University of Illinois Press

Miami’s New Times interviewed Robert Stone, author of Sacred Steel: Inside an African American Steel Guitar Tradition, in advance of his October 28 event at Books & Books in Coral Gables, Florida.

Q: Is there fallout between musicians in the church and the people running it over the outside popularity of the music?

A: It’s been signifcant. Most Lee Boys are not in the church anymore. The main thing is, this type of church, they see “The Church” and “The World,” and you can’t be both. They’re very strict: no movies, women can’t wear makeup, they holy dance in church, but they don’t dance as couples anywhere, and their diet is very close to kosher: no vinegar, no grapes fermented or not, no pork.