Happy Birthday Leadbelly

Today is the birthday of singer, songwriter Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter, born in Mooringsport, Louisiana, 1888.

He is best known for his versions of "Goodnight Irene" and "Rock Island Line." He was an inmate at Angola Prison in Louisiana when a white man named Alan Lomax arrived, asking to record any songs the prisoners knew. Lomax was traveling across the south making field recordings for the Library of Congress. Lomax helped him obtain a pardon and took him to New York where he was a big hit.

Click here for Mp3s by Lead Belly

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mp3, blues, music

mp3s by Blind Blake

Blind Blake has the right stuff, you know the stuff that I am talking about. And the real amazing thing about him is that he is not on everybody's radar. I have to admit that I came to his music a little late in my blues education. It was not until I really started digging into the blues and the guitar work of some of the founders of the blues that I came across his music. It is a kind of ragtime for guitar, and it is good. Check it out.

You can read about him here; Blind Blake @ Answers.com

Hastings Street by Blind Blake & Charlie Spand

Diddie Wa Diddie

You Gonna Quit Me

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mp3, music, blues, pre-war, Blind Blake