THE ORIGINATOR
from the dirt poor streets of Mississippi to inspiring the world
HISTORY OF BO DIDDLEY
American singer, songwriter, music producer, and guitarist Bo Diddley was one of the greatest influences in the founding of rock and roll, known as “The Originator”. His influence was reflected in artists like Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton. Mick Jagger called Bo Diddley a big influence on the Rolling Stones, describing him as a "one-of-a-kind musician". Known for his use of African rhythms and a five-accent hambone rhythm, Bo Diddley changed the course of hip hop, pop, and rock music as we know it today. His rectangular guitar is a known icon worldwide.
1 DEcember 30 1928 - A STAR WAS BORN
Bo Diddley was born on December 30, 1928 in McComb, Mississippi. His family moved to the primarily Black area of Chicago’s South Side in 1934, where he learned the violin and trombone and was invited to perform in his church's orchestra. His interest in the guitar came from his captivation with and desire to learn the more rhythmic music he heard at the local Pentecostal church. This mission began the Bo Diddley legacy.
Hard times came easy on the streets of Mississippi.
1928-1940
1940-1950
2AFRICAN RYTHMS RUN DEEP
2 During the day, Bo Diddley spent his time as a carpenter and mechanic, playing at night on street corners with the Langley Avenue Jive Cats, a band with his friends. In the long summer days of 1943 and 1944, he played at the Maxwell Street market with Earl Hooker. He is widely known for his "Bo Diddley beat", a distinctive rhythm of bell patterns typically found in sub-Saharan African music traditions. His beat went on to be used by many artists for years to come, including Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away".
Bo Diddley pisses off Ed Sullivan
Bo Diddley began to regularly pack Chicago’s South Side 708 Club with fans. In 1954 he formed his first recording band with Billy Boy Arnold (harmonica), Clifton James (drums), and Roosevelt Jackson (bass). In 1955, the group released "I'm a Man" and his #1 R&B hit, "Bo Diddley". Bo Diddley performed on The Ed Sullivan Show, where setlist confusion led him to mistakenly play his hit song for thousands of viewers. Ed Sullivan was furious and banned Bo Diddley from the show, but that performance solidified him as a legend of rock and roll. From there, he went on to release even more hit singles such as "Pretty Thing" and "Say Man".
1950-1960
1960-1970
4 ELVIS STEALS BO DIDDLEY'S SWAGGER
In the 1960s, Bo Diddley began performing at Alan Freed concerts, expanding his influence to white audiences. He rocked performances alongside the Everly Brothers, Little Richard, and the Rolling Stones for a UK tour in 1963. To have more creative freedom, Bo Diddley built his first home recording studio where he produced "Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger" and launched the career of Marvin Gaye. Bo Diddley even inspired the performing style of Elvis Presley, who adopted his sensational dancing after watching a Bo Diddley performance.
THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LAW
In 1972, Bo Diddley performed with the Grateful Dead at the Academy of Music in New York City. His song "Bo Diddley" was featured in an animated film Fritz the Cat. In 1971, he moved to New Mexico and served as a deputy sheriff for 7 years. He then hitched his train to the agricultural, rural railroad town of Hawthorne, Florida. In 1979, he made an opening act appearance for The Clash, showing his versatility and ability to capture audiences across
1970-1980
1980-1990
6 Outside the Music,
the Power of the Diddley Brand
In 1987, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. In 1989, Bo Diddley appeared in the comedy film Trading Places as a pawn shop owner, and later appeared in George Thorogood's music video for "Bad to the Bone". The power of his brand was further solidified as he appeared alongside athlete Bo Jackson in the national "Bo Knows" advertising campaign for Nike.
7 The Final Years and Abounding Achievements
7
He released his final studio album in 1996, titled A Man Amongst Men. This album featured guests like Keith Richards, Ron Wood, and the Shirelles, and received a Grammy Award nomination in 1997 for Best Contemporary Blues Album. In the final years of his career, Bo Diddley performed alongside B.B. King and Les Paul in Legends of Guitar. In 2005, Gretsch solidified the iconic Bo Diddley square guitar design with the launch of the G6199 "Billy-Bo" Jupiter Thunderbird. The guitar is modeled after a personally designed guitar by Bo Diddley himself which was then gifted to ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons.
1990-2008
8 Rest In Peace
8 Bo Diddley originally came up with the "Billy-Bo" design in 1959 at the beginning of his journey to music world domination.
Among his many achievements and awards, he was posthumously awarded a Doctor of Fine Arts from the University of Florida for his musical impact. He has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame, the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2008, Bo Diddley played an entire concert after suffering from a stroke before hitting the stage. A few months later, he sadly passed away at home from heart failure, while surrounded by his family.