The Leadbelly Web has some interesting information. It says he was born Huddie William Ledbetter on Jeter Plantation, LA (Jan 29, 1885; date in dispute). A LA penitentiary record, 1934, shows his name as Huddie Ledbetter. A fairly long biography is given. It notes that he said he got "Goodnight, Irene" from his uncle, Bob Ledbetter (probably true since one of the verses came from another song (see Digitrad). In the south, Huddie would be pronounced "Hugh-die", according to my deep south wife.