The Elsewhere GazetteExtra

Lead Belly

American folk and blues musician (1888–1949)

Huddie Ledbetter, better known by the stage name Lead Belly, was an American folk and blues singer. He was notable for his vocals, twelve-string guitar, and the folk standards he introduced, including his renditions of "In the Pines", "Pick a Bale of Cotton", "Goodnight, Irene", "Black Betty", "Midnight Special", "Cotton Fields", and "Boll Weevil".

In addition to vocals and guitar, Ledbetter also played piano, mandolin, harmonica, violin, and accordion. In some recordings he used clapping or stomping.

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Admit one

Lead Belly

what: one person
from: Mooringsport
born: 1888
until: 1949
on the air here: 2 songs

File card: Lead Belly

real name: Huddie William Ledbetter

genres: blues, country music

awards: Grammy Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

plays: accordion, guitar, voice

Facts from Wikidata and Discogs, free to use.

country bluesbluesfolk bluesacoustic bluesfolk

The Broken RecordExtra

Music career

By 1903, fifteen year-old Ledbetter was already a "musicianer", a singer and guitarist of some note. He performed to Shreveport audiences in St. Paul's Bottoms, a red-light district. He began to develop his own style of music after exposure to the various musical influences on Shreveport's Fannin Street, a row of saloons, brothels, and dance halls in the Bottoms. This area is now referred to as Ledbetter Heights.

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The Airwaves CourierExtra

Nickname "Lead Belly"

There are several conflicting stories about how the origin of the nickname "Lead Belly", but it probably happened while he was in prison. Some claim his fellow inmates called him "Lead Belly" as a play on his family name and his toughness. Others say he earned the name after being wounded in the stomach with buckshot. Another theory is that the name refers to his ability to drink moonshine, the homemade liquor that Southern farmers, black and white, made to supplement their incomes.

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The Elsewhere GazetteExtra

Legacy

In 1976, a fictionalized biopic titled Leadbelly was released, directed by Gordon Parks and starring Roger E. Mosley as Lead Belly.

From Wikipedia, shared under CC BY-SA. Read the whole page

American folk and blues singer, musician, and songwriter notable for his strong vocals, virtuosity on the twelve-string guitar, and the folk standards he introduced, including his renditions of "Goodnight, Irene", "Midnight Special", "Cotton Fields", and "Boll Weevil". Born January 23, 1888 in Mooringsport, Louisiana, USA, died December 6, 1949 in New York, NY, USA Though many releases credit him as "Leadbelly", he himself wrote it as "Lead Belly", which is also the spelling on his tombstone. Inducted into Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 (Early Influence). Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. Crediting guidance: Use this profile for crediting "Leadbelly" or variations of this singular name only. Any mention of Huddie, Ledbetter or abbreviations of his real name even if they also include this name ex. "H. Leadbelly", should use . Also known as: Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter, Huddie 'Leadbelly' Ledbetter, Huddie Leadbelly, Ladbelly, Lead Belly From Discogs (free to use). Their entry