Bo Diddley- Florida Legend That Influenced the World
Bo Diddley once explained his driving spine-rattling sound this way, “I play guitar like I play the drums.” To those who like to analyze every brushstroke and maybe miss the big picture, the Bo Diddley beat is said to be a rumba-like rhythm akin to the “hambone” ditty we grew up with courtesy of street performers. Bo would tell you that it is the simple, “shave and a haircut- two bits beat”. Bo borrowed and shaped chords and beats to suit himself. But also keep in mind that he was trained for twelve years as a kid to play the classical violin.
Bo Diddley was a musical giant. His contribution to rock and roll is too great to measure-Tom Petty
On June 2, 2008, the legend died but in all the obituaries we learned the same things: grew up in Chicago in the mid 1930’s, adopted by his mother’s cousin, Miss Gussie McDaniel; picked up his first guitar in 1940 and in 1950 put together his first band; is considered a founding father of rock and roll, influenced generations of musicians and his discography is endless. He is enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. These are the basic facts.
Every decent guitar player has stolen something from Bo Diddley-Stephen Stills
Can you name a Bo song? Can you hum any of his songs? The obituary, as they do when an artist dies, never offers samples of the work that made him famous. Bo was famous for his square guitar and the remarkable sounds he induced from that electric box. He should also be remembered for the lyrics that fit his unique sound. Bo captured culture and a sense of magic in his music. Here are the lyrics to one his most popular songs-one he wrote about himself entitled “Bo Diddley.”
Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley done had a farm,
On that farm he had some women,
Women here, women there,
Women, women, women everywhere.
But one little girl lived on a hill,
She rustled and tussled like buffalo bill,
One day she decided she’d go for a ride,
With a pistol and a sword by her side.
She rolled right up to my front door,
Knocked an’ knocked ’til her fist got sore,
When she turned and walked away,
All I could hear my baby say:
Hey Bo Diddley, oh Bo Diddley,
Hey Bo Diddley, oh Bo Diddley.
Born in McComb, Mississippi as Ellas Otha Bates, he took the last name of Gussie McDaniel and became Ellas Mc Daniel. How he morphed into Bo Diddley remains a mystery. He even furnished a few versions to keep people guessing
The Bo Diddley beat and songs have been covered by Elvis, Bruce,U2,The Rolling Stones, Elton John, David Bowie, The Police, Jefferson Airplane, Guns N’ Roses, the Byrds, Eric Burden, Everly Brothers , Little Richard, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Clapton, The Who, Tom Petty and Muddy Waters. Space precludes a list of films where he and his music appeared, television appearances, as well as awards.
In later years he garnered a room full of awards, small film parts, commercials (“Bo Knows” for Nike). He received the Grammy Lifetime Achiement Award, and was inducted into the North Florida Music Association’s Hall of Fame. He performed at concerts to raise money for hurricane victims. “This is the United States of America. We believe in helping one another, “he said about his charitable works. He died of heart failure in Archer, Florida, a small farming town near Gainesville. He attended church and left behind 4 children, 15 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. It was said that before he died he wanted to record faith-based music.
“Speaking of money, I surely didn’t make it selling records. Lots of others got rich on my account, and by some logic I should have six million dollars in my bank. I should but I don’t. That’s why I’m still working today.” Bo said that.
Hey Bo Diddley, oh Bo Diddley,
Hey Bo Diddley, oh Bo Diddley.
Contributed by staff writer George Khoury