This article is about the singer. For other uses, see Bo Diddley (disambiguation).
Bo Diddley
Diddley in 1957
Background information
Birth name
Ellas Otha Bates[1]
Also known as
Ellas Bates McDaniel
The Originator
Born
(1928-12-30)December 30, 1928 McComb, Mississippi, U.S.
Died
June 2, 2008(2008-06-02) (aged 79) Archer, Florida, U.S.
Genres
Rock and roll[2]
blues[2]
psychedelic funk[2]
Occupation(s)
Musician
singer
songwriter
guitarist
Instrument(s)
Guitar
vocals
Years active
1943–2007
Labels
Checker
Chess
RCA
Triple X
Atlantic
Website
BoDiddley.com
Musical artist
Ellas Otha Bates (December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known professionally as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist and singer who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, including Buddy Holly,[3] Elvis Presley,[4] the Beatles, the Rolling Stones,[5] the Animals, George Thorogood, Syd Barrett,[6] and the Clash.[7]
His use of African rhythms and a signature beat, a simple five-accent hambone rhythm, is a cornerstone of hip hop, rock, and pop music.[5][8][9] In recognition of his achievements, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, the Blues Hall of Fame in 2003, and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2017.[10][8][11] He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.[12] Diddley is also recognized for his technical innovations, including his use of tremolo and reverb effects to enhance the sound of his distinctive rectangular-shaped guitars.[13][14]
^Eagle, Bob L.; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. ABC-CLIO. p. 227. ISBN 978-0-313-34424-4.
^ abcErlewine, Stephen Thomas (June 2, 2008). "The Story of Bo Diddley". AllMusic. Retrieved August 2, 2023. the biggest and baddest of all the original rock & rollers [...] there was far, far more to Bo than his patented beat and walloping gut-bucket blues [...] he could ease into dirty psychedelic funk-rock in the '70s
^"Bo Diddley's Unique Rhythm Continues to Inspire". NPR.org. NPR. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
^Fox, Ted (1983). Showtime at the Apollo. Da Capo. pp. 5 & 92. ISBN 978-0-306-80503-5. Elvis Presley, a young, still raw hayseed, was making his first trip to the Big Apple to see his new record company, and the Apollo was where he wanted to be. Night after night in New York he sat in the Apollo transfixed by the pounding rhythms, the dancing and prancing, the sexual spectacle of rhythm-and-blues masters like Bo Diddley. ... In 1955, Elvis's stage presence was still rudimentary. But watching Bo Diddley charge up the Apollo crowd undoubtedly had a profound effect on him. When he returned to New York a few months later for his first national television appearance, on Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey's "Stage Show," he again spent hours at the Apollo after rehearsals. On the Dorsey show Elvis shocked the entire country with his outrageous hip-shaking performance, and the furor that followed made him an American sensation.
^ abBrown, Jonathan (June 3, 2008). "Bo Diddley, Guitarist Who Inspired the Beatles and the Stones, Dies Aged 79". The Independent. Archived from the original on March 22, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
^"Syd Barrett interview". www.sydbarrett.net. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
^Partridge, Kenneth (April 11, 2017). "How The Clash Can Lead to a Great Record Collection". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on September 26, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2017.
^ ab"Bo Diddley". The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on February 12, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
^"Bo Diddley". Rolling Stone. 2001. Archived from the original on August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
^"Bo Diddley Exhibit in The Blues Hall of Fame". blueshalloffame.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
^Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Lifetime Achievement Award". Recording Academy Grammy Awards. Archived from the original on November 20, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
^Prown, Pete; Newquist, H. P. (1997). Legends of Rock Guitar. Hal Leonard. ISBN 978-1-4768-5093-1.
^Larson, Tom (2004). History of Rock and Roll. Kendall Hunt. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-7872-9969-9.
Otha Bates (December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known professionally as BoDiddley, was an American guitarist and singer who played a key role in the transition...
The BoDiddley beat is a syncopated musical rhythm that is widely used in rock and roll and pop music. The beat is named after rhythm and blues musician...
The discography of American rock and roll musician BoDiddley, includes 37 singles, 24 studio albums, 24 compilation albums, six live albums, and several...
Go BoDiddley is the second album by American rock and roll musician BoDiddley, released in July 1959. The album was Bo's first studio album that included...
BoDiddley Is a Gunslinger is the fifth studio album by American rock and roll pioneer BoDiddley released in December 1960 by Checker Records. The album...
sports through the "Bo Knows" advertising campaign, a series of advertisements by Nike, starring Jackson alongside musician BoDiddley, promoting a cross-training...
BoDiddley in the Spotlight is the fourth album by musician BoDiddley, recorded in 1959-60 and released on the Checker label. The album contains the hit...
"Diddley Daddy" is a song by BoDiddley. The song was issued as a single on Checker Records in June 1955. His second single, it followed on the heels of...
BoDiddley Is a Lover is the sixth album by musician BoDiddley recorded in 1961 and released on the Checker label. AllMusic awarded the album 4 stars...
buy a guitar?". Seasick Steve recorded a tribute to his diddley bow, via his song "DiddleyBo" from his 2009 album, Man From Another Time. American Patchwork:...
Retrieved 2014-02-10. "Big As All Outdoors" Time, 17 October 1955. "BoDiddley "BoDiddley" on The Ed Sullivan Show". YouTube. The Ed Sullivan Show (YouTube...
and, at times, requires Doc's quick wit and strength to help him focus. BoDiddley Squatt or "Squatt" (voiced by Jason Priestley in 1994-1996, Corey Feldman...
guest appearance on BoDiddley's 1996 album A Man Amongst Men, playing guitar on tracks "Can I Walk You Home" and "Oops! BoDiddley". In 1999, Sambora...
established artists such as Etta James, Fontella Bass, Ramsey Lewis, BoDiddley, Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters. While at Chess, Riperton also sang lead...
the guitar—and failing badly—whereupon blues legend BoDiddley exclaims, "Bo, you don't know Diddley!" Coincidentally, the spot first aired during the commercial...
distorted power chords in the early 1950s. Also in 1955, BoDiddley introduced the "BoDiddley beat" and a unique electric guitar style, influenced by...
and recorded by American musician BoDiddley in 1957. The song was originally released as the B-side to Diddley's "Say Bossman" and included on his self-titled...