Bo Diddley Died. :(

[Harvey]

Legendary musician, Bo Diddley died, today. He was one of the founders of rock n'n roll.

:music:

R.I.P., Bo Diddley

By Joan Anderman
Globe Staff

Bo Diddley, one of the founding fathers of rock ?n' roll, died of heart failure today at his home in Archer, Fla., according to his publicist. He was 79.

Diddley, whose signature bomp ba-bomp bomp, bomp bomp beat influenced musicians from Buddy Holly and the Rolling Stones to Bruce Springsteen and U2, suffered a heart attack last August, three months after being felled by a stroke during a performance in Iowa. He had returned to Florida, his home for 20 years, to continue his rehabilitation.

Diddley cut a distinctive figure in music with his ever-present black hat, dark glasses, and homemade rectangular guitar ? which the musician rigged with electronic gadgets to create his otherwordly tremolo sound. Even though he only enjoyed only a handful of hits during a 40-year recording career, Diddley?s impact on the evolution of rock music was vast.

''Bo is the most misunderstood and the least appreciated pioneer of rock 'n' roll," said Robert Santelli, chief executive of the Seattle-based Experience Music Project and a former official at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, in a 2003 interview with The New York Times. "That beat -- that Bo Diddley beat -- is essential to the rhythm of rock 'n' roll.?

Diddley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (by the members of ZZ Top) in 1987, at the museum?s second annual ceremony. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Awards in 1996 and a similar honor at the Grammys in 1999.

 

[ProfJohn]

Sad.

Remember the commercial he did with Bo Jackson?
"You don't know Diddley"

 

[dmcowen674]

RIP Bo

Thank you for your huge contribution to music

:music:

 

[NaughtyGeek]

It is truly a sad day.

Here's to Bo :beer: and may his legend live on.

 

[Perknose]

"I say, Heeeeeeyyyyyy, Bo Diddley!" :thumbsup:

 

[ericlp]

I got a few tracks on a DVD I was listening to in the car today... Pretty Thing and You can't judge a book by its cover...

Sad... But, he did seem like he lived a pretty good / happy life... Seemed like he enjoyed what he was doing..... Oh well... We all gotta go sometime!

 

[tvarad]

I still crack up when I hear "Say Man" for the gazillionth time. RIP Bo.

 

[Lemon law]

I agree, BO was truly a giant in music even if it may be missed by the classical Brahms and Bach set. But at age 79, he lived longer than average. But the telling remark I have to take away is that BO, died in relative poverty. And the comment I have to take away is the point NPR made, as an elder in music, the RIAA roped him into a contract where BO did not make a single dime on royalties from his creativity.

Tell me again why I should respect the RIAA? But to BO, RIP and we have all been enriched by your life. A man who has truly given so much and taken so little.

 

[tvarad]

Here's his Trading Places cameo. Hilarious.