Huddie William Ledbetter (1888-1949), better know as Leadbelly, could be the most underrated influential rock musician. He died in 1949 from Lou Gerhig’s disease. Ledbelly was a master twelve string guitar (Stella), but he could also play the pian, mandolin, harmonica, violin, concertina, and accordian. If you’re interested in learning more about him…I recommend checking out The Leadbelly Foundation…they have a great website. The website shares a clip of Pete Seeger from a documentary film that is interesting perspective of Leadbelly’s link from Woody Guthrie, Ramblin Jack and Pete Seeger then to Dylan, who connected to so many. (Click on the “Documentary Trailer” section on the bottom left at the page. If you jump to the Leadbelly site to watch the Seeger video, don’t forget to turn “Stella” off, she will drive you crazy.)
Leadbelly wrote “Diggin’ My Potatoes”
Huddie William Ledbetter (1888-1949), better know as Leadbelly, could be the most underrated influential rock musician. He died in 1949 from Lou Gerhig’s disease. Ledbelly was a master twelve string guitar (Stella), but he could also play the pian, mandolin, harmonica, violin, concertina, and accordian. If you’re interested in learning more about him…I recommend checking…
I probably missed some, but after a first glance at his 500 song catalog…some of the more well known songs are “Midnight Special” made popular by John Fogerty and CCR, “Good Night Irene” – Jerry Garcia/others, “Alberta” – Clapton’s Unplugged album, “Hesitation Blues” – Hot Tuna, “House of the Rising Sun” – Eric Burdon and the Animals, Bob Dylan, “CC Rider”, “In the Pines” and “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” – Nirvana’s Unplugged album, “Gallis Pole” – Led Zepplin.
According to James from NY on the song facts blog, Jimmy Page got the idea for what eventually became “Gallows Pole” after hearing a version of Leadbelly’s “Gallis Pole” by California folk singer Fred Gerlach.
Not to get too crazy with the Leadbelly thing, but any man who writes songs (and great songs at that) with titles such as “Story of the 25cent Dude”, “Sugered Beer” and (my favorite) “Diggin’ My Potatoes”…is down in my book.
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