Huddie Ledbetter

Smithsonian Collections

Exhibition Label: Playing his signature twelve-string guitar, Huddie Ledbetter was instrumental in introducing African American traditional music to national audiences. Known popularly as Lead Belly, a nickname given to him by a prison chaplain, he amassed a vast song repertory that ranged from the blues to early jazz and ragtime. Ironically, although a series of arrests in Louisiana and Texas almost cut short his career, they gave Ledbetter the break that transformed his life while he was in prison. In 1933, Ledbetter met folklorist John Lomax, who was traveling through the South recording folk songs from inmates-among others-for a music archive at the Library of Congress. Lomax helped to secure his parole and then accompanied him to New York. There, Ledbetter became a star, performing and recording for large audiences, many of whom had never encountered such music before.

Medium: Gelatin silver print
Dimensions: Image/Sheet: 42.9 x 35.2 cm (16 7/8 x 13 7/8"); Mat: 71.1 x 55.9 cm (28 x 22")

Topic: Interior; Music\Musical instrument\Guitar; Huddie Ledbetter: Male; Huddie Ledbetter: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Composer; Huddie Ledbetter: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Pianist; Huddie Ledbetter: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Guitarist; Huddie Ledbetter: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Singer\Rhythm and Blues; Huddie Ledbetter: Law and Law Enforcement\Criminal\Murderer; Portrait

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