Bo Diddley (b. Ellas McDaniel Dec 30, 1928-Jun 2, 2008) was an American singer, guitarist & producer who played a key role from the blues to rock & roll. He influenced artists including Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones & the Clash. Diddley had hit singles through the ‘50s & ‘60s including Pretty Thing ('56), Say Man ('59) & You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover ('62). Between '58 & '63 he released 11 albums. In the ‘60s, he broke through as a crossover artist with white audiences. In '63 he starred in a UK concert tour with the Everly Brothers, Little Richard & the Rolling Stones & included women in his band (rare at that time). In '72 he played with the Grateful Dead & in '79 as an opening act for The Clash. In '89 he had a licensing agreement with sports brand Nike. The “Bo Knows” campaign teamed him with Bo Jackson & resulted in 1 of the most iconic ads. In Legends of Guitar (filmed live in Spain in '91), he performed with B.B. King, Les Paul, Albert Collins & George Benson (among others). He joined the Rolling Stones on their '94 concert broadcast of Voodoo Lounge, performing Who Do You Love? In '96 he released A Man Amongst Men, his final studio album with guest artists Keith Richards, Ron Wood & the Shirelles. It earned a '97 Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album. In 2007, Diddley suffered a stroke & few months later a heart attack. While recovering, he went back to his Mississippi hometown for the unveiling of a plaque devoted to him on the Mississippi Blues Trail. This marked his achievements & noted that he was "acclaimed as a founder of rock & roll." His use of African rhythms & a signature beat, a simple 5-accent hambone rhythm, is a cornerstone of hip hop, rock & pop music. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in '87, the Blues Hall of Fame in 2003 & the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2017. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation & the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Diddley is also recognized for his technical innovations, including his distinctive rectangular guitar, with its unique booming, resonant, shimmering tones. Bo Diddley died in 2008 of heart failure, aged 79.

Studio Albums

Bo Diddley (1958)

Go Bo Diddley (1959)

Have Guitar Will Travel (1960)

Bo Diddley in the Spotlight (1960)

Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger (1960)

Bo Diddley Is a Lover (1961)

Bo Diddley's a Twister (1962)

Bo Diddley (1962)

Bo Diddley & Company (1963)

Surfin' with Bo Diddley (1963)

Hey! Good Lookin' (1965)

500% More Man (1965)

The Originator (1966)

The Black Gladiator (1970)

Another Dimension (1971)

Where It All Began (1972)

The London Bo Diddley Sessions (1973)

Big Bad Bo (1974)

20th Anniversary of Rock 'n' Roll (1976)

Ain't It Good to Be Free (1983)

Living Legend (1989)

Breakin' Through the B.S. (1989)

This Should Not Be (1992)

A Man Amongst Men (1996)