This monograph explores Americäs search for a national identity through the use of American music during the Depression era, when Americans used a variety of mediums to express themselves. The rise of popular music, owing much to the phonograph and record industry, became a central outlet for American cultural expression and led many to question the nature of authenticity within American music. By analyzing the career and music of bluesman Huddie ¿Lead Belly¿ Ledbetter, this book provides an encompassing example of the Depression eräs quest for genuine American culture through music, while exploring the complex theme of authenticity and national/individual identity.