The world of rock 'n roll lost one of their earliest innovators yesterday with the death of Bo Diddley. His unique tremelos resonating from his self-made guitar, syncopated "hambone" rhythm, fancy footwork, gymnastic movements and sly, colorful lyrics influenced and inspired countless musicians through the years. His birth name of Otha Ellas Bates was changed by his mother's cousin to Ellas B. McDaniel; she raised him with her own three children on Chicago's South Side where he was exposed to black gospel music and the delta blues. At the age of seven, he studied the violin; he picked up the guitar at twelve and never looked back. Although he built musical instruments at Foster Vocational High School, he never graduated.
His band, known as the Jive Cats, eventually auditioned for Chess Records in 1954; the release of the single "Bo Diddley" on the Checker label in early 1955 reached the number 2 position on the rhythm and blues chart followed by "I'm a Man". His biggest popular hit was in 1959 with "Say Man". He toured steadily throughout the 1950's, 1960's and early 1970's. Many of his songs were later covered by the British pop groups including the Animals, the Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds.
Although he felt that he was monetarily cheated by the recording industry, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in 1998. He had the distinction of appearing at two presidential inaugurations for George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
This You Tube video captures the essence of Bo Diddley: