Featured In
ALBUMWhere Did You Sleep Last Night? (2023 Remastered) [Acapella] - SingleLead Belly
Albums by Lead Belly
ALBUMAmerican Epic: The Best of Lead BellyLead Belly
ALBUMLead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways CollectionLead Belly
ALBUMLive - New York, 1947 & Austin, Texas, 1949Lead Belly
ALBUMTake This Hammer - The Complete RCA Victor Recordings (Remastered)Lead Belly
ALBUMComplete Recorded Works In Chronological Order, Vol. 7 (1947-1949)Lead Belly
ALBUMLead Belly Sings for ChildrenLead Belly
ALBUMLeadbelly ARC & Library of Congress Recordings Vol. 3 (1935)Lead Belly
ALBUMLead Belly's Last SessionsLead Belly
ALBUMLeadbelly Vol. 2 1940-1943Lead Belly
ALBUMLeadbelly Vol. 3 1939-1947Lead Belly
Artist Playlists
Lead Belly Essentials
Blues shouts, folk energy, and proto-rock from an American icon.
Inspired by Lead Belly
Intense wails and fevered strumming by rock and folk descendants.
Lead Belly: Deep Cuts
Political punch and satiric wit in the folk icon's topical songs.
Artist Biography
The embodiment of the link between folk and blues, Louisiana-born Lead Belly (Huddie Ledbetter) possessed a powerful voice and the creative fervor to fashion his observations and heartfelt passions into riveting songs. An itinerant singer/guitarist, he performed in between working odd jobs and spending time in prison for his violent outbursts. Twice he gained pardon from long prison sentences with his songs. After Lead Belly's second pardon, in 1934, the recordings folklorist Alan Lomax made of him brought the singer national success. Whether conscious of his influence or not, nearly all folk and blues singers can trace their musical lineage back to him. He's responsible for many songs that have become part of America's cultural heritage.
Hometown
Mooringsport, LA, United States
Genre
Blues