Bo Diddley Passes Away a Bad Man:1928-2008
Bo Diddley passed today from complications of a stroke at the age of 79. He was stricken while touring in May of ‘07–doing what he had to do to make bank–and had a subsequent heart attack 3 months later. He was another one of our pioneers who got jacked for his mack and therefore never really stacked. In the last couple of years the good ones have been rolling out fast.
Unfortunately, this is what most folk know Bo for…
Watch the performances below and understand Bo influenced a helluva lot more than just pop culture.
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June 3rd, 2008 at 1:25 am
Thanks for the excellent memorial/tribute to a true musical pioneer, Miz. From Buddy Holly to the Yardbirds to George Michael (Faith) to U2 (Desire) you can hear Bo Diddeley’s signature sound. The man was an innovator and sadly all he is known for nowadays is the Nike commercial with Bo and some cameos in Dan Ackroyd movies. I give much props to anyone who cares about the blues, jump R&B, and rock-n-roll but we as Black people need to remember that we’re not only capable of creating hip-hop and urban R&B that popular American music since the middle of the 19th century owes a monetary as well as a psychic debt to these descendants of African slaves who created the rhythms and beats we all shake our asses to up to this day.
RIP, Bo. You still and always will be a BAD MAN.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:44 am
RIP BO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GPxkpjCvWI
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:45 am
Sorry I see you already posted the Bo and Bo didley comercial. My computer was slow to show it.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:46 am
Bo Diddley was a musical genius and I’m glad that he was able to put his personal touch on so many genres.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:12 am
I learned the “Bo Diddley beat” as a guitar playing kid before I even knew who Bo Diddley was. My guitar teacher fixed that right quick.
He developed what was, in my mind, the fiercest and most danceable beat in rock and blues music, the most addictive. Chunk-a-chunk-a-chunk, a-chunk-chunk.
Popular music owes him so much that the debt can never be repaid.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:53 am
James Brown, Bo Diddley and B.B. King that’s a Mt. Rushmore of musical genius for anyone to look up to.