadcast over American Public Radio and Mississippi Public Broadcasting. This "special edition" of the show was recorded at the Neshoba County Fair and broadcast on August 3, 2019. The producers put us up in the casino hotel in Philadelphia, Mississippi, the night before. The next day we had a lobby call at 4:30 p.m. We then followed the production crew over to the Fairgrounds.
The Neshoba County Fair is not your ordinary county fair, It is more like the world's largest and longest block party. Families purchase zero line lots in one of the multiple "neighborhoods" in the fairgrounds on which they build two story cabins with decks and porches. Most neighborhoods are built around a square. Each year everyone moves into their cabin for two weeks of non-stop partying.
Thacker Mountain Radio set up on the stage in Founders Square Pavilion in the middle of one the neighborhoods. R.L. played two sets: the recorded broadcast set with The Yalabushwackers (the Thacker Mountain house band) and a full set after the broadcast recording ended. Singer-songwriter Jack Barksdale, from Texas, also performed on the show and novelist Joshilyn Jackson read from her new book Never Have I Ever.
North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic
Kenny and Sara Brown organize and host the annual North Mississippi Hill County Picnic in Marshall County to honor and preserve the legacy of the area's legendary musicians and special brand of blues. The event, held in late July, is part music festival, part family reunion. Kenny and Sara always held a spot in the line-up for R.L.
Often people meeting R.L. for the first time asked where they could see him play. If it was in July, R.L. had a habit of telling them to come see him at the Picnic and to "tell the man at the gate you're with me." Every year, at least one person told me they had the following conversation with the man at the gate:
"It's $25 per person and $10 extra for coolers. You can park anywhere up there on your right."
"Oh, we're here with R.L. Boyce. He said for us to tell you, 'We're with R.L.' "
"You and half the people here. I'll need $25 per person."
2018 Beale St. Music Festival - Where's Willie?
R.L. played the 2018 Beale St. Music Festival (produced by the Memphis in May International Festival) on the banks of the mighty Mississippi River on May 6, 2018. His band for the day: Lightin' Malcolm on guitar, Trina Raimey on drums, Kody Harrel on guitar, and Willie "William the Shaker" Miles on tambourine. Somehow, Willie got lost on the 60 foot walk from the artist trailer to the stage stairs. Once R.L. and the rest of the band went on stage, Willie was nowhere to be found. I went back to the trailer, checked the restrooms, and looked around the backstage grounds, while Dawn looked for him in the audience out front. After about fifteen minutes, we gave up. Then thirty minutes into the set, Willie popped up on stage, seemingly out of nowhere.
Tour Schedule
Several manila folders labelled "RL" lay scattered throughout our house. One of them contains a copy of the spreadsheet I eventually created to keep track of his schedule for what I dubbed the:
Rollin' & Tumblin' 2017-18 Tour
Ain't Gonna Play Too Long Fall 2018 Tour
Rattlesnake Boogie 2018-19 Tour
At some point in 2019, it appears I quit updating the spreadsheet on my computer and started making notes on a printed version; perhaps the file got deleted.
I now notice that I slotted R.L.'s September 2, 2017, appearance at the Memphis Music & Heritage Festival out of sequential date order.
I do not recall what we were working on with The Cornlickers in Pennsylvania for February 23, 2019, that apparently did not happen or how R.L.s appearance on 12/2/2017 at the International Blues & Fusion Festival in South America was not listed. Carlos Elliot and The Cornlickers also asked R.L. to perform with them in France on November 1-2, 2018, but we could not work it out.
Last minute shows in Clarksdale, usually at Red's or Bluesberry Cafe, and unplanned appearances during Juke Joint week in April often popped up that did not make it on to the list. Similarly, last minute changes were common for interviews and other non-concert appearances. Accordingly, some of those may actually have happened on a date other than what is listed.
One of those off-the-schedule appearances was a yard party at the home of Joyce "She-Wolf" Jones in Potts Camp, Mississippi, on August 4, 2018. Joyce, R.L., Lightin' Malcolm, Cameron Kimbrough, Yella P, Tim Scruggs, and others had us boogying all night long.
Australia, Grammys, Blues Music Awards, Chicago Blues Festival, and Memphis Music & Heritage Festivals
Our adventures in connection with the following trips and/or events that occurred during 2017 - 2019 are chronicled in separate posts. Please see:
R.L. Takes the Boogie Down Under (Australia)
R.L. Got Gramminated - Extended Play Edition (Grammy Awards in New York)
"People Are Starting to Know What I Do" (Blues Music Awards in Memphis)
Cousin R.L. Goes to Chicago (Chicago Blues Festival)
From Boyd to Boyce and Back Again (Memphis Music & Heritage Festivals)
The links open in a new tab.
Promotional and Other Event-Related Material
Finally, a collection of photos, promotional posters, articles, and material related to some of the other events on R.L.'s 2017 - 2019 schedule follows:
Here's a clip of RL at Telluride:
Thanks for stopping by.
~ Steve
Return to table of contents.
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Notes:
[1] You can read about our adventures during R.L.'s first trip to Colombia, South America, in R.L.'s Epic Adventures in North and South America With Carlos Elliot & The Cornlickers.
[2] R.L. and Dale played the Briggs Farm Blues Festival together again in July 2023.
text © 2023 Steve W. Likens
all photos & video, except promotional materials © Steve W. Likens, unless credited otherwise
In reading these accounts of the amazing R.L. Boyce, I keep coming back to that Bible verse in Proverbs that says "a man's gift makes room for itself and brings him before great men." This - along with the observation that R.L. 'just did what he did' - seem to perfectly caption his life. Thank you for the memories and pictures of your friend's last years.
I sure would love to have seen a picture of the ever-laidback R.L. meeting the glamorous Miss Trudy Lynn. 😄
Patty Panni