Mandatory Blues Song of the Week: Leadbelly "The Gallis Pole"
Listen to Leadbelly's "Gallis Pole" here.
No blues education would be complete without mention of Leadbelly, who is often considered as much a folk singer as a blues singer, due to his use of traditional songs. Huddie Ledbetter (his real name) and his counterpart Blind Lemon Jefferson are key influences in the Texas-style Blues that developed later.
This song itself is worth note, as it is a remake of "The Maid Freed from the Gallows", a much older folk tune that influenced many artists. The Leadbelly version was remade most famously by Led Zepplin as "The Gallows Pole".
No blues education would be complete without mention of Leadbelly, who is often considered as much a folk singer as a blues singer, due to his use of traditional songs. Huddie Ledbetter (his real name) and his counterpart Blind Lemon Jefferson are key influences in the Texas-style Blues that developed later.
This song itself is worth note, as it is a remake of "The Maid Freed from the Gallows", a much older folk tune that influenced many artists. The Leadbelly version was remade most famously by Led Zepplin as "The Gallows Pole".