By: ERIN EDGEMON, Business Editor
Posted: Sunday, September 7, 2008 8:17 am
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Queen Tiny Robinson and Tonya Singh lead the Lead Belly Foundation. The organization dedicated to preserving the music of legendary blues and folk musician Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly, hopes to have a music archive and museum open in Murfreesboro within five years.“When you begin to see how people feel about his music, all you want to do is continue to share it,” said Tanya Singh, director of the Lead Belly Foundation.Lead Belly’s niece and Singh’s grandmother Queen Tiny Robinson formed the foundation in 1992 to assure the long-term access to Lead Belly’s music collections and memorabilia and to preserve his gravesite in Mooringsport, La.Four years ago, the foundation expanded its mission and began awarding music scholarships to low-income school-age children. So far, 12 scholarships have been awarded nationally. “So many children want music lessons but their parents can’t afford it,” Singh said.The scholarships are awarded to any child with at least a C grade-point average who has the desire to play any music instrument. The student must have two references, and the parents or guardian must commit to taking their child to the music lessons.As of right now, there are no monetary or time restrictions on the scholarships.Donations also are made to school districts lacking funds for music education. Contributions have been made to Nashville Metro Schools and Shreveport, La. area schools.
The Lead Belly Foundation also preserves the musician’s legacy through music festivals and is the presenting sponsor of the third annual Boro Blues Fest slated for Sept. 12-13. Singh said the foundation wants to be a part of bringing more entertainment and culture to Murfreesboro.The inaugural Lead Belly Festival will take place in Shreveport, La. near the musician’s birthplace. The May 9 festival will feature such performers as Bobby Rush and Kenny Neal.“Doing a festival in his honor has always been a dream of my grandmother’s,” Singh said.
Singh said the Lead Belly Foundation also is in talks with Central Middle School for the creation of an after-school music program.Other foundation goals include a health initiative to promote and support health care for musicians since Lead Belly suffered from Lou Gehrig’s disease and doctors felt he would have lived longer with better healthcare, Singh said.
For further reading Family keeps Lead Belly’s legend alive
On the Web:www.leadbelly.org
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