Lead Belly
1888 – 1949

Lead Belly

American folk and blues musician (1888–1949)

accordionist
Born
1888-01-20, Mooringsport
Died
1949-12-06
Birthplace state
Louisiana

Biography

Huddie William Ledbetter, known as Lead Belly, was born in Mooringsport, Louisiana on January 20, 1888. He worked as an accordionist and folk and blues singer, performing renditions of songs including "In the Pines", "Pick a Bale of Cotton", "Goodnight, Irene", "Black Betty", "Midnight Special", "Cotton Fields", and "Boll Weevil". He died on December 6, 1949.

Occupation

Lead Belly is recorded as a accordionist, born in Louisiana (1888–1949).

Connections to Louisiana

Lead Belly was born in Mooringsport, Louisiana in 1888. Explore other notable figures from Louisiana, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Everything a full report reveals about Mooringsport

Lead Belly came from Mooringsport. A full Aubrey report on Mooringsport pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Lead Belly

Who was Lead Belly?
Lead Belly was American folk and blues musician (1888–1949), born in Louisiana (1888 – 1949).
When and where was Lead Belly born?
Lead Belly was born on 1888-01-20 in Mooringsport.
When did Lead Belly die?
Lead died on 1949-12-06.
What was Lead Belly known for?
Lead Belly is recorded as a accordionist.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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