Huddie William Ledbetter (1888 – 1949) was an American folk musician, notable for his strong vocals, his virtuosity on the 12-string guitar, and the songbook of folk standards he introduced. Although he most commonly played the twelve string, he could also play the piano, mandolin, harmonica, violin, concertina, and accordion.

Here is a treasure trove of rare unpublished family and other photographs, news clippings, concert programs, personal correspondence (including letters from Woody Guthrie), record albums, awards and other memorabilia, some only recently discovered in a basement trunk in New York where Lead Belly’s wife kept everything all these years neatly tucked away. There was even the cherished bottle of Chanel No. 5 that Lead Belly had brought her back from Paris. “My wife is half my life; my guitar is the other half“ said Lead Belly.