Introduction

Summary

In their 1936 book, Negro Folk Songs as Sung By Lead Belly, folklorists John Lomax and his son Alan presented a section, “Lead Belly Tells His Story,” as reliable autobiography. Research has demonstrated that the words presented as Huddie Ledbetter’s (Lead Belly’s) were not transcribed from speech, but written and edited by the Lomaxes, building on and augmenting stories Ledbetter allegedly told them. This book sets out to explore, through primary source research, a more accurate story of Ledbetter’s early life up through his months spent traveling and working with the Lomaxes.