The life of Blues and folk singer Huddie Leadbetter, nicknamed Leadbelly is recounted. Covering the good times and bad from his 20s to 40s. Much of that time was spent on chain gangs in the south. Even in prison he became well known for the songs he had composed and sung during and before the time he spent there.

Roger E. Mosley
as Huddie Ledbetter

James Brodhead
as John Lomax

John McDonald
as Tom Pruitt

Leonard Wrentz
as Guard

Ernie Hudson
as Archie

Dana Manno
as Margaret Judd

William Wintersole
as Sheriff Gibbons

Paul Benjamin
as Wes Ledbetter

Lynn Hamilton
as Sally Ledbetter

Carole Lamond
as Laura May