Classic Lead Belly

Huddie William Ledbetter (January 20, 1888 – December 6, 1949), aka Lead Belly, was a legendary folk and blues musician noted for his strong vocals, master of the twelve-string guitar, and for the songbook of folk standards he introduced to the American public.

Lead Belly's music covered a wide range, including gospel; blues about women, liquor, prison life, and racism; and folk songs about cowboys, prison, work, sailors, cattle herding, and dancing.

Lead Belly was a singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose ability to perform a vast repertoire of songs after hearing them once, and notoriously violent life, made him a legend.

Audio playlists include:

Ain't Gonna Study War No More
Alabama Bound
Alberta
Antología
Black Betty
Black Girl
Blind Lemon
Blue Tail Fly
Boll Wievil
Bottle Up and Go
Careless Love
Cotton Fields
Easy Rider
Frankie And Albert
Go Down, Old Hannah
Goodnight Irene
Green Corn
Haul Away Joe
House of the Rising Sun
I'm Alone Because I Love You
John Hardy
Let it Shine on Me
Mama Did You Bring Me Any Silver
Midnight Special
Mr. Hitler
New York City
Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen
Old Riley
Pardon Song for Governor Neff
Pick a Bale of Cotton
Roberta
Rock Island Line
Sail On, Little Girl, Sail On
Take A Whiff On Me
The Gallows Pole
They Hung Him On A Cross
When The Boys Were Out On The Western Plains
Where Did You Sleep Last Night
Whoa, Back Buck
Yellow Gal

He is remembered for songs such as "Goodnight, Irene," "Rock Island Line," "The Midnight Special" and "Cotton Fields" among others.

Lead Belly was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.