Leadbelly

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Huddie Ledbetter (23 January 1888-6 December 1949) was a leading American blues singer and guitarist. His songbook contained a large number of standard folk tunes, most adapted from previous sources.

Though many of his posthumous releases list him as “Leadbelly,” he himself spelled it “Lead Belly.” This is also the usage on most of his original records, tombstone, as well as of the Lead Belly Foundation.

Leadbelly was born in Mooringsport, Louisiana, and spent time in and out of prison most of his life. In 1933, serving a sentence for attempted murder, musicologists John and Alan Lomax “discovered” him on a field recording tour sponsored by the Library of Congress. That summer, he was pardoned by the governor of Lousiana after recording his plea for pardon on a record, together with “Good Night Irene”. Leadbelly went on to make hundreds of recordings of all sorts of different songs: country, blues, spirituals, reels, and work chants.
His songs have been covered by Mark Lanegan, The Animals, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Nirvana, Lonnie Donegan, Johnny Cash, Gene Autry, The Beach Boys, Led Zeppelin, British Sea Power, Ram Jam, Ry Cooder, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Half Man Half Biscuit, Tom Waits, Shocking Blue and The White Stripes.
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  • Gravejr

    "I don't think he gives a fucking shit if it's tagged wrong, he died 56 years before last.fm was even invented". Though currently Leadbelly is "On Tour"

    13 days ago

  • Quasimoto

    I don't think he gives a fucking shit if it's tagged wrong, he died 56 years before last.fm was even invented. [2]

    27 days ago

  • boehj

    he da man.

    28 days ago

  • ksjn

    "Huddie Ledbetter" should also be separate for those who prefer it.

    last month

  • keresaspa

    Leadbelly, Lead Belly - I don't care either way as long as I get to hear his wonderful old blues.

    March 2012

  • jazzthieve

    Lead Belly is correct. How can you make a difference? Go to the Lead Belly page http://www.last.fm/music/+noredirect/Lead+Belly . In the upper right corner where it says "Did you mean leadbelly" click on "Flag this". A window will appear which will prompt you for the correct spelling, select "Lead Belly is correct". Thanks

    February 2012

  • El_Melomaniac

    LEAD BELLY! Damn you lastfm

    February 2012

  • holycoma

    ♥!!!

    February 2012
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