Died On This Date (December 6, 1949) Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter

Lead Belly (Born Huddie Ledbetter)
January 20, 1888 – December 6, 1949

leadbelly

Huddie Ledbetter, or as he was better known, Leadbelly (which he spelled, Lead Belly) was a Louisiana-born folk and blues singer, songwriter and musician whose catalog of songs included many that have since become folk and blues standards.  That list includes, “Cotton Fields,” “Goodnight Irene,” and “Midnight Special.”  Those and others have been recorded by such divers artists as of the Weavers, the Beach Boys, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Johnny Cash, the White Stripes, Ministry and Nirvana.  From an early age, Lead Belly honed his skills by absorbing the field songs he heard as he traveled the southern states for work.  He also had first hand experience learning prison hollers by spending two separate terms incarcerated, once for murder, and the second, for attempted murder.  Each time he was pardoned by the governor by literally singing his way to freedom.  While in Angola Prison for his second crime, he was recorded by musicologists, John Lomax and Alan Lomax, who helped facilitate his pardon.   Lead Belly then moved to New York where the Lomax’s helped him land a contract with Columbia Records.  Although he found plenty of press as the “singing convict,” his records never sold much initially.  He did, however find an audience in Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie who helped introduce his music to new audiences during their careers.  Lead Belly continued to struggle financially, and in 1939, he found himself in jail for stabbing a man during a fight.  Alan Lomax again helped him by raising money for his defense.  He ended staying in jail for a couple of more years.  By the middle of the ’40s, he found himself immersed in New York’s blossoming folk scene, playing with the likes of Brownie McGhee and Sonny Terry.  In 1949, Lead Belly, 61, was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease of which he died on December 6, 1949.

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Where Did You Sleep Last Night: Lead Belly Legacy, Vol. 1 - Lead Belly

Died On This Date (October 20, 2007) Paul Raven / Killing Joke

Paul Raven
January 16, 1961 – October 20, 2007

Paul Raven was and English musician best remembered for his work as bassist for Killing Joke, the pioneering electronic band.  After playing in a couple of rock bands, Raven was asked to replace original Killing Joke bassist, Youth in 1980.  He played on the groups popular ’80s period albums, departing in 1988.  He returned to the band in 1990 and stayed until they disbanded in 1991.  Throughout the rest of his career, Raven played with Pigface, Prong, Zilch, Society 1, and Ministry for their final album.  Paul Raven died in his sleep of what was believed to be a heart attack at the age of 46.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist.

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