Lead Belly has inspired a music generation

Rory Gallagher, Van Morrison and the Clancys were among the Irish musicians influenced by Lead Belly, writes Richard Fitzpatrick.

HUDDIE ‘Lead Belly’ Ledbetter left an indelible mark on the blues and on folk music. His songs have been covered by everyone form Frank Sinatra and Bob Dylan to Nirvana and Jack White.

He inspired British pop. Think of The Animals’ ‘House of the Rising Sun’ or Lonnie Donegan’s rat-a-tat, road-to-ruin single, ‘Rock Island Line’. Both are Lead Belly covers. Donegan inspired British teenagers, including a 15-year-old John Lennon, who set up skiffle group The Quarrymen, which was later joined by Paul McCartney and George Harrison.