Huddie Ledbetter was easily one of the most influential American musicians of all time, yet today he has become one of the most historically overlooked. Musical artists like Elvis Presley, Kurt Cobain, the White Stripes, and countless others have been covering Huddie’s songs for almost a century, however, most listeners have never heard his name. The life of Ledbetter, more widely known as Leadbelly, was fraught with complications, repressed by a world policed with Jim Crow laws, and often filled with violence.
Leadbelly was viewed by audiences as a murderer and criminal, but also as a poet gifted with an incredible musical talent. Separating and understanding the real man from the legend is a difficult task. His life was as epic as his music, and we’re going to explore all of it, starting with this first episode on the life of the legendary Leadbelly, King of the Twelve String Guitar.
The Real Scorpion King
The Disappearance of Glen and Bessie Hyde
Escape from the Amazon
A Victorian Murder Most Foul
Shackleton in 30 Minutes(ish)
Stealing the Mona Lisa
The Shark Attacks of 1916
Bessie Coleman: A Legend in Flight
Historical Oddities Part 2: The Incredible Afterlife of Outlaw Elmer McCurdy and the London Bridge of Arizona
Historical Oddities Part 1: Frank Hayes, the Unsinkable Violet Jessop, and Jack the Incredible Baboon
The History of Ghosts at Christmas
Stealing and Stealing Back the Stone of Destiny
Clever Hans: The Horse That Outsmarted Everyone
Once Dead, Twice Buried Part 2: A Short History on Being Buried Alive
Once Dead, Twice Buried Part 1: A History of Death Tests and Safety Coffins
A Strange Experiment: Dr. William Beaumont and the 'Guinea Pig' of Mackinac Island.
Leadbelly Part 5: Death of a Legend
Leadbelly Part 4: Angola, John Lomax, and a Song for the Governor
Leadbelly Part 3: Music and Murder
Leadbelly Part 2: Fugitive King of the 12 Sting Guitar
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