One of the few Ex-Cons to have a bestselling Children's Album.

Leadbelly was a great figure in blues history- and in particular a crossover artist who introduced blues to white culture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe5tcr0yHN4

This one isn't the best example of his blues work, but the song and particularly the lyrics are great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5tOpyipNJs&feature=related

An old song "House of the Rising Sun". Doesn't sound the greatest, but it's a prertty popular song in its own right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuNciPZlw8M&feature=related

It's another sardonic song- seems happy but the message is serious. Same with Titanic.

     Leadbelly's guitar (most commonly a twelve-string) was used to add a sort of gnashing quality to his songs. He interrupts lyrics occasionally to speak, either to explain the next stanza or to add a story. Many figures (more commonly known today) used this action to great effect. Arlo Guthrie, for example, would alway start out some of his songs with a story of signifigance or relevance. Leadbelly's fingerpicking is profound, and he always used acoustic guitar. His voice is loud and not moany or breathy like modern day losers. His voice fluctuates, against the drone created by his fingerpicking on his guitar. Several of his songs have particular perspective on racism and injustice.