Leadbelly

Huddie Ledbetter:
This man's music was so compelling, he was pardoned for murder. Twice! Once in Texas and once in Louisiana. In Texas, it was a song written for the Governor that won his freedom. In Louisiana, John and Alan Lomax discovered him in Angola Prison and persuaded the Governor to set him free.

Born:
January 21, 1888

Died:
December 6, 1949

Birthplace:
Shiloh, Louisiana

Listen:
Gallows Pole
The Bourgeois Blues
Goodnight Irene
Take This Hammer

Among his classics:
Goodnight Irene, Rock Island Line, Take This Hammer, Midnight Special, Cotton Fields, and the immortal Big Fat Woman,

Leadbelly's music is often thought of as "Folk" music, and listeners are usually surprised to find out a Bluesman wrote the greatest of American Classics.

Leadbelly played a 12 string guitar. He could play several instruments including the piano.

Leadbelly brought the art of songwriting to the Blues.