Gus Cannon

Gus Cannon

Source: Musician by Night

Gustavus Cannon was a banjo player born on a plantation in Red Banks, Mississippi, on 12 September 1883. His parents, John and Ellen, were share croppers who would raise ten boys, he the youngest. Gus took work at age twelve on a plantation near Clarksdale, heart of the Delta blues, with his older brother, Tom. It was about that time that he made a banjo with a guitar neck and pan. Three years later when Gus was fifteen Tom gave him an actual banjo which he'd won in a crap game. This he could pick for real as taught by one Bud Jackson. Also performing in Clarksdale at the time was W.C. Handy with partner, Jim Turner, at violin.

Upon the turn of the century Gus would find work with the railroad in addition to playing professionally for about $2.50 on a Saturday night. He formed his first jug band about that time with one Jim Guffin. About age 24 in 1907 he met partners, Noah Lewis (age 26 / mouth harp) and Ashley Thompson (age 13 / guitar). In 1910 he married, and by 1914 he was traveling with a medicine show as Banjo Joe (with or without his wife undetermined). Cannon also performed on famous Beale Street in Memphis where he very likely knew Will Shade, leader of the Memphis Jug Band which made its initial recordings in Memphis in February of 1927. Gus himself first recorded in Chicago circa November 1927 as Banjo Joe per 'Jonestown Blues' on matrix 20140-2 issued on Paramount 12588. The next matrix up at American Music is 20144-2 per 'Poor Boy, Long Ways From Home' as Banjo Joe with Blind Blake. Matrix 20145-2 is Madison Street Rag' as Banjo Joe with Blake. Matrix 201456-2 is 'Jazz Gypsy Blues' as Banjo Joe with Blake followed by 20147-1 per 'He's in the Jailhouse Now' as himself with Blake. 'Can You Blame the Colored Man' is matrix 20148-2 as Banjo Joe with Blake followed by 'My Money Never Runs Out' as Banjo Joe on matrix 20149-2 with Blake, all circa November 1927.

Composition: Cannon

Composition: Traditional

Composition: Traditional adapted by Jimmie Rogers & Elsie McWilliams

Composition: Cannon

In 1928 Cannon formed the Jug Stompers with Lewis and Thompson to make their first records on 30 January: 'Minglewood Blues' and 'Madison Street Blues' issued on Victor 212671. After that first date in January including 'Big Railroad Blues' Thompson was replaced by Elijah Avery. Hosea Woods probably joined the Stompers on kazoo for a September session that year, then replaced Avery at guitar into 1930. Per 'Going to Germany' in 1929 below, that likely refers to Germantown, Tennessee.

Banjo / jug: Cannon   Guitar / vocal: Ashley Thompson   Harmonica: Noah Lewis

Composition: Noah Lewis

Banjo / jug: Cannon   Guitar / vocal: Ashley Thompson   Harmonica: Noah Lewis

Composition: Noah Lewis

Banjo / jug: Cannon   Guitar: Elijah Avery   Harmonica: Noah Lewis

Composition: Cannon

Banjo / jug: Cannon   Banjo / guitar: Elijah Avery

Harmonica: Noah Lewis   Kazoo: Hosea Woods

Composition: Noah Lewis

Banjo / jug: Cannon   Guitar / vocal: Hosea Woods   Harmonica: Noah Lewis

Composition: Cannon

Banjo / jug: Cannon   Guitar / kazoo / vocal: Hosea Woods   Harmonica: Noah Lewis

Composition: Cannon / Woods

Banjo / jug: Cannon   Guitar / vocal: Hosea Woods   Harmonica: Noah Lewis

Composition: Noah Lewis

Banjo / jug: Cannon   Banjo / vocal: Hosea Woods   Harmonica: Noah Lewis

Composition: Cannon

The Jug Stompers disbanded in 1930, after which Cannon largely retired. Some twenty years later he revived his career, recording in December of 1956 with Will Shade's Memphis Jug Band. Though he recorded variously in 1961-63 during the blues revival of the early sixties, Gus had to pawn his banjo to pay a utilities bill before nice royalties began to arrive upon the December 1962 release of his composition, 'Walk Right In', by the Rooftop Singers. Cannon performed the remainder of his life. In October 1969 he contributed to the album, 'On the Road Again', with Furry Lewis and Bukka White. It was either that October or June of 1970 when he put away his composition, 'Mule Gallup', included on the album by various, 'The Memphis Blues Again!' issued on Adelphi AD1009S in 1971.

Guitar / vocals: Furry Lewis   Guitar / vocals: Bukka White

Guitar: B. Sam Firk   Washboard / kazoo: Dewey Corley

Arrangements: Furry Lewis

Cannon died on 15 October 1979 at 96 years of age.

Recordings: Sessions:

DAHR (1928-30)

Stefan Wirz (American Music / 1927-33)

Repertoire:

Can You Blame the Colored Man (Cannon / 1927)

He's in the Jailhouse Now (of vaudeville lineage adapted / arranged by Jimmie Rodgers & Elsie McWilliams / 1928)

Poor Boy, Long Ways From Home (traditional recorded by Cannon 1927)

Walk Right In (Cannon / Woods / 1929)

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