LEADBELLY also known as Huddie William Ledbetter was an American folk and blues musician notable for his strong vocals, mastery of the twelve-string guitar. Beyond the twelve-string guitar, Lead Belly also played the piano, mandolin, harmonica, violin and windjammer. His songs covered a wide range including gospel music, blues about women, liquor, prison life, and racism; and folk songs about cowboys, prison, work, sailors, cattle herding, and dancing. He also wrote songs about people in the news, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Adolf Hitler, Jean Harlow, Jack Johnson, the Scottsboro Boys and Howard Hughes.
Lead Belly was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 along with the the Louisiana Hall of Fame in 2008.
