On December 6, 1949, Huddie William Ledbetter aka Lead Belly died aged 61. He was musician (guitar, piano, mandolin, harmonica, violin, windjammer), regarded as one of the pioneers of the blues and folk music. His songs covered a wide range of genres including folk, blues, and gospel, some of them like “Goodnight, Irene”, “Midnight Special”, “Cotton Fields”, and “Boll Weevil” became standards, and influenced generations of musicians. In 1988, Lead Belly was posthumously inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, and in 2008 in the “Louisiana Music Hall of Fame”.
Tag Archives: Folk
John Martyn
On January 29, 2009, Iain David McGeachy aka John Martyn, died aged 61. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of the modern music, with an unique voice and guitar playing style. In his 40 year career he has worked with artists such as Eric Clapton, David Gilmour and Phil Collins and he had released 21 studio albums. ”The Times” described him as “an electrifying guitarist and singer whose music blurred the boundaries between folk, jazz, rock and blues”.
Gram Parsons
On September 19, 1973, Gram Parsons died aged 26. He was musician (guitar, piano, organ), singer and songwriter, worked with The International Submarine Band, The Flying Burrito Brothers and The Byrds. He popularized what he called “Cosmic American Music”, a hybrid of country, rhythm and blues, soul, folk, and rock
musicalphabet 