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The Mighty Sound of Leadbelly's Blues
Louisiana Bluesman Leadbelly was discovered in a jail in 1934 and later went on to write such classics as "Midnight Special" and "Goodnight, Irene." He was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. On today's show, we explore Leadbelly's influence on artists from Jimi Hendrix to Kurt Cobain. Also: trumpeter and two-time Grammy winner Roy Hargrove joins us to share his soulful blend of jazz and Latin styles.
From the Prison Cell to the Top of the Charts
Louisiana Bluesman Lead Belly was discovered in a penitentiary in 1934 and went on to become an inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and influence many rock stars, from Keith Richards and Jimi Hendrix to Kurt Cobain. The new book Lead Belly: A Life in Pictures, unveils details of his life together with unpublished photographs and letters, much of which was in a basement truck in Brooklyn. Editor John Reynolds joins us to share some of its highlights.
Our blog: John Schaefer on why Lead Belly was more than a blues singer.
Slideshow: View images from "Lead Belly: A Life in Pictures"
Lead Belly: A Life in Pictures" is available for purchase at Steidl website
More about Lead Belly: A Life in Pictures
Roy Hargrove
Grammy winning trumpeter Roy Hargrove is not exactly a jazz purist. He has played with people like pop star Diana Ross, neo-soul singer Erykah Badu and rapper Q-Tip. Still, he doesn't like messing with his jazz too much. On his new album, "Earfood," made with his Quintet, Hargrove stayed close to the standard sound to create what he calls sonic pleasure. Hargrove joins us to talk about it.
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