Bo Diddley Has Died
Wow, this is one of those posts you know is coming, and yet when it happens, you really don’t want to make the announcement. One of the biggest influences on early Rock and Roll and the man who invented his own style of “beat,” Bo Diddley, has passed away at the age of 79. The initial reports are that he died of heart failure. For the story as it is at CNN you can click on the link.
Bo Diddley was a contemporary of the likes of Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and even Elvis Presley. He was known for the Bo Diddley Beat that has become famous throughout rock and roll. If it doesn’t leap immediately to mind if you have heard the song “I Want Candy” or even George Michael’s “Faith” or U2’s “Desire” then you know wht it is.
He was famous for playing his own, square-shaped guitar. He had huge successes that crossed musical boundaries with the release of a self-titled single with a B-side of “I’m a Man.” He went on to influence countless musicians of all genres.
He was trained as a child on the violin, but picked up the guitar after hearing a John Lee Hooker song “Boogie Chillin.’” He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as you might imagine.
He had toured extensively, even into late 2007. However, health problems had begun to mount for the bluesman and he reportedly suffered a stroke last May and then had a heart attack in August.
Below is most of a live appearance of Bo during his younger days from YouTube:
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