Leadbelly

Leadbelly Huddie William Ledbetter, 20 January 1888; Mooringsport, LA – 6 December 1949; New York City, NY Singer, songster, twelve-string guitar player. Born to Sally and Wesley Ledbetter on a plantation near Mooringsport, Louisiana. Though his family was relatively comfortable, he dropped out of school while he was only twelve. In 1915, he learned to play guitar from Blind Lemon Jefferson. He later covered Jefferson’s classic song, “ Matchbox Blues .” Even though Huddie Ledbetter wanted to be…