In 1935 Leadbelly found himself in NYC with folklorist John Lomax. Somehow, the media spotlight hit the Mooringsport-born singer. The NY Herald Tribune article offered a savvy headline; it read "Sweet singer of the swamplands here to do a few tunes between homicides."
Leadbelly, negro minstrel, became the toast of the town. Taken in by wealthy New Yorkers, he sent to Shreveport for his woman, singer Martha Promise. They were married in Connecticut, says Wolfe and Lornell in the Life & Legend of Leadbelly.
The youtube.com video montage comprises about 8 minutes of Leadbelly's work.
Ron Hardy is producing his annual Tribute to Leadbelly on Sat, May 13, at the Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport. See more in an earlier SptBlog post. Or call Hardy at 318-424-9297.
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