Huddie Ledbetter (1889-1949), known to millions of fans simply as Leadbelly, was a musical colossus and arguably the most famous black singer in American history. His close musical associations included such towering figures as Blind Lemon Jefferson, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and John and Alan Lomax. His songs, like "Goodnight Irene" and "Midnight Special", helped lay the foundations for blues, modern folk music, and rock 'n' roll.

This definitive biography, winner of the ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award, draws on a wealth of new archival material, interviews, and previously unknown recordings to reveal in resonant detail Leadbelly's proud, tumultuous, and often violent life.

Three-time Grammy nominee and author of twelve books on American vernacular music, CHARLES WOLFE is a professor of English at Middle Tennessee State University. KIP LORNELL is an Associate Professorial Lecturer at George Washington University, a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Institution, author of five other music-related books, and the recipient of a 1997 Grammy for his work on the Anthology of American Folk Music.

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