ARCHIVE Consisting of AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS), AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT (AM), and 3 Other Pieces

LEDBETTER, Huddie William "LEAD BELLY"

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An archive of 5 exceptional pieces related to the famous musician (1888 or 1889-1949) who spent much of his life in and out of prisons and was "discovered" after 30 years of playing music during a 1933 visit by folklorists John Lomax and his son Alan Lomax to Angola Penitentiary when they recorded him for the Library of Congress project. Included are 1.) A rare AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED in pencil "H Ledbetter," one page, 7-3/4" x 9-3/4," New York , 28 March 1949 to one of his managers Austen C. Fairbanks. 2.) Martha Promise Ledbetter (1904-1968) AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED, "Martha Ledbetter," two pages, 5-3/4" x 8-3/4," New York, 10 May 1949 in green ink to Ledbetter's other manager, Marjorie Fairbanks (Austen's mother). 3.) 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. 4.) A superb and possibly unpublished 8" x 10" black-and-white photograph showing Ledbetter in a suit, strumming his guitar surrounded by a crowed of adoring schoolchildren. And 5.) AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT, one page in blue pencil, 8-1/2" x 4," no place, no date, but c. late 1948 to early 1949, being a set list used in a live performance. 1.) 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 month 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 for 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." 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.2.) 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 I read 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[w]full 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 also the 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 (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and Ledbetter returned to the United States at the end of May. He played only two more shows, one with Woody Guthrie in Chicago, and then a tribute to the late John A. Lomax in Austin, Texas on 15 June 1949. By July he was 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. Seller Inventory # 022001

Bibliographic Details

Title: ARCHIVE Consisting of AUTOGRAPH LETTER ...
Binding: Documents
Signed: Signed by Author(s)
Edition: 1st Edition