In April 2015, breakout artist Valerie June performed at the Kennedy Center as part of an all-star line-up for the Lead Belly at 125 tribute concert honoring the great American songster Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter. In a rehearsal space the day before, she interpreted the American folk standard "Irene (Goodnight, Irene)," a signature song that is included in the new box set 'Lead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection.'

June curated a set of Southern songs for this month’s People’s Picks playlist, the third of a monthly playlist series curated by musicians and friends of Smithsonian Folkways: http://www.folkways.si.edu/peoples-pi...

'Lead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection' available on CD Box Set and Digital.

Stream/download/purchase:
Smithsonian Folkways: http://www.folkways.si.edu/leadbelly
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6X1f7M...

The Kennedy Center, in collaboration with the GRAMMY Museum®, hosted “Lead Belly at 125: A Tribute to an American Songster in Washington" on April 25, 2015 for the 125th anniversary of Lead Belly's birth. This one night-only event celebrated his artistry and lasting influence, with many of today’s top folk and blues artists performing his well-known classics. It followed Smithsonian Folkways' release of the first career-spanning box set dedicated to the American music icon, 'Lead Belly: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection.'

Lead Belly: http://www.leadbelly.com
Facebook:   / leadbellyofficial  
Twitter:   / leadbellyblues  

Valerie June: http://valeriejune.com
Facebook:   / valeriejunemusic  
Twitter:   / thevaleriejune  
Instagram:   / thevaleriejune  

Smithsonian Folkways: https://folkways.si.edu
Facebook:   / smithsonianfolkwaysrecordings  
Twitter:   / folkways  
Instagram:   / smithsonianfolkways  

The content and comments posted here are subject to the Smithsonian Institution copyright and privacy policy (www.si.edu/copyright). Smithsonian reserves the right in its sole discretion to remove any content at any time.