Amplifying Rare Music from Around the World

For more than two decades, we have curated, restored, and presented hard-to-access music.

Founded by Lance Ledbetter in 1999, Dust-to-Digital is directed by the husband-wife team of Lance and April Ledbetter in Atlanta, Georgia. What began as a search for rare gospel music recordings from the 78 RPM era has evolved into a mission of creating access to hard-to-find music by producing high-quality books, box sets, CDs, DVDs, and vinyl records.

In February 1999, while working at WRAS, an Atlanta college radio station, Lance became frustrated at the unavailability of gospel music recordings from the 78 RPM era. Aiding in his search was his then girlfriend, April, who has continued to work with Lance ever since. The culmination of five years of research, Goodbye, Babylon was released in 2003 on Ledbetter's newly formed label, Dust-to-Digital.

"Lance and April Ledbetter are perhaps the most important preservers of folk music in the modern world, and they do it all from the basement of their little brick house."

Known for their deluxe packaging and in-depth research, Dust-to-Digital quickly established itself as the gold-standard for archival releases. By combining research with images, audio, and videos, we continue to entertain and educate new audiences of adventurous listeners.

The company has evolved to the format standards of today β€” namely the computer and mobile phone. In May 2017, Dust-to-Digital began posting Instagram videos of music performances of all kinds, from rare historical television footage to people making music out of everyday objects. The label's account has since garnered over a million followers, and Dust-to-Digital has become known as a hub for footage of engaging musical performances on social media.

Our Journey

1999

The Beginning

Lance Ledbetter begins searching for rare gospel recordings while working at Atlanta college radio station WRAS. April joins the mission.

2003

"Goodbye, Babylon"

Our inaugural release: a six-CD box set containing gospel music from 1902 to 1960, accompanied by a 200-page book. Grammy nominated.

2009

First Grammy Win

"Art of Field Recording Volume 1" wins Grammy for Best Historical Album, establishing our reputation for excellence.

2012

Dust-to-Digital Foundation

Lance and April launch their nonprofit, dedicated to the preservation of and easy access to recorded music of all styles and genres.

2017

Instagram Success

Begin curating and sharing Instagram videos of music performances, eventually reaching over 1 million followers and becoming a social media hub for music discovery.

2019

Double Grammy Win

"Voices of Mississippi" wins two Grammy Awards for Best Historical Album and Best Liner Notes, cementing our place in music curation.

2025

Partnership with a University

Recordings digitized by the Dust-to-Digital Foundation will be made publicly available via a university in late 2025.

Meet the Team

Lance Ledbetter

Co-Founder & Curator

Lance is a key figure in the preservation and promotion of roots music, focusing on historical recordings and cultural heritage. He is known for his passion for authenticity in music and his commitment to sharing the stories behind the recordings, which is exemplified in his curation of Dust-to-Digital's various social media channels.

April Ledbetter

Co-Founder & Creative Director

April is a naturally curious person who discovered her love for music, books, and libraries at an early age. She was captivated by the adventure and endless worlds they offered, sparking her imagination. Today, April channels her inquisitive spirit into her work with Dust-to-Digital, where she creates pathways for others to experience inspiring music and stories.

Our Mission

We believe that music is a universal language that connects us across time and cultures. Our mission is to preserve, present, and share the world's musical heritage, ensuring that future generations can experience the rich tapestry of human creativity and expression.

70+
Releases
50K+
Recordings Preserved
3M+
Social Media Followers
3
Grammy Awards

Recognition & Awards

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Grammy Award Winner

Best Historical Album of 2008 - Art of Field Recording: Volume 1

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Grammy Award Winner

Best Historical Album of 2019 - Voices of Mississippi

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Grammy Award Winner

Best Liner Notes of 2019 - Voices of Mississippi

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Grammy Nomination

Best Historical Album of 2004 - Goodbye, Babylon

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Grammy Nomination

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package of 2004 - Goodbye, Babylon

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Grammy Nomination

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package of 2005 - Fonotone Records: Frederick, Maryland (1956-1969)

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Grammy Nomination

Best Liner Notes of 2008 - Art of Field Recording: Volume 1

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Grammy Nomination

Best Historical Album of 2009 - Take Me to the Water: Immersion Baptism in Vintage Music and Photography

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Grammy Nomination

Best Historical Album of 2010 - Opika Pende: Africa at 78 RPM

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Grammy Nomination

Best Historical Album of 2011 - Pictures of Sound: One Thousand Years of Educed Audio: 980-1980

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Grammy Nomination

Best Historical Album of 2013 - Longing for the Past: The 78 RPM Era in Southeast Asia

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Grammy Nomination

Best Historical Album of 2014 - Parchman Farm: Photographs and Field Recordings, 1947-1959

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Grammy Nomination

Best Liner Notes of 2015 - Folksongs of Another America: Field Recordings from the Upper Midwest, 1937-1946

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Grammy Nomination

Best Historical Album of 2015 - Music of Morocco: Recorded by Paul Bowles, 1959

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Grammy Nomination

Best Historical Album of 2016 - Washington Phillips and His Manzarene Dreams

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Grammy Nomination

Best Historical Album of 2020 - Excavated Shellac: An Alternate History of the World’s Music

Support Our Mission

Help us continue preserving the world's musical heritage for future generations. Every contribution makes a difference in our work to save recordings that might otherwise be lost forever.