Bo Diddley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bo Diddley
Diddley in 1957
Background information
Birth name	Ellas Otha Bates
Also known as	Ellas Bates McDaniel The Originator
Born	(1928-12-30)December 30, 1928 McComb, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	June 2, 2008(2008-06-02) (aged 79) Archer, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Rock And Roll The Blues
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter Guitarist
Instruments	Guitar vocals
Years active	1943–2007
Labels	Checker Chess RCA Triple X Atlantic

Ellas McDaniel (born Ellas Otha Bates; December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist. He was very important in changing blues music into rock and roll. Many famous artists were influenced by him. These include Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones.

Bo Diddley used African rhythms and a special beat called the Bo Diddley beat. This beat is a simple five-accent rhythm. It became a basic part of hip hop, rock, and pop music. He was honored for his music by being put into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. He also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Bo Diddley was also known for new ways of playing guitar. He used effects like tremolo and reverb to make his unique rectangular guitars sound even better.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Bo Diddley was born in McComb, Mississippi. His birth name was Ellas Bates. He later clarified that his name was Ellas Bates McDaniel, and "Otha" was not part of it. His mother was Ethel Wilson, and he never knew his father. Since his mother was young and couldn't raise him, her cousin, Gussie McDaniel, adopted him. He then took her last name.

When Bo Diddley was five, his adoptive father passed away. Gussie McDaniel moved with him to Chicago. There, he became Ellas McDaniel. He was part of the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church. He learned to play the trombone and the violin there. He was so good at the violin that he played in the orchestra until he was 18.

However, he was more interested in the lively music he heard at a local church. He started playing the guitar. His first recordings were inspired by this energetic church music. Diddley felt that the trance-like rhythm he used in his rhythm and blues music came from these churches.

Starting His Music Career

Bo Diddley was inspired by a John Lee Hooker performance. He started playing music on street corners with friends to earn extra money. He was also a carpenter and mechanic. His band was first called the Hipsters, then the Langley Avenue Jive Cats. Jerome Green was a constant member of his band. They often joked around during live shows.

In the early 1950s, he played at the Maxwell Street market. By 1951, he had a regular spot at the 708 Club in Chicago. His music was influenced by artists like Louis Jordan and Muddy Waters. In late 1954, he recorded demo songs like "I'm a Man" and "Bo Diddley".

These songs were re-recorded for Chess Records. The record came out in March 1955. The song "Bo Diddley" became a number one R&B hit.

Where Did the Name "Bo Diddley" Come From?

The exact origin of his stage name, Bo Diddley, is not fully clear. McDaniel said his friends gave him the name. He thought it might have been an insult. The word "diddly" can mean "nothing."

He also said the name belonged to a singer his adoptive mother knew. Another idea is that it was the name of a local comedian. The record company, Chess Records, then used it for McDaniel and his first song.

A diddley bow is a simple, homemade instrument with one string. It was common in the American South, especially among children. Bo Diddley played his song "Bo Diddley" on his guitar in a way that sounded like this simple instrument.

Success in the 1950s and 1960s

On November 20, 1955, Bo Diddley appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, a very popular TV program. There's a story that he was supposed to play his hit song "Bo Diddley." But he also played "Sixteen Tons." Ed Sullivan was reportedly angry and banned Diddley from his show.

Diddley continued to have hit songs in the 1950s and 1960s. These included "Pretty Thing" (1956), "Say Man" (1959), and "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover" (1962). He also released many albums. Between 1958 and 1963, Checker Records released eleven of his albums.

In the 1960s, he became popular with white audiences too. He was one of the musicians who benefited from the surfing and beach party craze. He released albums like Surfin' with Bo Diddley and Bo Diddley's Beach Party. These albums had a heavy, distorted blues sound.

In 1963, Diddley toured the UK with the Everly Brothers, Little Richard, and a new band called the Rolling Stones.

Diddley wrote many songs for himself and for other artists. In 1956, he co-wrote "Love Is Strange". This song became a hit for Mickey & Sylvia in 1957.

After moving to Washington, D.C., Diddley built his own recording studio. He recorded his album Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger there. He also helped new groups from the D.C. area record music. One of these groups was the Marquees, which included Marvin Gaye.

Bo Diddley was also known for including women in his band. These talented musicians included Norma-Jean Wofford (The Duchess), Gloria Jolivet, Peggy Jones (Lady Bo), and Cornelia Redmond (Cookie V). Lady Bo was a lead guitarist, which was rare for a woman at that time.

Later Years and Tributes

Bo Diddley performed in many places, from small clubs to large stadiums. In 1972, he played with the Grateful Dead in New York City. His song "Bo Diddley" was also featured in the animated film Fritz the Cat.

He lived in Los Lunas, New Mexico for several years. He even worked as a deputy sheriff there. In the late 1970s, he moved to Hawthorne, Florida, where he lived in a log cabin he helped build. He spent his last years in Archer, Florida.

In 1979, he opened for The Clash on their US tour. He also appeared in movies like Trading Places (1983) and in George Thorogood's music video for "Bad to the Bone."

In 1989, Diddley worked with the sportswear brand Nike for their "Bo Knows" campaign. This campaign featured him with athlete Bo Jackson. Later, Diddley had a disagreement with Nike over the continued use of his image and slogan.

In 1991, Diddley performed with many guitar legends like B.B. King and Les Paul in Spain. In 1994, he joined the Rolling Stones on their "Voodoo Lounge" concert broadcast.

In 1996, he released A Man Amongst Men, his last studio album. It featured guest artists like Keith Richards. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Diddley continued to perform in 2005 and 2006. In 2006, he headlined a concert to help the town of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, after Hurricane Katrina. He said, "This is the United States of America. We believe in helping one another."

His last guitar performance on a studio album was with the New York Dolls in 2006.

In May 2007, Diddley had a stroke after a concert. A few months later, he had a heart attack. While recovering, he visited his hometown of McComb, Mississippi. A plaque honoring him was unveiled on the Mississippi Blues Trail. He was not supposed to perform, but he briefly played the microphone, which was his last public performance.

Personal Life

Bo Diddley was married four times. He had several children. His family was with him when he passed away.

Health and Passing

On May 13, 2007, Bo Diddley had a stroke. He was taken to the hospital. The stroke affected his speech. He also had a heart attack in August 2007.

Bo Diddley passed away on June 2, 2008, at his home in Archer, Florida. He was 79 years old. His family and friends were with him. His grandson said that after a gospel song was sung, Diddley opened his eyes, gave a thumbs up, and said, "Wow! I'm goin' to Heaven!"

His funeral was held on June 7, 2008. Many musicians sent flowers. Little Richard and Eric Burdon attended the service. After the funeral, a tribute concert was held. Many musicians, including his children, performed.

Leaders and musicians around the world paid tribute to him. President George W. Bush and the United States House of Representatives honored him. Musicians like B.B. King, Mick Jagger, and Eric Clapton also shared their respect. His bassist, Debby Hastings, said, "He was the rock that the roll was built on."

In 2009, the guitar Bo Diddley used in his final performance was sold for $60,000 at an auction.

Achievements and Honors

Bo Diddley received many awards for his important role in creating rock and roll.

• 1987: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• 1998: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
• 1999: His song "Bo Diddley" (1955) was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame.
• 2003: Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame
• 2008: Received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Florida.
• 2017: Inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame.

In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 20 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

In 2005, Bo Diddley celebrated his 50th anniversary in music with tours around the world. He performed his song "Bo Diddley" with Eric Clapton at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 20th induction ceremony.

The city of Gainesville, Florida, renamed its downtown plaza the Bo Diddley Community Plaza in 2009. This plaza was where he performed to help people experiencing homelessness.

The Bo Diddley Beat

The "Bo Diddley beat" is a special rhythm. It is very similar to the clave rhythm found in sub-Saharan African music traditions. This rhythm was found in many blues and R&B songs from the 1940s and 50s.

Bo Diddley had different stories about how he started using this rhythm. Some say it sounds like a Latin rhythm. It is also similar to "hambone," a style where performers create a beat by slapping their bodies. The beat is also a bit like the ""shave and a haircut, two bits" rhythm.

"Bo Diddley beat"/Son clave .

Many of his songs, like "Hey Bo Diddley" and "Who Do You Love?", often use the same chord throughout. This means the rhythms create the excitement, not changes in harmony. He also used other rhythms, like doo-wop, often with Jerome Green playing maracas.

Bo Diddley was a very influential guitar player. He created many special effects and new sounds. He was known for his "shimmering" tremolo sound and amp reverb. His most famous instrument was his own design: a rectangular guitar called the "Twang Machine." He also had other unique guitars custom-made for him.

Diddley often wrote clever and funny lyrics. His first hit, "Bo Diddley," was based on hambone rhymes. The first line of "Hey Bo Diddley" comes from the nursery rhyme "Old MacDonald." His songs "Who Do You Love?" and "Say Man" are seen as early examples of hip-hop music because of their boasting style and use of "the dozens" (a type of verbal game).

Discography

Studio albums

Collaborations

• Chuck Berry Is on Top, with Chuck Berry (Chess, 1959)
• Two Great Guitars, with Chuck Berry (Checker, 1964)
• Super Blues, with Muddy Waters and Little Walter (Checker, 1967)
• The Super Super Blues Band, with Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf (Checker, 1968)

Chart singles

Images for kids

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  Diddley on tour in Japan with the Japanese band Bo Gumbos

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  Bo Diddley at the Long Beach Jazz Festival, 1997

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  Bo Diddley in 2002

See also

In Spanish: Bo Diddley para niños