Lead Belly

About

Folk and blues guitarist who played a twelve-string and released the hit songs "Black Betty" and "Ain't Gonna Study War No More."

Before Fame

He left home in his early twenties to pursue music, but ended up working as a laborer off and on before becoming famous.

Trivia

He released more than one hundred songs over the course of his career, and could play piano, harmonica, and violin.

Family Life

His parents were named Sallie Brown and Wesley Ledbetter. He had an older sister named Australia.

Associated With

He wrote songs about the newsmakers of the era, such as Howard Hughes.