Roots of Blues -- Lead Belly „ Goodnight Irene"

„Goodnight Irene"
(Leadbetter - J. Lomax)

Recorded:
Austin -- University of Texas, June 15, 1949
Lead Belly (vcl) (g)

Huddie William Ledbetter, (January, 1888 -- December 6, 1949) was an American folk and blues musician, notable for his clear and forceful singing, his virtuosity on the twelve string guitar, and the rich songbook of folk standards he introduced.
He is best known as Leadbelly or Lead Belly. Though many releases list him as "Leadbelly," he himself spelled it "Lead Belly." This is also the usage on his tombstone, as well as the Lead Belly Foundation.
Although he most commonly played the twelve string, he could also play the piano, mandolin, harmonica, violin, concertina, and accordion. In some of his recordings, such as in one of his versions of the folk ballad "John Hardy", he performs on the accordion instead of the guitar. In other recordings he just sings while clapping his hands or stomping his foot. The topics of Lead Belly's music covered a wide range of subjects, including gospel songs; blues songs about women, liquor and racism; and folk songs about cowboys, prison, work, sailors, cattle herding and dancing. He also wrote songs concerning the newsmakers of the day, such as President Franklin Roosevelt, Adolf Hitler, Jean Harlow, the Scottsboro Boys and multi-millionaire Howard Hughes. Fame in 1986.
The day of his birth has also been debated. The most common date given is January 20, but other sources suggest he was born on January 21 or 29. The only document we have that Ledbetter, himself, helped fill out is his World War II draft registration from 1942 where he gives his birth date as January 23, 1889
Lead Belly's boastful spirit and penchant for the occasional skirmish sometimes led him into trouble with the law, and in January 1918 he was thrown into prison for the second time, this time after killing one of his relatives, Will Stafford, in a fight. He was incarcerated in Sugar Land, Texas and it is there that he got the inspiration for the song Midnight Special. It is said that he was released two years into his 35-year sentence after writing a song appealing to Governor Pat Morris Neff for his freedom. Lead Belly had swayed Governor Neff by appealing to his strong religious values. That, in combination with good behavior (including entertaining by playing for the guards and fellow prisoners), was Lead Belly's ticket out of jail.
In 1930, Lead Belly was back in prison, this time in Louisiana for attempted homicide. It was there, three years later, that he was "discovered" by musicologists John and Alan Lomax, who were enchanted by his talent, passion and singularity as a performer, and recorded hundreds of his songs on portable recording equipment for the Library of Congress. The following year Lead Belly was once again pardoned, this time after a petition for his early release was taken to Louisiana Governor O.K. Allen by the Lomaxes. The petition was on the other side of a recording of one of his most popular songs, "Goodnight Irene". The state's prison records, however, show he was released due to

for more Information see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_Belly

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Blues
• Roots_of_Blues
• History_of_music

[adubon]

My grandfather used to sing this song to my grandmother early on in their marriage

[dlbrereton]

my grandma used to sing this to me when i was a youngster. i liked her version. unfortunately she died 3 years ago at age 98

[nightintheruts617]

Leadbelly has so many diff versons of every song, I am 21 and recently discoverd Leadbelly

so I went out and hunted down a bunch of lp's and 78's and every version is different (but equally awsome). if you ever happen to see "Leadbellys last sessions vol two" buy it. its a 2 lp set from 1953(even if you have to buy a turn table) its worth every penny so many amazing songs you would never hear anywhere else this album has changed the way I look at any music

[ridoffascists]

@3RddegreeBurnzy Hmph...actually I did say that. I fail to see why you are bringing it up as I said it like 3 months ago and I didn't say it to you. I said that about Leadbelly because some racist creep made a reference to how Leadbelly's criminal history makes him somehow invalid. ( btw In future try to be more polite & u'l get more of a response. u kind of came off as an asshole.)

[3RddegreeBurnzy]

@ridoffascists I know you honestly didn't just say "A performer's personal life has nothing to do with the works he created" Are you ignorant or just plain stupid, that shouldn't even be an opinion I'll give you a few Examples Johnny Cash, Robert Johnson, Ray Charles all created songs from the Good and Bad of Their PERSONAL LIFE

[sweet96635]

@CreepyTheButcher Yeah, one thing I ain't never had is a black. So I do plan to have some brown sugar someday.

[CreepyTheButcher]

@sweet96635 "good blacks"....I aint even black (my girl is) and that sounds wrong to me. Even you gotta admit this version is better than Neil Diamonds but I aint hatin. To each his own. BTW Leadbelly's life story is what makes him more interesting to me. It gives him character good or bad. Also you should try some "brown sugar" if you get a chance. They know how to put it on you :) Might just change your mind partner......but I digress lol. Peace man

[sweet96635]

@CreepyTheButcher I'm not racist. Just because someone uses the N-word doesn't make them racist. If someone thinks all black "people" are the N-word, then that would be racist. But to distinguish between a good black and an N-word is not racist.

[CreepyTheButcher]

@sweet96635 "you people reported me for hate speech for some reason" You think just maybe its because you used the N word lmao. You backwoods ignorant hillbilly, go listen to some David Alan Coe or some other racist BS.

[kateomoore1]

My husband has always sung this one. :-)

[sweet96635]

My opinion no longer matters because you people reported me for hate speech for some reason, and I got a notice from YouTube. By "you people" I mean you Youtube people of course.