[Magdalen] RIP Fred Hellerman, 89.

[Jim Handsfield]

Definitely written by Leadbelly's.  He wrote many other well known songs as well:  Midnight Special, Bourgeois Blues, Kisses Sweeter Than Wine (with the Weavers).
D
Jim Handsfield
Sent from my iPad

> On Sep 3, 2016, at 2:44 PM, Sibyl Smirl <polycarpa3 at ckt.net> wrote:
> 
> 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