Leadbelly: A Secret History of Rock and Roll - Episode 2

Eric Burdon concludes his examination of the life, music and legacy of seminal American folk singer Huddie (Lead Belly) Ledbetter who had a major influence on popular music on both sides of the Atlantic during the 20th Century. Part two looks at how Lead Belly's violent streak landed him in serious trouble on several occasions. In 1918 he killed a man and was jailed for murder for 30 years but, as legend would have it, he managed to sing himself out of prison not once but twice. On the second occasion though, his freedom probably had far more to do with prison overcrowding than it did with his musical talents! But it was his time in prison in the 1930s that would help him land the big time. Folklorists John and Alan Lomax had been touring jails recording prison songs for the Library of Congress when they discovered Lead Belly. On his release, they introduced him to the New York folk scene and the "King of the 12 string guitar" would record for a variety of record labels; become known for a broad range of folk, blues and protest songs; and even present his own radio show. Despite his tough upbringing, a reputation for womanising and his violent streak, Lead Belly had a softer side too. Children's songs were very much part of his repetoire, which included Skip To My Lou and Ha Ha This-Away. Lead Belly died in 1949 but his legacy lives on. Within months of his death, Pete Seeger and the Weavers had released Goodnight Irene and his influence would soon seep into swing, skiffle and later rock and roll. Among those celebrating the life and times of Lead Belly in part two are: Bryan Ferry; Nile Rodgers; Arlo Guthrie; Lead Belly's relatives Tiny Robinson and Alvin Singh, British Sea Power and the UK musician and artist Billy Childish. The series also includes archive of Lead Belly singing to children, performing on his 1940s WNYC radio show (Folk Songs Of America), as well as rare archive interviews with his producer Henrietta Yurchenco and Alan Lomax, the man who discovered Lead Belly. Tracklisting: Lead Belly - Frankie and Albert (from WNYC Radio archive) Lead Belly - Goodnight, Irene Lead Belly - John Henry Johnny Cash - Pick a Bale of Cotton Lead Belly - Aint it a shame to go fishing on a Sunday Nirvana - Aint it a Shame Lead Belly - Aint Going Down to the Well no More Lead Belly - I'm on my Last Go Round Lead Belly - Leaving Blues Lead Belly - Leadbelly's Dance Lead Belly - Frankie and Albert Stevie Wonder - Frankie and Johnny Lead Belly - Julianne Johnson Lead Belly - Take This Hammer Lead Belly - Matchbox Blues Lead Belly - Go Down Old Hannah Lead Belly - Goodnight, Irene Lead Belly - New York City Woody Guthrie (with Lead Belly, Cisco Houston and Sonny Terry) - We Shall Be Free Lead Belly - Hitler Song Lead Belly - Bourgeois Blues Lead Belly - Yellow Gal (from WNYC Radio archive) Lead Belly - Skip to my Lou Lead Belly - Ha, Ha, This-a-way Lead Belly - Bye and Bye When the Morning Comes The Weavers - Goodnight Irene Bob Dylan - Song to Woody Lead Belly - New Orleans Blues The Animals - House of the Rising Sun Lonnie Donegan - Rock Island Line Lead Belly - Rock Island Line Nirvana - Where Did You Sleep Last Night? Lead Belly - Black Girl.