Artist: Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers
Author: Gus Cannon/Hosea Woods
Label: Victor
Year: 1929

Banjo player and jugband pioneer born in 1883; also cut it with coauthor Hosea Woods under the moniker Cannon & Woods, The Beale Street Boys (for Brunswick in Chicago). Gus was the son of an ex slave with nine children. Built his first banjo out of a steelpan and racoon skin. Rambled along Mississippi Delta plantations and levee camps as a late 19th century entertainer. Rumoured to be recorded on Edison cylinder. Had his own jugband as from 1908 on, following the Medicine Shows. (see also: Minglewood Blues)

Rooftop main man Erik Darling was an ex Tarrier and ex Weaver (replacing Pete Seeger). He was the one who heard a hit in Gus Cannon's Walk Right In, rounded up two 12 string guitarists and the rest is history. It did become a hit, finally earning the 78 year old author a decent rooftop, a modest comeback and his own Stax record. Gus enjoyed it so much he lived another twenty years. On Document cd DOCD 5322 a similar Come Right In by Ida Cox was dated 1923.