Bo Diddley – Called to Heaven
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Artist:
One of the true originals has died at 79. Let us pause and remember him with the beat that defined him:bomp ba-bomp bomp, bomp bompIt’s a beat and a riff so essential that it helped fuel the careers of both Buddy Holly and The Rolling Stones. Quicksilver Messenger Service practically built an entire career on it. Bo was also instrumental in inventing the use of tremelo and vibrato. A Rock God in other words. For a good obituary, go "here.":http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9121TB80&show_article=1Along with Chuck Berry’s signature intro, rock and roll was built on this beat. Show any musician of a certain age this album cover and they’ll get all misty-eyed. They all learned to play from hearing it.
His influence was so deep that even actors wanted to pay their respects; Dan Ackroyd put Bo in both ‘The Blues Brothers’ and ‘Trading Places’, where Bo memorably lorded it over the pawn shop.Bo’s live show was centred around Jerome Green his maraccas player and The Duchess on bass. Want to see how good they were? Here’s Bo doing “Road Runner”:Why was that riff so damn good? Because it was made for dancing:Buddy Holly lifted The Beat for “Not Fade Away”, but he was cool enough to give props by recording “Bo Diddley”.Of course, Buddy wasn’t so cool that he wrote the song – Bo wrote it as his first single. (Nothing like advertising your own brilliance.)The Animals weren’t content just to cover a song about Bo Diddley – they wrote one of their own. “The Story Of Bo Diddley” is the kind of history lesson they should teach in school.Bo Diddley aka Ellis McDaniel – born Dec. 30, 1928, died June 2, 2008
His influence was so deep that even actors wanted to pay their respects; Dan Ackroyd put Bo in both ‘The Blues Brothers’ and ‘Trading Places’, where Bo memorably lorded it over the pawn shop.Bo’s live show was centred around Jerome Green his maraccas player and The Duchess on bass. Want to see how good they were? Here’s Bo doing “Road Runner”:Why was that riff so damn good? Because it was made for dancing:Buddy Holly lifted The Beat for “Not Fade Away”, but he was cool enough to give props by recording “Bo Diddley”.Of course, Buddy wasn’t so cool that he wrote the song – Bo wrote it as his first single. (Nothing like advertising your own brilliance.)The Animals weren’t content just to cover a song about Bo Diddley – they wrote one of their own. “The Story Of Bo Diddley” is the kind of history lesson they should teach in school.Bo Diddley aka Ellis McDaniel – born Dec. 30, 1928, died June 2, 2008
Comments (19)
Thank you for sharing a wonderful review on the life of Rock Royalty!
My father shared with me that he had met Bo Diddley years ago in Italy and wondered who he was from afar because he did not recognize him. Once they started talking my Dad could not believe that he had met Bo Diddley. They both enjoyed talking to each other and seeing brown faces in Italy that they exchanged phone numbers. Bo Diddley lived in Gainsville, FL and he even invited my father over to *play* sometime whenever he was in FL for my father travels to Florida a lot. We were sad to hear of Bo's passing but we know his memory will live on forever.
Thanks for sharing!
Serenity, that's a great reminiscence. Just showa that the truly great are humble at heart. I hope your father took him up on the offer.
Unfortunately my father and Bo never saw each other again but my Dad was so grateful for Bo extendeding his friendship to him. That was a real highlight for my father for my Dad is a few years younger than Bo for he grew up with his music. You are so right that Bo was humble at heart!