Lead Belly: A Life in Pictures (Hardcover)

~ Tyehimba Jess (Author), Tiny Robinson (Editor), John Reynolds (Editor), Tom Waits (Introduction), Glenn O'Brien (Foreword)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The influential Louisiana bluesman, Lead Belly, wrote and performed some of the best-loved songs of the twentieth century, including "The Midnight Special," "Rock Island Line" and his signature song, "Goodnight, Irene," which became an international hit in 1950, eight months after his death. John A. Lomax, the esteemed Library of Congress folk music anthropologist, discovered Lead Belly serving time (for assault and murder) at the infamous Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola in 1934. He immediately saw that Lead Belly was a walking anthology of African-American music, and arranged for him to come to New York, where he created a sensation. Reporters followed Lead Belly everywhere, theaters clamored to book him and celebrities thronged to his concerts. His influence on a later generation of popular musicians was massive: Keith Richards, Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Garcia, Van Morrison, Robert Plant and Beck have all paid their respects.
Lead Belly: A Life in Pictures is a treasure trove of rare, unpublished photographs, news clippings, concert programs, personal correspondence (including letters from Woody Guthrie), record albums, awards and other memorabilia retrieved only recently from a basement trunk in New York.

Lead Belly, born Huddie Ledbetter on a Louisiana farm in 1888, won international fame as an interpreter of African-American folk songs and blues. For 15 years he performed folk songs, spirituals, blues and ballads to enthusiastic audiences at night clubs, political rallies, universities, concert halls and private parties. In 1988 Lead Belly was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, where he was the subject of a major retrospective in 2004.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Steidl (February 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3865214592
• ISBN-13: 978-3865214591
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #386,797 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Labor of Love, July 5, 2008

By	Douglas C. Egan (New Orleans, LA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Many people have loved Lead Belly and his legacy, but none perhaps so much as John Reynolds, one of the listed authors of this book. Although John is listed last of the 4 contributors to the book, this is really his project, and one that he has labored on for many years to bring to fruition. Lead Belly (or Leadbelly) was a seminal force in our understanding of 'American' music, and his influence has informed even those who have never heard of him.

This book is a beauty, and is not meant to be an exhaustive biography, but rather a celebration of the man, his times, his influence, and his music. As such, it succeeds spectacularly. I highly recommend that you search www.youtube.com for Lead Belly videos to accompany your journey through this book. It will add much to the experience, and actually enhance the fact that this book is a wonderful keepsake and motherlode of visual delights and insights in our understanding of this man.

My favorite page was "The Leadbelly Method" by contributor Glenn O'Brien.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Pictorial Biography of Lead Belly!, June 26, 2008

By	Dr. Mark A. Orwoll "MarkO" (Santa Clara, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Whether you favor the two-word or the single word version of his name, this pictorial biography of Leadbelly is just outstanding! Truly a labor of love by the authors and it should be well received by all Leadbelly fans as well as by any who are interested in folk-music and blues. Particularly poignant are the photos showing Leadbelly just months before his death holding Alvin Singh and/or his guitar. This book is highly recommended!

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful pictures, February 4, 2009

By	AJHR - See all my reviews

We gave this book to my brother and he absolutely loved it. He is obsessed with Lead Belly and all the music of that era, and he spent a long time thumbing through the pictures and can't wait to read it. He wants to rip the pictures out for his wall! (We pleaded with him to leave the book intact).