Huddie William Ledbetter (January 20, 1888 – December 6, 1949) was an American folk and blues musician notable for his strong vocals, virtuosity on the twelve-string guitar, and the folk standards he introduced. He is best known as Lead Belly.
Lead Belly's songs covered a wide range of genres and topics including gospel music; blues about women, liquor, prison life, and racism; and folk songs about cowboys, prison, work, sailors, cattle herding, and dancing. He also wrote songs about people in the news, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Adolf Hitler, Jean Harlow, Jack Johnson, the Scottsboro Boys and Howard Hughes.
Lead Belly's work has been widely covered by subsequent musical acts, including:
Song Artist(s) Release Year Reference "Midnight Special" Bob Dylan Brian Wilson Johnny Rivers Here We à Go Go Again! 1964 Delaney Davidson Tom Russell Lonnie Donegan Creedence Clearwater Revival Willy and the Poor Boys 1969 Elvis Presley ABBA Pete Seeger Weavers Harry Belafonte Frank Sinatra Nat King Cole Animals Mischief BrewSongs From Under the Sink Jay Farrar Johnny Cash Tom Petty Dr. John Ry Cooder Davy Graham Maria Muldaur Rory Block The Grateful Dead Gene Autry Odetta Billy Childish Mungo Jerry Paul King Van Morrison Michelle Shocked "Cotton Fields" The Beach Boys 20/20 1969 country style single 1970 Creedence Clearwater RevivalWilly and the Poor Boys 1969 Elvis Presley ABBA Pete Seeger Weavers Harry Belafonte Frank Sinatra Nat King Cole Animals Jay Farrar Johnny Cash Tom Petty Dr. John Ry Cooder Davy Graham Maria Muldaur Rory Block The Grateful Dead Gene Autry Odetta Billy Childish Mungo Jerry Paul King Van Morrison Michelle Shocked "Goodnight, Irene" Bryan Ferry Frantic (album) 2002 Tom WaitsOrphans 2006 Half Man Half Biscuit Ry Cooder Chicken Skin Music 1976 James BookerJunco Partner1976Dr. JohnGoin' Back to New Orleans1992 Scott H. Biram Ron Sexsmith British Sea Power Rod Stewart Ernest Tubb Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Ram Jam Little Richard Little Richard Is Back (And There's a Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On!)1964 Peter Tork "Black Betty" Ram Jam Ram Jam 1977 Spiderbait Tonight Alright 2004 Tom JonesReloaded: Greatest Hits2003Nick Cave and the Bad SeedsKicking Against the Pricks1986 "Boll Weevil" White Stripes Live in Mississippi 2011 Fall Hole Smog Old Crow Medicine Show Meat Loaf Ministry Raffi Rasputina "Out on the Western Plain" Rory Gallagher Against the Grain 1975 Sensational Alex Harvey Band Deer Tick Hugh Laurie X Bill Frisell Koerner, Ray & Glover Red Hot Chili Peppers "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" / "In the Pines" Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York 1994 Meat Puppets Blind Willies The Grateful Dead Mark Lanegan Smog WZRD WZRD 2012 Keith Richards "I Got Stripes" / "On a Monday" Johnny Cash 1959 Phil Lee Cash on Delivery 1999 "Hangman Jury" (sampled from "Can't You Line 'em") Aerosmith Permanent Vacation 1987 "The Gallis Pole / "Gallows Pole" Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin III 1970 "Ain’t It A Shame" Nirvana With The Lights Out 1989 "John Hardy" The Gun Club Miami 1982
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