The Making of Lead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection [Behind The Scenes Documentary]

Archivist and producer Jeff Place discusses 'Lead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection,' the 108-track, 140-page box set dedicated to American music icon Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter. From some of his first recordings at the Library of Congress to his last at Fred Ramsey's apartment in 1948, Jeff walks us through the process of creating the best possible overview of Lead Belly's career.
'Lead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection' available February 24, 2015 on CD Box Set and Digital.
Stream/download/purchase:
Smithsonian Folkways: www.folkways.si.edu/leadbelly
Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/6X1f7M...
'Lead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection,' the first career-spanning box set dedicated to the American music icon, features 5 hours of music with 16 unreleased tracks. Lead Belly is “the hard name of a harder man,” said Woody Guthrie of his friend and fellow American music icon who was born Huddie Ledbetter (c. 1888-1949). From the swamplands of Louisiana, the prisons of Texas, and the streets of New York City, Lead Belly and his music became cornerstones of American folk music and touchstones of African American cultural legacy.
With his 12-string Stella guitar, he sang out a cornucopia of songs that included his classics “The Midnight Special,” “Irene,” “The Bourgeois Blues,” and many more, which in turn have been covered by musical notables such as the Beach Boys, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Van Morrison, Nirvana, Odetta, Little Richard, Pete Seeger, Frank Sinatra and Tom Waits. 'Lead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection' brings us the story of the man as well as the musician.
Lead Belly: www.leadbelly.com
Facebook: / leadbellyofficial
Twitter: / leadbellyblues
Smithsonian Folkways: folkways.si.edu
Facebook: / smithsonianfolkwaysrec...
Twitter: / folkways
Instagram: / smithsonianfolkways
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[@milascave2]

He was a genius. He saved a lot of songs that would otherwise have become unknown.

[@bismarkwilliamson8117]

Very true

[@billiemeyers5508]

My favorite artist ever. Like he was so amazing.

[@nacionalismoNegro1985]

My too

[@Contact_Info]

King of the 12-string guitar.

[@astridvvv9662]

Oh my God, the picture at 01:47 looks like it was taken yesterday. I know people say that a lot about old pictures shot with good film. But to me, this shot ACTUALLY looks like it's modern. I'm so grateful to whoever took that shot of him. You normally see him, and others from his time, in fuzzy low-fi black and white shots. It sorta makes them subconsciously feel so far away. But seeing him in that shot really makes him feel closer to the world we're in. And like the past isn't actually as far removed and separate as it sometimes feels. This image is so very precious. Does anyone know what kinda camera/film that is? Where it was taken, what year, and by who?

[@lifeofahugdealr]

Thank you for sharing. I love his children's music!!

[@andreaskallenbrunnen2614]

The god father of all music we have today!

[@ernesthemingway7017]

Great video.

[@joewilson3846]

Look for the Columbia lip from the 60!s where he is accompanied by a zither(wild) and 2 cuts of Leadbelly on piano(Eagle rock rag) one with vocal and the other with, instrumental only.

[@cerclerouge3679]

i love the work you guys do, damn!

[@srvenenoforte]

Amazing!

[@PotterPossum1989]

just may have to do that

[@astrosloth3996]

its funny how theres just a copy of the orange blossom jug 5 in the corner of the desk

[@astridvvv9662]

This guy said multiple times in this interview how he wants Leadbelly's songs to be treasured and "used for projects" instead of being packed away in boxes. Where are the clear and crisp recording? I haven't found them. I'm not saying we need access to the originals. Obviously. But surely they can convert them to mp3? It's a shame. Perhaps the only people deserving of access are whatever ridiculously rich and greedy vapid hedge fund executive/movie studio/production company can get their greedy hands on the rights to his music first. A shame. The guy in this video seems so passionate about people having access to copies of these recodings so I can't imagine he'd turn around and keep it from happening. But I guess it wouldn't be his choice anymore once millions are in question. It reminds me of Jeff Buckley. Apparently, there are hours upon hours upon hours of Buckley material never released. And not just music, but video. Interviews. I heard there was 90+ hours of footage that was filmed while a documentary team followed them around the country on tour. Sony Music has it all and they are keeping it from the world, undoubtedly waiting for a time when they can make the most off of it by selling it at a time when Buckley's profile shoots up in relevance. I wouldn't be surprised if it happens after the stupid biopic about him is released sometime in the next year or so.

[@jasonberezny9705]

iTunes has all Leadbelly albums or any streaming music service. Also library of congress and Smithsonian.✌️🎼🤘

[@ClearlyMental]

HOLY HELL

[@antigen4]

gosh well WHERE are the 'copies' of these 'acetates' whose clarity is so 'unbelievable' ?? I've never heard a half decently 'clear' leadbelly recording yet ... sadly

[@raebuhrpo8283]

last sessions are fantastic!

[@charliefoster3221]

I have the same facial scar as him, I can't believe it.