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Leadbelly

LeadbellyAKA Huddie William Ledbetter

Born: 29-Jan-1885
Birthplace: Jeter Plantation, Mooringsport, LA
Died: 6-Dec-1949
Location of death: New York City
Cause of death: Lou Gehrig's Disease
Remains: Buried, Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery, Blanchard, Louisiana

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: Black
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Guitarist

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: Goodnight Irene

Southern folk and blues guitarist, discovered by musicologist Alan Lomax in 1933 while in prison for attempted murder.

Subject of the film Leadbelly (1976), directed by Gordon Parks.

Father: Wesley Ledbetter
Mother: Sally Ledbetter
Wife: Martha Promise (m. 1935)

    Assault Texas 1916
    Murder Texas 1918 (released after 7 years of a 30 year sentence)
    Attempted Murder Louisiana 1930
    Assault 1939
    Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1988
    Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame



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