Lead Belly is one of the most influential figures in American folk and blues music, but his story is surrounded by myth.

In this pilot episode of Broken Tracks, Laurence explores the life of Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly. From prison sentences and chain gangs to the songs that shaped generations of musicians, this episode examines the man behind the legend and asks whether he really sang his way to freedom.

Written, narrated, recorded and produced by Cherry’s Audio Farm.

Follow Broken Tracks for future episodes exploring the lives, myths and music of history’s most fascinating artists.

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This bonus episode accompanies Broken Tracks Episode 1:

Lead Belly – Chains, Crime & Blues.

After spending weeks researching Lead Belly’s life, music and legacy, I wanted to record a simple performance of one of the songs most closely associated with him: Where Did You Sleep Last Night?

Recorded live in my living room using a single microphone.

Broken Tracks explores the stories where music, myth and crime collide.

For the full story, listen to:

Lead Belly – Chains, Crime & Blues

Written, performed and produced by Laurence Leahy / Cherry’s Audio Farm.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.