The discovery of the music of Leadbelly was transformative for young Adam Nussbaum. The only child of artistic parents in Norwalk, Connecticut, Nussbaum was exposed to many recordings, from classical and folk to jazz and blues. It was the image of Huddie Ledbetter on the original Folkways 10-inch record covers that fascinated the five year old. The celebrated blues and folk musician's music seared itself into his ears, as it does in young listeners, informing the future drummer's musical approach for years to come, most explicitly on his new recording, The Leadbelly Project.