Gus Cannon

Cannon's musical skills came without training; he taught himself to play using an improvised instrument made from a frying pan and raccoon skin. He began playing in Memphis in the 1900s with Noah Lewis[?] and Jim Jackson[?], then started working in medicine shows[?] in 1914.

Cannon began recording in 1927, both alone and with Lewis, Hosea Wood[?], Blind Blake and Ashley Thompson[?]. By the end of the 1930s, though, Cannon had retired, returning in 1956 to make a few recordings for Folkways.