Clubs at Magnet: why we have a Leadbelly Society

Leadbelly statue: Jessie Pitts, sculptor
Originally uploaded by trudeau

Leadbelly Society is one of many clubs that met during activity period Wed, Aug 22.

At Magnet I sponsored the Writer's Club for years and years. Then we changed its name to Leadbelly Society and decided to integrate music and writing (and other media).

Today at the first 07-08 meeting I played and sang Leadbelly tunes like "Goodnight, Irene," "Midnight Special" and "Rock Island Line." Huddie Ledbetter, (1888 - 1949) was made famous by the tunes he gave to the world. Also performing were students Brett Havener, Andrew Wood and Brian Day.

More facts about Ledbetter, aka the "father of American Folk music," and "King of the 12-string guitar:"
* spent years in prison for murder and felonious assault.
* "sang his way out of prison" in Tx by a song he wrote for the governor.
* was discovered by folklorist (trained to collect and publish folk songs, art, tales, dance,m etc) Alan Lomax, of the U of Texas and the Library of Congress (Wash, DC).
* Lomax recorded Lead at Angola State Prison.
* Lomax presented the singer to the media in NYC in 1935. Leadbelly became known through records and newsreels.
* Leadbelly lived in NYC and performed in coffeehouses, colleges and schools and at political rallies.
* Buried at Shiloh Baptist Church near Mooringsport. People from all over the world stop at his gravesite to pay respects.