Bo Diddley, rock and roll pioneer (and Hall of Famer) died at 78 in his home in Florida. Born in McComb, Mississippi in 1928, he early moved to Chicago, where he began recording for Chess Records in 1955. The “Bo Diddley beat” he said he picked up from drums in the movie “Song of Solomon.” If he’d had a royalty from every recording using it (e.g. Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away”) he’d have been a rich man. Here’s his Clarion-Ledger obituary, and below are some YouTube clips.
H/t to Sailor for the heads-up.
Aww, I hate to hear this. Long live Bo Diddley!
I swanny, playing guitar while jumping straight up and down — that’s AMAZING.
Thanks for the post, NMC. My Daddy is a huge fan of his.
What is the explanation for his square guitar?
Awhile back I was listening to a radio show where some rocker, I think it was Randy Bachman, was explaining how everyone stole everyone’s riffs back then. Music, like everything humans do, is built on the ideas that preceded it.
It’s sad that Bo Diddley’s gone. He was certainly one of rock’s original characters.
A sad day. Bo was a true legend of blues/rock. His unique style influenced many great guitar players and other musicians. In honor of Bo, I plan to listen to his music tonight, while relaxing with a drink and a good cigar on my porch overlooking the MS hill country.
79 years old doesn’t sound that old anymore to me. Hate to see a man go down so “young”.
This is sad news. I had the privilege of seeing him at the Bo Diddley Homecoming Concert in McComb, in the 80’s. In his mid-fifties, he kept the place (all ages) jumping — an incredible talent and musical/cultural force. Plus, he was a very nice man who generously indulged several of us with a backstage visit, chatting and enduring photos with each of us..He will be missed.
Sailor: It was his signature.
An answer (found here):
“BO DIDDLEY built the world’s first square guitar. He took the neck and the electrics off a Gretsch guitar and put them onto a square body that he made himself. Then in 1958 he asked the Gretsch factory in Brooklyn to build him a complete square guitar, which he nicknamed “Big B”. By the late 1970s, “Big B” had become obsolete, and so in 1979 he asked an Australian called Chris Kinman to build him a new square guitar, which BO DIDDLEY nicknamed “The Mean Machine”. To celebrate BO DIDDLEY’s 70th birthday in December 1998, Gretsch brought out a limited edition reissue of “Big B”. You can read more information about “The Mean Machine” guitar at my website BO DIDDLEY-The Originator at http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/meanmachine.html and about the Gretsch reissue model at http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/hotnews.html“