Cannon's Jug Stompers

Formed in Memphis, Tennessee, Cannon's Jug Stompers were a premier ensemble of the pre-war jug band era. Led by Gus Cannon (born circa 1883 in Red Banks, Mississippi; died 1979), who played a banjo he built from a frying pan and a raccoon skin, the core group typically featured Noah Lewis on harmonica and Ashley Thompson or Elijah Avery on guitar. Recording primarily for Victor Records between 1928 and 1930, their sound was a raucous, syncopated blend of medicine show hokum, ragtime, and deep country blues. Tracks like "Walk Right In" and "Viola Lee Blues" became foundational texts for both the blues and the 1960s folk revival. They were the primary commercial rivals to the Memphis Jug Band, sharing the vibrant Beale Street music scene. Though the Great Depression halted their recording career, Cannon lived long enough to see "Walk Right In" become a massive pop hit for The Rooftop Singers in 1963.