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The Life of Hudson “Huddie” William “Lead Belly” Ledbetter
Beginnings
If you were to trace the roots of the blues, you’d find yourself on the African coast, seated among tribesmen, surrounded by drums and ritualistic dances. But if you wanted the full story — the complete lineage of the blues — you’d also need to listen to modern sounds: artists like John Mayer or Jeff Beck, or maybe some classic rock from The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, or The Animals. Don’t forget the more contemporary blues artists — Valerie June, Keb’ Mo’, and Buddy Guy. The list goes on. The blues didn’t just influence American music — it reshaped it, leaving an indelible mark on the musicscape of the entire developed world.
No one embodied that influence quite like Hudson William “Lead Belly” Ledbetter. His unique take on the 12-bar blues and country styling laid the foundation for bands like The Animals, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Black Oak Arkansas. Even Kurt Cobain borrowed from his sound and lyrics. For more than 80 years, artists have been reviving Lead Belly’s music and bringing it into new genres, keeping his legacy alive while introducing him to new audiences.
The legend of Lead Belly begins in Mooringsport, Louisiana, around the turn of the 20th century, in the Jim Crow South — a time when men with his talent all too often went unnoticed. But this young…
