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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 The new book Lead Belly: A Life in Pictures, unveils details of his life together with unpublished photographs and letters, much of which was in a basement truck in Brooklyn.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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Go behind the scenes!
Find out what John Schaefer and the Soundcheck staff have to say about recent segments on the show. Plus, watch videos from in-studio performances.
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Introducing our Video Contest
Soundcheck
John Schaefer gives the lowdown on Soundcheck's music video challenge with the Fiery Furnaces.
In Studio: Angel Deradoorian
Soundcheck
The 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist performs live in our studio.
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Cucu Diamantes Performs Amor Cronico
Soundcheck
Cucu Diamantes went from a tough childhood in Havana, Cuba, to an art school in Rome to underground New York City, where she co-founded the Latin alternative band Yerba Buena.
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In Studio: Stephanie McKay
Soundcheck
The local singer-songwriter performs "Jackson Avenue," a nostalgic toast to her childhood in the South Bronx.
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In Studio: The Decemberists
The Portland, Ore., band's latest album, "The Hazards of Love," is a concept album with a mythological flair. They joined Soundcheck to play live for a studio audience in WNYC's Greene Space.
Sound Off
Soundcheck
Throughout May, Soundcheck presents “Sound Off” a Friday series on the many aspects of noise in music and our lives. The series -- which coincides with “Better Hearing and Speech Month” -- looks at issues like New York’s noisiest neighborhoods, the latest research on iPods and hearing loss, and what happens when noise becomes a musical ingredient.
