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

Ledbetter Huddie

Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter Rare Archive, 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 Austen C. Fairbanks; Autograph Manuscript, 1 page, 8.5" x 4", [no place, no date, but c. late 1948 to early 1949, being a set list used in a live performance kept in blue pencil; Martha Promise Ledbetter (1904-1968) Autograph Letter Signed, "Martha Ledbetter," 2 pages, 5.75" x 8.75", New York, May 10,1949 in green ink to Ledbetter's other manager, Marjorie Fairbanks (and Austen'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Ledbetter, Woody Guthrie and other folk singers, 7" x 11",[New York, December 1947; and a superb and possibly unpublished 8" x10" black and white photograph showing Ledbetter in a suit, strumming his guitar surrounded by a crowed of adoring schoolchildren.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 interest is Ledbetter's letter to his manager, Austen Fairbanks, whom, together with his mother, Marjorie Fairbanks, took over his management in early 1948. Ledbetter's letter reads in most part [with original spellings retained: "i rec[eived a Check for $150 was ok But we did not rec[eive no money order for $25 so if you got the Stub Keep it we waundered what was the mat[ter so far the moth of mar[ch we Have at this time rec[eived $175 that['s all. So the mein time Don['t for get april Pleas[e. your Letter was fine the Harvard Concert they Call agon say it was fro the 21 of april so if they call agon I [kno[w what to do it was from the order of Rudie Blosh…"  By the time he composed this letter, Ledbetter was already cognizant that he was losing control of his muscles, though he lacked an accurate diagnosis. He had been 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 near Perfect now."  According to his most authoritative biography to date, he composed the song "Walk Around 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 in jazz clubs and on the radio preparing for his trip to Europe in May.

 

Martha Promise's letter was written soon after Ledbetter's departure for Europe, his only time ever spent outside of the United States. She writes in most part [with original spellings retained: "How goes 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 not worried about Huddie as longs I know he is with you and Aussten becurse I know he will be Taking Care of and I Am Sure any kind of care he needs you will see to that I am a[wfull Thrilled to here every thing is going fine. Any kind of clippings you can send me will be very Thankfull of Them[. I were very surprised how Quick they made the trip I couldn['t believe my eyes when I got the telegram he were there already every thing is very lonesome and Quiet here Thursday were ladys day at the Ball game and I enjoyed it very much ladys can always go for 50¢ That['s one thing grand about it 'ha ha' Well this here to be 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's Disease) 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 a tribute 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 found himself unable to play, he cried. Huddie Ledbetter died on December 6, 1949.

 

The set list, which appears to date from 1948, features thirteen songs, including [with original spellings retained "They Hung 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 Sleep Las night," "Mory don'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 at the Library of Congress in Washington, Lomax, Ledbetter and their wives decided to celebrate over dinner, but they found it difficult to find a restaurant willing to seat blacks and whites together. It became a favorite among left-wing groups: Lead Belly was invited to sing it at Camp Unity, the Communist 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 of September 27, 1947 (Brooklyn Daily Eagle,September 27, 1947, p. 12). The program featured not only Ledbetter closing the show, but other greats including Woodie Guthrie. Interestingly, the listing of the various artists on the bill also list the songs they planned to perform save for Lead Belly, who intended to "announce his own numbers" during the program.

 

The period 8" x10" shows Ledbetter, dressed in a suit and bow tie, singing amidst a throng of adoring school children, one of which, a little girl, gleefully rests her 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 photograph contradicts 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 sensed something special about the man (Wolfe, 265).

 

Extremely Rare. Ledbetter's holograph in any form is exceptionally rare. Prior to our recent purchase of this letter, no known fully signed letters or documents were known outside of a few institutions. The only other Ledbetter holograph material that has appeared in the market consist of a signed photograph and a couple of signed flyers. The signed photograph alone realized nearly $6,000 at a 2014 auction. 

 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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