This week we mourn the death of one of rock & roll's earliest pioneers. Bo Diddley past away on June 2 2008.
Bo Diddley (guitar, vocals; born December 30, 1928)
Bo Diddley broke new ground in rock and roll’s formative years with his unique guitar work, indelible African rhythms, inventive songwriting, and larger-than-life persona. He will forever be known for popularizing one of the foundational rhythms of rock and roll: the Bo Diddley beat. He employed it in his namesake song, “Bo Diddley,” as well as other primal rockers like “Mona.” This African-based 4/4 rhythm pattern (which goes bomp-bomp-bomp bomp-bomp) was picked up from Diddley by other artists and has been a distinctive and recurring element in rock and roll through the decades. It can be heard on Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away” (later covered by the Rolling Stones), Johnny Otis’s “Willie and the Hand Jive,” the Strangeloves’ “I Want Candy,” the Who’s “Magic Bus” and Bruce Springsteen’s “She’s the One,” to name just several songs. Here are a few highlights from his carrer.
December 30, 1928: Ellas Bates McDaniel - a.k.a. Bo Diddley - is born in McComb, Mississippi.
November 20, 1955: Bo Diddley makes his network TV debut on The Ed Sullivan Show,
January 20, 1979: Britain’s rising punk-rock stars The Clash kick off their first U.S. tour with rock and roll pioneer Bo Diddley as their handpicked opening act.
January 21, 1987: Bo Diddley is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the second annual induction dinner. The members of ZZ Top are his presenters.
This a 2in1 album set of his first 2 albums.
Bo Diddley/Go Bo Diddley
Tracks:
1. Bo Diddley
2. I'm A Man
3. Bring It To Jerome
4. Before You Accuse Me
5. Hey! Bo Diddley
6. Dearest Darling
7. Hush Your Mouth
8. Say Bossman
9. Diddley Daddy
10. Diddy Wah Diddy
11. Who Do You Love
12. Pretty Thing
13. Crackin' Up
14. I'm Sorry
15. Bo's Guitar
16. Willie And Lillie
17. You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care)
18. Say Man
19. The Great Grandfather
20. Oh Yea
21. Don't Let It Go
22. Little Girl
23. Dearest Darling
24. The Clock Struck Twelve