Description:

Ledbetter Huddie



Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter Rare Handwritten Letter & Set List, Plus More!


An archive of five pieces featuring a rare Autograph Letter Signed, "H Ledbetter," 1 page, 7.75" x9.75", New York, March 28, 1949, in pencil to one of his managers AustenC. Fairbanks; Autograph Manuscript, 1 page, 8.5" x 4", [no place, nodate, but c. late 1948 to early 1949, being a set list used in a live performancekept in blue pencil; Martha Promise Ledbetter (1904-1968)Autograph Letter Signed, "MarthaLedbetter," 2 pages, 5.75" x 8.75", New York, May 10,1949 in green ink to Ledbetter's other manager, Marjorie Fairbanks (andAusten's mother); an original promotional flyer for a "'High-Cost -of-Living' Hootenanny"featuring Ledbetter, Woody Guthrie and other folk singers, 7" x 11",[New York, December 1947; and a superb and possibly unpublished 8" x10" black and white photograph showing Ledbetter in a suit, strumming hisguitar surrounded by a crowed of adoring schoolchildren. Together five pieces,most of which are in fine condition. Flyer bears some moderate, uneven toning,photograph is creased at edges and corners.

 

Of particular interestis Ledbetter's letter to his manager, Austen Fairbanks, whom, together with hismother, Marjorie Fairbanks, took over his management in early 1948. Ledbetter'sletter reads in most part [with original spellings retained: "i rec[eived a Check for $150 was okBut we did not rec[eive no money order for $25 so if you got the Stub Keep itwe waundered what was the mat[ter so far the moth of mar[ch we Have at thistime rec[eived $175 that['s all. So the mein time Don['t for get aprilPleas[e. your Letter was fine the Harvard Concert they Call agon say it wasfro the 21 of april so if they call agon I [kno[w what to do it was from theorder of Rudie Blosh…"  Bythe time he composed this letter, Ledbetter was already cognizant that he waslosing control of his muscles, though he lacked an accurate diagnosis. He hadbeen recently released from the hospital after finding himself unable to walk.Writing that he had a doctor who was "fixing"him up, he announced he was "walking nearPerfect now."  According tohis most authoritative biography to date, he composed the song "WalkAround My Bedside" in celebration. (Charles K. Wolfe, et al, The Life and Legend of Leadbelly, 1992, p.254)Following his recovery, Ledbetter remained in New York performing mainly injazz clubs and on the radio preparing for his trip to Europe in May.

 

Martha Promise'sletter was written soon after Ledbetter's departure for Europe, his only timeever spent outside of the United States. She writes in most part [with originalspellings retained: "Howgoes every Thing Well I hope as that's leaves me ok felling much better Since Iread your letters and also I got the check and thank[s a million I am notworried about Huddie as longs I know he is with you and Aussten becurse I knowhe will be Taking Care of and I Am Sure any kind of care he needs you will seeto that I am a[wfull Thrilled to here every thing is going fine. Any kind ofclippings you can send me will be very Thankfull of Them[. I were verysurprised how Quick they made the trip I couldn['t believe my eyes when I gotthe telegram he were there already every thing is very lonesome and Quiet hereThursday were ladys day at the Ball game and I enjoyed it very much ladys canalways go for 50¢ That['s one thing grand about it 'ha ha' Well this here tobe a very short letter becourse There is no news give Clayton my love and alsothe rest of the Boys…" Ledbetter's trip would be cut short due to his deteriorating health.While in France, a Paris physician diagnosed him with ALS (or Lou Gehrig'sDisease) and Ledbetter returned to the United States at the end of May. Heplayed only two more shows, one with Woody Guthrie in Chicago, and then atribute to the late John A. Lomax in Austin, Texas on June 15, 1949. By July hewas admitted to Bellevue and would be in and out of the hospital after that.For some time, Lead Belly would sing and play his guitar. The day he foundhimself unable to play, he cried. Huddie Ledbetter died on December 6, 1949.

 

The set list, whichappears to date from 1948, features thirteen songs, including [with originalspellings retained "TheyHung Him on the Cross," "work song," "July on Johnson," "Bring me Little Water Silvie," "The Gray goos[e,""Bushwhase [i.e.Bourgeois Blues,""mid night on the see,""Tell me where did SleepLas night," "Morydon’t you weep," "459 Blues," "Com[e Long all you Cow Boys," and "One a Little Boy walking Down the Road."Perhaps the most profound among these great songs is Lead Belly's 1939 song,"Bourgeois Blues." Following a recording session with Alan Lomax atthe Library of Congress in Washington, Lomax, Ledbetter and their wives decidedto celebrate over dinner, but they found it difficult to find a restaurantwilling to seat blacks and whites together. It became a favorite amongleft-wing groups: Lead Belly was invited to sing it at Camp Unity, theCommunist Party U.S.A.'s summer retreat. The song was also a popular favoriteamong other singers, and would be recorded also by Pete Seeger and Ry Cooder.

 

The flyer advertises"The Hootenanny," held at Town Hall in New York on the evening ofSeptember 27, 1947 (Brooklyn Daily Eagle,September 27, 1947, p. 12). The program featured not only Ledbetter closing theshow, but other greats including Woodie Guthrie. Interestingly, the listing ofthe various artists on the bill also list the songs they planned to performsave for Lead Belly, who intended to "announcehis own numbers" during the program.

 

The period 8" x10" shows Ledbetter, dressed in a suit and bow tie, singing amidst athrong of adoring school children, one of which, a little girl, gleefully restsher ear upon his guitar, eyes shut with a huge smile on her face. Apparently unpublished,we have yet to discover another example of this photograph. The photographcontradicts one of the great myths of Lead Belly—the image of a rough,ex-convict (the wild-eyed "murderous minstrel", a label that Time bestowed upon him in 1935). In actuality,Ledbetter enjoyed a wonderful rapport with children, many of whom sensedsomething special about the man (Wolfe, 265).

 

Extremely Rare. Ledbetter's holograph in anyform is exceptionally rare. Prior to our recent purchase of this letter, noknown fully signed letters or documents were known outside of a fewinstitutions. The only other Ledbetter holograph material that has appeared inthe market consist of a signed photograph and a couple of signed flyers. Thesigned photograph alone realized nearly $6,000 at a 2014 auction. 



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