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Blues men Eric Bibb & Jean-Jacques Milteau to release Tribute To Lead Belly in October 2015

Lead Belly’s rich musical heritage to be honoured with a live album of favourites as well as a number of compositions from both men.

Published 8th Jun 2015

Discovered in Louisiana’s infamous Angola Prison Farm back in 1933, Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly, went on to become the most famous Black folk and blues singer ever. His repertoire has been covered by artists as diverse as Nirvana, Frank Sinatra, the Beach Boys, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Waits and Bob Dylan.  

Born in the Deep South in the late 1880s, he was a living link between the end of slavery and disenfranchised African-Americans during the first part of the 20th Century. He bridged the gap between the false hopes engendered by Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and the despair of Segregation. Lead Belly created the folk boom that excited and illuminated the white New York literati as well as familiarising Europeans with the blues.

Now blues man Eric Bibb and harmonica player Jean-Jacques Milteau are to celebrate Lead Belly’s rich musical heritage with an album of live songs such as ‘Goodnight Irene,’ ‘Midnight Special’ the militant ‘Bourgeois Blues’ as well as a number of compositions from both men. There will also be two studio cuts. Released this October ’A Tribute To Lead Belly’ will honour his legacy by showcasing the timelessness of the blues.

Eric Bibb is The son of legendary actor, singer and social activist Leon Bibb, living in Europe and renowned for his message of peace, hope, tolerance, and non-violence.

Paris-born Milteau possesses a mastery of the harmonica, a fundamental blues instrument. He has performed with the greats from B.B. King to Little Milton, soul singer Mighty Sam McClain, guitar hero Joe Louis Walker, neo-soul diva N’Dambi as well as iconic wordsmiths Terry Callier and Gil Scott-Heron. Jean-Jacques’s huge talent earned him a Victoire de la Musique (a French Grammy) a few years ago for his best-selling album ‘Memphis.’

Eric Bibb will be playing Lead Belly Fest at the Royal Albert Hall on June 15th 2015.

‘A Tribute To Lead Belly’

Track list:

  1. Bourgeois Blues
  2. Bring A Little Water, Sylvie 
  3. When That Train Comes Along / Swing Low, Sweet Chariot 
  4. The House Of The Rising Sun
  5. Pick A Bale Of Cotton 
  6. When I Get To Dallas 
  7. Where Did You Sleep Last Night .
  8. Grey Goose 
  9. Goodnight, Irene 
  10. On A Monday 
  11. Midnight Special 
  12. Rock Island Line 
  13. Stewball
  14. Chauffeur Blues
  15. Linin’ Track

Bonus studio tracks:

1.Lead Belly
2.Swimmin’ In A River Of Song