The Phoenix index., 1941-02-22
TAPPING
WIRES
ABOUT IEADBELLY"

HCIf1TTE LEDBETTER,. the NOT
ed race singer known throughout
the United States as "Leadbelly"
Was featured entertainer on Colum-
Dla networks folk song program.
Back Where L Come From"
Wednesday, February IL, singing o
program made up entirely of his
own compositions.
'Leadbelly," heard On various
broadcasts from time to time, was
discovered in the Louisiana State
Potentiary by Alan Lomax, CO.
author of Back Where I Come
From when he and his father
were touring the South recording
native folk songs. Because of a
quick temper, 'Ieadbelly'' had
been an inmate of many prisons
but he was powerful worker
which gave a good record and he
had way Of singing himself out Of
jail.
He once sang his way out of
the Texas State Penitentiary
when he composed a song to
Ex-Governor Pat Neff, who, as
his last official act, gave him a
pardon.
The LonaXes recognized the ma
tive artistry in "Leadbelly'' and
wanted him to go with them on
their search for songs so Lead
belly composed a song to former
Governor o. K. Allen of Louisiana,
and Sang himself out of that pri-
son.
Alan LOmax and his father lat
er took "Leadbelly" on a con-
cert tour, and have since pub
hShed a book of the songs he
sings.
On Back Where 1 Come From"
he was accompanied by tie Golden
Gate Quartet, and Joshua, White
regular members of the program.
This outstanding folksong program
is Heard Mondays Wednesdays and
Fridays on the Columbia network.
THE TAPER TATTLES
Eddie Anderson, VINO portrays
Rochester" on the NBC Jack Ben
ny program, builds model rail-
roads as IA hobby. He is working on
a railroad now, and his eleven
year-old son is helping him. The
Andersons are going to build a
complete terminal, with passenger
trains as we'll as freight trains, and
Eddie expects it will take up the
whole attic before he's through.
Horace Willard of Station KNX has
made the grade three times as
comedy actor on Hollywood Sat-
urday Morning Party and it looks
as if he may become a perma-
nent member of cast willard is
rapidly gaining tile title of west
coasts best race, radio actor.
A new phase in maestro Ben
ny Goodman'S career took shape
last Monday when the great swing
musician became maSter-of-cere-
monies for his own air show on
station WIZ, New York. The pro-
gram features news and stories
about bands besides fine swing by
Goodnan's own orchestra. Red
Norvo appeared as guest soloist
for the first program. Count
Basic and "Hot Lips" Page are
on the guest list for the immediate
future. Goodman, along with his
band and featured trumpet man,
Cootie Williams were guests OF the
Sunday BandWagoE broadcast,
February 16, thus giving nation
wide radio audiences one of their
first 'liSten ins" to the new crew
and Williams work with it. Besides
a couple of Friday evening CHS
remote shots, Goodman and Will
liams followers were confined TO
catch their favcrites via Colum-
bia records. Now with the band air
ing only over a New YORK OuCleC,
they will have to revert to Colum-
bia records once again
Christopher Columbus and his
orchestra have been added to the
YMCA, New York City. program
scheduled and give ou1 around
midnight from the ElkS Rendez-
vous. An unprecedented move in
history of broadcasting the first
commercially sponsored good will
tour to better Latin American re-
lations is being made by tie Vox
Pop program in more to Mexico
City, Puerto Rico and Havana
for three broadcasts, February 13,
20, and 27.