Leadbelly (film) For a while, she takes care of him until the police arrive, breaking up a party. Leadbelly and an old man escape via a train and Leadbelly buys a twelve-string acoustic guitar from the old man. Seeking work, he takes a job picking cotton. He soon leaves on a train to Silver City where he meets Blind Lemon and they start playing shows together. At one show, a drunken man tells Leadbelly to keep playing, and threatens him. Leadbelly responds by smashing his guitar onto him and is arrested. He escapes from jail and leads a normal life until he
Bobby Smith (rhythm and blues singer) Bobby Smith (rhythm and blues singer) Robert "Bobby" Smith (sometimes spelled Bobbie; April 10, 1936 – March 16, 2013) was an American R&B singer notable as the principal lead singer of the classic Motown/Philly group, The Spinners, (also known as the Detroit Spinners or the Motown Spinners), throughout its history. The group was formed circa 1954 at Ferndale High School in Ferndale, Michigan, just north of the Detroit border. The group had their first record deal when they signed with Tri-Phi Records in early 1961. Smith had been the group's lead singer since its inception, having sung lead vocals on