McDevitt was born in
Eaglesham,
Glasgow, Scotland. His family moved to
Camberley, Surrey, when he was a child. As a teenager he taught himself the
banjo, and began corresponding with
blues artists including
Josh White. He also joined a local
Dixieland jazz group. By 1955, he had moved to London, and began playing with the Crane River Jazz Band. As a result, folk singer
Nancy Whiskey was invited to join the Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group, and they re-recorded the song with her vocals. ==References==