Jun 02 2008

Bo Diddley dead at age 79

Rock and Roll, Blues legend Bo Diddley is dead at age 79.  One of the great players in the foreground of the emergence of Rock and Roll out of the Blues via Rythym and Blues with his signature syncopated sound and wild exuberance.  I had the pleasure of seeing him live one time and he really was exceptional.  I first heard of him via the lyrics of Dylan’s “From a Buick 6″…Well, she don’t make me nervous, she don’t talk too much

She walks like Bo Diddley and she don’t need no crutch.

So I went looking for who Bo Diddley was and there he was along with Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters and the rest who laid the foundation for the electric explosion.

Sorry this is so short…

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  1. R&B heaven today.

    • Robyn on June 2, 2008 at 19:14
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    …he broke the color barrier at.  Pat Boone was no substitute.

  3. Now Bo Diddley. Even the immortals are mortal.

  4. The Bo Diddley beat has been used by many other artists, notably Elvis Presley (“His Latest Flame”); Bruce Springsteen (“She’s The One”); U2 (“Desire”); The Smiths (“How Soon Is Now?”); Roxette (“Harleys And Indians (Riders In The Sky)”). Dee Clark – A former member of the Hambone Kids (see above) (“Hey Little Girl”); Johnny Otis (“Willie and the Hand Jive”); George Michael (“Faith”); The Strangeloves (“I Want Candy”); Guns N’ Roses (“Mr. Brownstone”); David Bowie (“Panic in Detroit”); The Pretenders (“Cuban Slide”); The Police (“Deathwish”); Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders (“The Game of Love”); The Supremes (“When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes”); Jefferson Airplane (“She Has Funny Cars”); The White Stripes (“Screwdriver”); The Byrds (“Don’t Doubt Yourself, Babe”); Tiny Letters (“Song For Jerome Green”) and The Stooges (“1969”). The early The Rolling Stones sound was strongly associated with their versions of “Not Fade Away” and “I Need You Baby (Mona)”.

    This is only a very partial list.

    It has been claimed that if the “Bo Diddley Beat” had received the royalties it deserved, Bo would have made more money than the Beatles.

    • Zwoof on June 3, 2008 at 00:37
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    In 1966, I too sought Bo Diddley when I was in High School after hearing the Stones “borrow”  his chops.

    I found Bo Diddley opening for The Monkeys. A whole lotta kids got turned on to Bo that day.

    • kj on June 3, 2008 at 14:37
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    saw Bo play way, way back in the day.

    welcome to heaven, Bo, you’ll be treated okay there.  

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