
The life of Blues and folk singer Huddie Leadbetter, nicknamed Leadbelly is recounted. Covering the good times and bad from his 20s to 40s. Much of that time was spent on chain gangs in the south. Even in prison he became well known for the songs he had composed and sung during and before the time he spent there.

as Huddie Ledbetter

as John Lomax

as Tom Pruitt

as Guard

as Archie

as Margaret Judd

as Sheriff Gibbons

as Wes Ledbetter

as Sally Ledbetter

as Laura May

as Evaline

as Fat Bessie

as Sugar Tit

as Albert

as Miss Eula

as Shorty

as Gray Man

as Lethe

as Blind Lemon Jefferson

as Conductor

as Frank

as Will

as Alex

as Blacksmith

as Dicklicker

as Ally George

as Boss #1

as Boss #2

as Dog Boy

as Old Lady

as Captain Freeman

as Gov. Pat Neff

as Amy

as Sharecropper

as Guard

as Leadbelly (singing)