The Lee Boys are one of America’s finest African American sacred steel ensembles. The Lee Boys grew up in the church where their father was a pastor and a steel player himself. “Sacred steel” is a type of music described as an inspired, unique form of Gospel music with a hard-driving, blues-based beat. The musical genre is rooted in Gospel, but infused with rhythm and blues, jazz, rock, funk, hip-hop, country and ideas from other nations.
When The Lee Boys bring their joyous spiritual sound to the stage, audiences instantly recognize that this is not “sitting and listening” music: dancing, shouting out, and having fun are considered essential parts of their tradition. Founder and bandleader Alvin Lee explains “The inspiration and feeling that comes along with our music is the reason that people feel good.”
The Arts on View Society was incorporated in December 2016 for the purpose of preserving Hermann’s Jazz Club and continuing to enhance the public’s appreciation of jazz, blues and world music through all-ages live performance. As the longest continuous running jazz club in Canada, Hermann’s has been at the forefront of providing the opportunity for local and visiting musicians to showcase their talents for the past 40 years. The Arts on View Society operates Hermann’s Jazz Club and the View Street Social.