[Magdalen] RIP Fred Hellerman, 89.

[Sibyl Smirl]

Are you certain that it was _written_ by Leadbelly?  He was the first to 
record it, but it's usually referred to as a folk song, that is, one 
that's been around well before the advent of recorded music.  I wonder 
when the first sheet music or songbook including it was published....

On 9/3/16 12:13 PM, Charles Wohlers wrote:
> "Goodnight Irene" was written by Huddie Ledbetter (Leadbelly), in the
> 1930's. It was popularized by the Weavers when they issued it as a
> single ~1950.
>
> Chad Wohlers
> who just acquired a "treasure trove" of 78's, some >100 yrs. old - but
> no "Goodnight Irene"
> Woodbury, VT USA
> chadwohl at satucket.com
>
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Sibyl Smirl
> Sent: Saturday, September 03, 2016 11:49 AM
> To: magdalen at herberthouse.org
> Subject: Re: [Magdalen] RIP Fred Hellerman, 89.
>
> Bands always used to do "Goodnight Irene" as their last song of the last
> set, even just instrumental, to clue people to get it together and go
> home from wherever they were, even things like community "sings" that
> didn't have a professional band, and music variety programs on radio
> before television.  You were probably familiar with it subliminally even
> before you learned to talk.  It was around before there were recordings.
>
>


-- 
Sibyl Smirl
I will take no bull from your house!  Psalms 50:9a
mailto:polycarpa3 at ckt.net