Posted by John Miller on May 21, 2002, 7:21 pm Hi Yves,
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: Im wondering if Gus Cannon was playing a 5
: strings banjo and if there is any film
: (still) existing where he can playing be
: on it.
: I know that he lived very old and was alive
: in the 70 even 90 years old.
: Was still active at this time ?
: Thanks a lot for your help
Yes, Gus Cannon did play a five-string banjo. I do not know if he was ever filmed in the period following his rediscovery. However, he did make an album, called "Gus Cannon Walk Right In" , for Stax, a soul label out of Memphis. This album has recently been re-released on CD by Fantasy. You can go to their website at www.fantasyjazz.com and order it directly from them at a very reasonable price. The record is fascinating, because you are right, he was quite old. He still played and sang well, though, and just about every song has a spoken introduction, and his way of speaking was so old-fashioned that you feel like you are traveling back in time.
John
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