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Bo Diddley, bluesman and 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 at 79.
Diddley died of
heart failure at his home in Archer, Fla. He had suffered a heart
attack in back in August while touring in Iowa. Doctors said the
stroke
affected his ability to speak, and he had returned to Florida to
continue rehabilitation.
The legendary singer and performer,
known for his homemade square guitar, dark glasses and black hat, was
an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, had a star on
Hollywood's Walk of Fame, and received a lifetime achievement award in
1999 at the Grammy Awards. In recent years he also played for the elder
President Bush and President Clinton.
Bo Diddley was on Ed Sullivan show and played blues instead of Old
Man River. He was a unique individual and influenced my generation of
folk blues players. Bo Diddly used to say "If you ain't got no money,
ain't nobody calls you honey."
The name Bo Diddley came from other youngsters when he was growing up in Chicago.
"I
don't know where the kids got it, but the kids in grammar school gave
me that name," he said, adding that he liked it so it became his stage
name. Other times, he gave somewhat differing stories on where he got
the name. Some experts believe a possible source for the name is a
one-string instrument used in traditional blues music called a diddley
bow.
His first single, "Bo Diddley," introduced record buyers in
1955 to his signature rhythm: bomp ba-bomp bomp, bomp bomp, often
summarized as "shave and a haircut, two bits." The B side, "I'm a Man,"
with its slightly humorous take on macho pride, also became a rock
standard and he influenced all the British Rockers, including the
Rolling Stones. In fact, Bo Diddly and other bluesmen were more popular
in England than in the United States.
The company that issued his early songs was
Chess-Checkers records, the storied Chicago-based labels that also
recorded Chuck Berry and other stars. I was lucky to be able to go up
to Chicago when I was 16 years old to visit the old Chess Records shop
near Old Town Chicago. I went up to Chicago with a Blues Music
collector Mike Berring and spend all my summer savings on old LPs of Bo
Diddley, Howling Wolf, Mississipi John Hurt, and other bluesmen's
recordings. The folk folk scene is full of musicians that have had the
influence of Bo Diddley and other bluesmen influence their music
styles.
- dd-
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Tampa Blue
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Bo Diddley may not have been the most stellar of instrumentalists but his
strength was in his innovation. He was there during the period that blues
was birthing rock and roll. Much of his music could be called either. So he
rightly enjoys an honored spot in the history of both genres. By extension,
that makes him a significant person in American music history. - Tampa Blue
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Stan Geberer |
"His signature driving rhythm threads its way wonderfully through all the rock
& roll music I listen to. It is infectious, fun to play and makes you get up
and dance. There is not a Florida Folk Festival where his rhythm is not
played and now, for many reasons, it will continue to be so. If Bo Diddley isn't
seen, he'll still be heard."
 - Stan Geberer
 (Floridaharp and bluesman)
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"Although Bo Diddley was never much of an
influence on my guitar style, I greatly admired his innovativeness,
especially the almost reggae like rhythm he developed and used in so many
of his songs. Another creative signature he had was the rectangular shaped
electric guitar which was fashioned after the homemade cigar
box guitars that so many of the first generation bluesmen learned to play
on. He kept a permanent remembrance of where his roots came from by using the
perfect stage name. May he rest in peace. "
Bill Perra |
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