Directed by Curt Hahn and produced by Alvin Singh II, Lead Belly’s great-nephew, the film explores the life and legacy of Huddie William Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly. Through rare performance footage, family archives, and interviews with musical giants like B.B. King, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte, and Odetta, the documentary constructs a vivid portrait of an artist whose influence is often overlooked but never overstated.

From his beginnings on a Louisiana plantation to his time in prison—where he famously sang his way to freedom on two occasions—Lead Belly’s story is as raw and powerful as his voice. The documentary doesn’t flinch from the complexities: his brush with the law, his relationship with folklorist John Lomax, and the systemic racism he endured throughout his career. Yet it’s his talent that defines the narrative. Armed with his 12-string guitar and a voice that cut through bars and barriers, Lead Belly laid the groundwork for what would become rock & roll.

The film highlights not only his hit songs—like “Goodnight, Irene,” “Midnight Special,” and “Where Did You Sleep Last Night”—but also his influence across generations. Lead Belly’s sound found its way into the British skiffle movement, a direct precursor to The Beatles. His songs were covered and reimagined by countless artists across genres, from Nirvana to Van Morrison. In one poignant moment, George Harrison is quoted as saying, “No Lead Belly, no Beatles.”

But perhaps the film’s greatest contribution is its cultural clarity. In naming Lead Belly “the man who invented rock & roll,” it repositions him not just as an influence but as a cornerstone. Rock & roll was not born in the suburbs—it was born in the South, in fields, in jails, in the voices of Black men who strummed stories into song. Lead Belly was one of those men, and this film demands that we remember him as such.

For those who seek a deeper understanding of American music, this documentary offers both education and reverence. It’s not just a celebration of a man—it’s an invitation to listen again, this time with the full weight of history in our ears.