Among the echelon to perform at "Lead Belly at 125: A Tribute to an American Songster" are icons Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. The concert is set to take place April 25 at the Kennedy Center. Others who have signed up to pay tribute to the Americana heavyweight are Buddy Miller with Viktor Krauss, Lucinda Williams, Dan Zanes, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Billy Hector, Valerie June, Shannon McNally and Josh White Jr.
On Wednesday, March 4, the Kennedy Center and the Grammy Museum announced the performers, who will celebrate the musical legacy of Huddie William Ledbetter, aka Lead Belly.
A most influential force in the American folk songbook, Lead Belly is heralded as, quite possibly, a master storyteller and iconic musician. Having blended genres from gospel to blues, he has been cited as an inspiration to folk studs Bob Dylan, John Fahey and beyond.
Garth Ross, Kennedy Center's vice president for community engagement, said in a statement, "We proudly join the museum, the guest artists and Lead Belly fans in recognizing and celebrating his lifelong legacy."
Also, the Smithsonian Folkways Collection released a documentary and box set celebrating the musician's life and influence.
This will not be the first time Plant and Krauss team up. The duo released an album, Raising Sand, in 2007, for which they took home a few Grammy statues, one of which was Album of the Year.
Tickets to "Lead Belly at 125" are on sale now at the box office and range from $20 to $89.
For now, get down with some Belly below.
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