Leadbelly (1889-1949) was a famous American folk and blues singer and guitarist. He recorded hundreds of songs and introduced many songs that became folk and blues standards, several of which he may have written. They include “Good Night, Irene,” “Boll Weevil,” “The Midnight Special,” and “The Rock Island Line.” He gained popularity for his rough but expressive singing style and his skill playing the 12-string guitar .
Leadbelly was born on Jan. 20, 1889, in Mooringsport, Louisiana. His full name was Huddie William Ledbetter. He learned to play the guitar as a youth and for a time teamed up with the famous blues musician Blind Lemon Jefferson on the streets and in bars in Dallas. Leadbelly was imprisoned for murder in Texas from 1918 until he was reprieved in 1925. He was jailed again in 1930 for intent to murder in Louisiana. The folk music scholar Alan Lomax discovered Leadbelly in the Louisiana prison in Angola and gained his parole.
Leadbelly lived in New York City from 1935 to 1940. Lomax recorded him extensively for the Library of Congress during that time. Leadbelly also began to record commercially in 1935. He gained popularity with jazz and blues fans in nightclubs and on college campuses. He recorded heavily in his final years, including sessions with the blues harmonica player Sonny Terry. Leadbelly died on Dec. 6, 1949. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as a performer who had an early influence on rock music .
