Today (Jan. 20) likely is the 124th anniversary of the birth of legendary blues guitarist Huddie William Ledbetter — or Lead Belly, as he was widely known (his actual birth date is unconfirmed). Discovered by folklorists John Lomax and Alan Lomax in 1933 while he was serving time for attempted murder at a prison in Louisiana, Lead Belly was famously released early after the Lomaxes brought a petition to the state’s governor along with a recording of his signature song, ‘Goodnight Irene.’ From there he gained widespread fame (but little fortune), moving to New York and recording several records of folk and blues tunes — both traditional songs with his own arrangements and his own original tunes — for RCA, Capitol Records and the Library of Congress. Lead Belly’s versions of both became so popular, especially among fellow musicians, that even covers of the traditional folk tunes he played are frequently credited to him. They’ve been covered by everyone from Tom Petty to the Greateful Dead, but the following five stand out from the rest.
1. Creedence Clearwater Revival - ‘Midnight Special'
2. Led Zeppelin - ‘Gallows Pole’
3. Nirvana - ‘Where Did You Sleep Last Night’
4. Tom Waits - ‘Goodnight, Irene’
5. The Beach Boys - ‘Cottonfields’
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