bˈɔɪɚ wʌz bˈɔːɹn ˌɔn mˈeɪ θˈɜːɾi, wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti, ɪn sənt. lˈuːi, mɪzˈʊɹɹi ænd ɡɹˈuː ˌʌp ɪn dɪtɹˈɔɪt, mˈɪʃɪɡən, ðə sˈʌn ʌv dʒˈoʊ bˈɔɪɚ sˈiːnjɚ ænd klˈɑːɹɹə lˈɪbi.
Boyer was born on May 30, 1890, in St. Louis, Missouri and grew up in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Joe Boyer Senior and Clara Libby.