Bo Diddley
Back to the Biographies
Ellas Otha Bates, "Bo Diddley"
(Dec 30. 1928 - June 2, 2008. Bye, Bo Diddley)
Bo Was one of, if not the original Rock n' Roller. He
pioneered a rock sound and style out of the Blues that is still
used widely to this day. Bo was born in Mississippi, and
raised in Chicago. Early on he was hooked squarely on the Blues
after hearing John Lee Hooker. It wasn't long
afterwards that he picked up his guitar and went to playing music.
He could be seen around Chicago's Maxwell Street, playing at clubs
and on the occasional street corner for money.
Bo Diddley with his trademark box guitar
When he was 28; he was picked up by the quintessential Blues
label
Chess Records.
It was there that he was able to play his unique boogie style for
the world. He almost immediately cut three immortal Bo Diddley staples,
"Bo Diddley", "Who Do You Love", and "I'm A Man"; which was later
covered by
Muddy Waters and named, "Mannish Boy", one
of his most popular. As musical tastes forged towards the rock that
Blues created, Bo wasn't one to be left behind. He quickly dove
into Rock & Roll, releasing rock-themed albums into the 60's and
garnering a much-coveted crossover appeal to whites. Despite
realizing the need for change; his popularity declined even as many of the
the musicians who immitated and fed off of his sound flourished.
Bo continued touring and releasing albums, however, touring the
world and playing with many of the rock bands that had largely
been influenced by his sound, including a young Rolling Stones. He
was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and soon
made cameo appearances in movies and a famous Nike commercial, as well
as touring and releasing albums. Bo Diddley was an original rock &
roll pioneer, and shares the title of "father of rock and roll".
He's had countless tributes, and his songs have been covered
from The Clash to The Who to Eric Clapton. Arguably the most famous covers,
though, were by Blues rocker George Thorogood, "Who Do You Love", being
a direct cover and other songs based on Bo Diddley's various tracks. These
can still be heard in commercials, on the radio, in movies, on
TV, and in bars all over the world. Bo Diddley passed away from heart failure
at age 79. He has yet to be inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame.
Notable songs by Bo Diddley
I'm A Man
Who Do You Love
Bo Diddley
Mona
