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Bo Diddley
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Bo Diddley (December 30, 1928 - June 2, 2008) “The Originator,” was an influential American rock and roll singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is often cited as a key figure in the transition of blues into rock and roll, by introducing more insistent, driving rhythms and a harder-edged guitar sound.
He was born Otha Ellas Bates in McComb, Mississippi and later took the name Ellas McDaniel, after his adoptive mother, Gussie McDaniel. He adopted the stage name Bo Diddley, which is probably a southern black slang phrase meaning “nothing at all,” as in “he ain’t bo diddley. ” Another source says it was his nickname as a Golden Gloves boxer. The nickname is also linked to the diddley bow, a one stringed instrument used in the south by mainly black musicians in the fields.
He is best known for the “Bo Diddley beat,” a rhumba-based beat (see clave) also influenced by what is known as “hambone,” a style used by street performers who play out the beat by slapping and patting their arms, legs, chest, and cheeks while chanting rhymes. The Bo Diddley beat is often illustrated with the phrase: “shave ‘n’ a haircut - two bits.”
The beat has been used by many other artists, notably Johnny Otis on “Willie and the Hand Jive,” which is more about hambone than it is a direct copy of Bo Diddley, Bruce Springsteen’s “She’s the One,” U2’s “Desire,” Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away” and Rolling Stones’ “Mona” as well as more obscure numbers such as “Callin’ All Cows” by The Blues Rockers.
He was born Otha Ellas Bates in McComb, Mississippi and later took the name Ellas McDaniel, after his adoptive mother, Gussie McDaniel. He adopted the stage name Bo Diddley, which is probably a southern black slang phrase meaning “nothing at all,” as in “he ain’t bo diddley. ” Another source says it was his nickname as a Golden Gloves boxer. The nickname is also linked to the diddley bow, a one stringed instrument used in the south by mainly black musicians in the fields.
He is best known for the “Bo Diddley beat,” a rhumba-based beat (see clave) also influenced by what is known as “hambone,” a style used by street performers who play out the beat by slapping and patting their arms, legs, chest, and cheeks while chanting rhymes. The Bo Diddley beat is often illustrated with the phrase: “shave ‘n’ a haircut - two bits.”
The beat has been used by many other artists, notably Johnny Otis on “Willie and the Hand Jive,” which is more about hambone than it is a direct copy of Bo Diddley, Bruce Springsteen’s “She’s the One,” U2’s “Desire,” Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away” and Rolling Stones’ “Mona” as well as more obscure numbers such as “Callin’ All Cows” by The Blues Rockers.
Top Albums
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Ride On / The Chess Masters 1960-1961
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500% More Man
Bo Diddley
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His Best
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Super Blues
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Bo Diddley
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I'm A Man
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Who Do You Love
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Pretty Thing
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Bring It To Jerome
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Diddley Daddy
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Say Man
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Hey! Bo Diddley
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Crackin' Up
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Who Do You Love?
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The Story Of Bo Diddley
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Pills
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Diddy Wah Diddy
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Road Runner
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Shoutbox
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merrari wrote:
omgosh, i didn't realize he only just passed last summer.
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brownieboy wrote:
"Say Man" is priceless : )
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Hoagzter wrote:
cadillac C-A-D-I-L-L-A-C YEAHHHH
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johnnos wrote:
Man I love Mumblin' Guitar!
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deadinsideout wrote:
i heard he was gay
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Bcinu2 wrote:
Picked him up at the airport one time, hung out with him for a couple of hours b4 the show. He was talkative and generous to everyone he encountered that day . That night was a reflection of the man I met that day. Tried and true, he showed me the golden rule in practice, truly great. He will live forever in my heart, Rock on Bo Diddley! Blessings to you and your kin.
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Dani_Gabarrot wrote:
Heyyyyy Bo Diddley. We still have your music, god bless you .
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oddskies wrote:
bo is lover
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rewixas wrote:
wow!!!!! he is amazing
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almagal wrote:
Champion
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bcwilliamson wrote:
love the guy. seemed like a nice man as well. his music helped create rock n roll as well as chuck berry, not any of that elvis stuff. some of you people might like to check out my music of a similar era... http://www.last.fm/music/B.C.+Williamson god bless
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MissDrakula wrote:
Magnificent! Brilliant! Cool!
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Mcalhoun wrote:
I still can't believe that he died,,, it like took a piece of my soul, but guest what edlse we still have his music.. and again it was always something about him that makes your soul feel good inside...
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Cornmancer wrote:
June 2nd was the day the music daied.
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Treason_is_bad wrote:
Bo Diddley Jam...
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rythmking wrote:
Who Do you Love?BO!
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spiderland77 wrote:
Godfather
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KristinaUrine wrote:
The other day in my History of Rock and Roll class that Bo Diddley is named after a southern instrument of the time called a Diddley Bo!
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suswan wrote:
I'm so thankful I had the chance to see Bo Diddley in Seattle. He rocked the house.
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sebastiano_riva wrote:
A great innovator! Coool coooool music
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Recent Activity
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RAYMONDR042807 and Gunnariedebo added Bo Diddley to their libraries. yesterday evening
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Arimiridorinki tagged Bo Diddley with old, blues and rock and roll. yesterday evening
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williamoria, ratty370, redux_walter and 8 other people added Bo Diddley to their libraries. yesterday afternoon
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tuRRtuRR tagged Bo Diddley with blues, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. Saturday afternoon
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whitepeakploder and UtopiaThoringi added Bo Diddley to their libraries. Saturday afternoon
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PhilAbernethy connected Bo Diddley to the group Chess Records. Saturday morning
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johnnymcjohn, skillmarco, camporeale and 68 other people added Bo Diddley to their libraries. Friday evening
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tomporker tagged Bo Diddley with soul, rock, rock and roll and 2 other tags. Monday morning
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tomporker added Bo Diddley to tomporker’s library. Monday morning
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thomas10 wrote about Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley in Best Albums of the Late Fifties (1956-1959). August 2009
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