The Boardwalk has hosted some of the music industry’s biggest stars over the decades, many before they hit the charts and a few who made impromptu appearances at the iconic local venue even after their rise to the top—a place they often remember fondly. Such was the case this past week when one of country music’s biggest stars gave a shoutout to the longtime Orangevale music venue.
Jelly Roll, who recently performed to a sold-out crowd at Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center, appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” this past week. As he talked about his early days in the music industry, the now multi-time Country Music Association (CMA) and Country Music Television (CMT) award winner mentioned the venue.
For Jelly Roll, his appearance nearby on Greenback Lane wasn’t one for the history books, but it stands out in his memory as part of his musical journey—one of today’s classic rags-to-riches stories. At the time, nobody knew who he was, and he was just happy to have a gig. Back then, his genre was rap, and no one could have predicted the success he would one day achieve. He explained that only five people showed up for his show, with one of them accounting for three tickets.
“I was playing just outside of Sacramento, California, back in the day when I was doing anything I could to book a show at this place called The Boardwalk,” the artist shared. “I pulled up ready to play, and there were five people there. I felt so bad for the door guy, sound guy, and the concession guy—and those were all the same person. I felt so bad for him that I was like, ‘Don’t even open the door.’”
Although Jelly Roll may have canceled his appearance on the iconic stage, he still performed for the few attendees—in his motorhome, which he described as far from glamorous at the time.
“Imagine like a 1975 Cheech and Chong RV,” he said. “There was smoke coming out of the hood. There was smoke coming out of the inside. It smelled like Willie Nelson and cheap beer. It was all bad, man.”
Now coming off his highly popular Beautifully Broken Tour, Jelly Roll’s rise to fame is a story of persistence and versatility. Beginning in the early 2000s, he launched his career in hip-hop, influenced by Southern rap legends like Three 6 Mafia, UGK, and 8Ball & MJG. His grassroots approach—selling mixtapes out of his car—built a foundation for his career, with notable releases like *The Plain Shmear Tape* (2003) and the *Gamblin’ on a White Boy* series (2004-2011). His breakthrough came in 2010 with the viral success of “Pop Another Pill,” a collaboration with Memphis rapper Lil Wyte that garnered over 6.3 million YouTube views. This success paved the way for Jelly Roll’s membership in the hip-hop group SNO and collaborations with artists such as Struggle Jennings, Haystak, and Tech N9ne. Notably, his 2013 mixtape Whiskey, Weed, & Women initially featured Waffle House branding, leading to legal action and a memorable cover change.
The star isn’t shy as he talks about is troubled years and time in jail, as well sharing his strong faith and will to change.
Jelly Roll’s career took an unexpected turn when he ventured into country and rock music, earning critical acclaim and commercial success in both genres. His Grand Ole Opry debut in 2021 marked a major milestone, followed by his first No. 1 rock radio hit, “Dead Man Walking,” in 2022, and his debut country single, “Son of a Sinner,” which topped the country charts in 2023.
He also made history with a 25-week run at No. 1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart. Jelly Roll’s versatility was further highlighted by his sold-out show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena in 2022, where he performed to 15,000 fans alongside artists from both his hip-hop and country worlds. His success culminated at the 2023 CMT Music Awards, where he won several accolades, solidifying his position as a breakout star across multiple genres.
Area residents have taken to social media since the national shoutout this week.
“Feel like he should redo the show as a tribute to this. Bet the turnout will be more than the five and a door guy,” commented Morgan Anderson.
The operators of The Boardwalk also shared the news and expressed their gratitude for the impromptu mention.
“Jelly Roll, what a great human. It is true—everyone deserves to be saved,” the venue posted on its Facebook page.
