Bo Diddley was an American rock and roll singer, songwriter and guitarist. He was also well known for playing a rectangular guitar. On June 2, 2008 Diddley died of heart failure at his home in Archer, Florida, he was 79-year-old.
DETROIT (Billboard) - Bo is gone. But his beat goes on. It's been a year since Bo Diddley died of heart failure at age 79 in his home in Archer, Fla., after a prolonged illness. His June 2, 2008, passing ended one of the most influential careers in pop music history, a 54-year run during which the man born Ellas Otha Bates earned the rightful title of the Originator as he helped merge blues into rock 'n' roll. On such hits as "Bo Diddley," "Hey Bo Diddley," "Say Man" and "Who Do You Love... Read Full Story
DETROIT (Billboard) - Mention Bo Diddley's name and most everyone thinks one thing -- the beat. Bomp ba-bomp-ba-bomp, bomp bomp. Applied to such songs as "Bo Diddley," "Hey Bo Diddley" and "Who Do You Love," it's perhaps the most influential musical motif since the devil purportedly handed Robert Johnson the I-IV-V chord progression at the crossroads. It earned Diddley -- who died June 2, 2008, of heart failure at age 79 -- his rightful moniker as the Originator and his spots in the Rock and... Read Full Story
Who? We think you know! Bo Diddley (December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008, born Ellas Otha Bates), was an original and influential American rock & roll singer, guitarist, and songwriter. He was known as "The Originator" because of his key role in the transition from blues music to rock & roll, influencing a host of legendary acts including Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Rhythm and... Read Full Story
The Chess Box
When people discuss Bo Diddley's music, as many did after his death earler this year, they either talk about his influence on later artists or the influence on him of African and Cuban music. Bo Diddley's output, however, is wonderful in its own right; distinctive, with several all-time Rock and Roll songs such as I'm a Man and You Can't Judge a Book by it's Cover and some gems with which few casual Rock and Roll fans, tragically, are familiar.
From the pre-soul period... Read Full Story
The Chess Box
When people discuss Bo Diddley's music, as many did after his death earler this year, they either talk about his influence on later artists or the influence on him of African and Cuban music. Bo Diddley's output, however, is wonderful in its own right; distinctive, with several all-time Rock and Roll songs such as I'm a Man and You Can't Judge a Book by it's Cover and some gems with which few casual Rock and Roll fans, tragically, are familiar.
From the pre-soul period... Read Full Story
This has been on my mind for some time now... Let's take a quick look at Fifty Sixty. I have always thought that Alizee sang Fifty Sixty with a Bo Diddley beat. Bo Diddley beats can vary, some faster then others. Here is one Bo Diddley beat to drums. Link to the video is here if you are interested. I wish I could find a sample closer to the tempo of Fifty Sixty. Now let's listen to Alizee sing Fifty Sixty. Alizee does the Bo Diddley beat with her voice. It's not as sharp but I hear it... Read Full Story
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Bo Diddley, a founding father of rock 'n' roll whose distinctive "shave and a haircut, two bits" rhythm and innovative guitar effects inspired legions of other musicians, died Monday after months of ill health. He was 79. Diddley died of heart failure at his home in Archer, Fla., spokeswoman Susan Clary said. He had suffered a heart attack in August, three months after suffering a stroke while touring in Iowa. Doctors said the stroke affected his ability to speak... Read Full Story
Officials in Gainesville have renamed the city's downtown plaza after rock 'n' roll legend and former Florida resident Bo Diddley. Diddley died in June 2008. Officials honored him Friday by unveiling a mural and renaming the downtown space the Bo Diddley Community Plaza. Diddley lived in Archer, a few miles southwest of Gainesville, and played at the plaza in 2006. Diddley's grandson Garry Mitchell thanked the city at the ceremony, and he and other family members gave city officials one of... Read Full Story
The news broke this morning that the legendary Bo Diddley has left us. My heart is breaking to have lost this man, this musical genius who brought so much, created and altered music forever; for this man who got so little for his innovations, who was treated so shabbily. I’m not sure I am even using complete sentences right now, I’m so upset.
I am remembering last winter, I was really sick and watching crap TV. According to Jim was on and Bo Diddley guest starred and I was so grateful... Read Full Story
Once in a blue moon an artist emerges and becomes a dot on the time line of their chosen medium. Today one of those innovators, Bo Diddley, passed away.... From the Houston Chronicle: Bo Diddley was a musical innovator who helped forge the sound and contributed to the style of rock 'n' roll. He sported a trademark fedora, played an iconic square-shaped guitar and from it he extracted a deep, rusty reverb and a peculiar playing style that influenced generations of players. Diddley died Monday... Read Full Story
