Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Lead Belly

Role / Field:

Pioneering American folk and blues musician known for powerful vocals and twelve-string guitar.

Born:

1888-01-20

Died:

1949-12-06

Century / Era:

1888s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Huddie Ledbetter (January 20, 1889 – December 6, 1949), better known by the stage name Lead Belly, was an American folk and blues singer. He was notable for his vocals, twelve-string guitar, and the folk standards he introduced, including his renditions of "In the Pines" (also known as "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" and “Black Girl”), "Pick a Bale of Cotton", "Goodnight, Irene", "Black Betty", "Midnight Special", "Cotton Fields", and "Boll Weevil". In addition to vocals and guitar, Ledbetter also played piano, mandolin, harmonica, violin, and accordion. In some recordings he used clapping or stomping.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Ledbetter's songs covered several genres, including gospel music, blues, and folk music, as well as topics including women, liquor, prison life, racism, cowboys, work, sailors, cattle herding, and dancing. He wrote songs about newsworthy people, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Adolf Hitler, Jean Harlow, Jack Johnson, the Scottsboro Boys, and Howard Hughes. Ledbetter was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2008. Though many releases credit him as "Leadbelly," he wrote his stage name as "Lead Belly".

Enduring Legacy & Impact

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Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Amos Bronson Alcott — Contemporary (Died in 1888) (1888): Pioneering American educator, philosopher, and transcendentalist reformer.
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• Anton Makarenko — Contemporary (Born in 1888) (1888): Influential Soviet educator, theorist, and social worker who pioneered child collective upbringing.
• Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Contemporary (Born in 1949) (1949): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances and masterful impersonation.
• Alan Menken — Contemporary (Born in 1949) (1949): Award-winning American composer celebrated for Disney film scores and Broadway musicals.
• Alexei Shchusev — Contemporary (Died in 1949) (1949): Master Russian architect spanning Art Nouveau, Constructivism, and Stalinist styles.
• Abdul Ghaffar Khan — Shared historical date (01-20 · Died) (1988): Pioneering nonviolent activist and founder of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement.
• Adam Oehlenschläger — Shared historical date (01-20 · Died) (1850): Pioneering Danish Romantic poet and playwright who shaped national literature.
• Afonso I of Portugal — Shared historical date (12-06 · Died) (1185): The first King of Portugal, founder of the independent Portuguese Kingdom.
• Agnes Moorehead — Shared historical date (12-06 · Born) (1900): Iconic American actress celebrated for stage, film, and television roles.
• 1888 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1888
• January 20 (01-20) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 20
• 1949 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1949
• December 6 (12-06) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on December 6

Frequently Asked Questions about Lead Belly