Six Degrees From Mother Neff

Actually, I think it’s only three degrees.

There is a famous American folk musician who has a very convoluted “connection” with Mother Neff State Park in Texas. I asked you to name that folk musician, if you could, in my last My Neck of The Woods post. It was Huddie William Ledbetter, better known as “Leadbelly.” You might recognize some of his music. He is renowned for his songs like “Rock Island Line,” “Goodnight, Irene,” “The Midnight Special,” and “Cotton Fields.”

Huddie William Ledbetter or Leadbelly

Leadbelly (who influenced the likes of Pete Seeger) was a master of the twelve-string guitar , and a fine folk singer. He also had a humongous ego. To hear him tell the tale, he was the best cotton-picker, guitar picker, drinker, and lover around. Not everyone was inclined to agree with him, and if they thought differently, Leadbelly was prone to prove it with violence. As a result, he had more than one stretch in prison.

The connection? I told you it was convoluted: Mother Neff State Park was donated to the State of Texas by Isabella Neff, the mother of Governor Pat Neff (who, by the way, ran for office with the campaign promise to never pardon a prisoner). On a visit to Huntsville State Prison in 1925, where Leadbelly was incarcerated for killing one of his relatives in a fight over a woman, Governor Neff was treated to Leadbelly singing a song he wrote for the governor:

Please, Governor Neff, Be good ‘n’ kind
Have mercy on my great long time…
I don’t see to save my soul
If I don’t get a pardon, try me on a parole…
If I had you, Governor Neff, like you got me
I’d wake up in the mornin’ and I’d set you free

Would that have worked for you? I dunno… Leadbelly was a pretty good singer, but that song reads a bit lame. It got Leadbelly a pardon.

Carol G. used her extensive research skills and came up with the answer double quick. She has been sent a $15.00 Amazon gift certificate to reward her for her skills. I drew names among Thorne, Robin, and Sheila who tweeted the post with @shellytucker, and Sheila gets an Amazon gift certificate for $5.00 for the effort.

Now, does anyone want to try to connect Leadbelly or Mother Neff to Kevin Bacon in six degrees?

Goodnight, Irene.

Related posts:

1. Who Was Mother Neff, And Why Does She Get A State Park?
2. Mother Neff State Park And Great Minds
3. Bowl Full of Bolls
4. This Blog “Blows My Dress Up” Contest
5. I Brake For Historical Markers

Tagged as: History, Huddie William Ledbetter, humor, Kevin Bacon, Leadbelly, Mother Neff State Park, Pat Neff, Prairies and Lakes, Talkin' 'bout Texas