Bo's Bio Below
A message from Bo Diddley:
I, Ellas McDaniel (aka Bo Diddley throughout the world), would like to share these thoughts with all of you, that someone is trying to destroy our rose garden here in America. Wake up and smell the roses, because there's a fungus among us! Keep rockin' an' rollin', but keep it clean. Love Bo Diddley - forever.
Update: August 5, 2008
BO DIDDLEY will be awarded a posthumous Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) degree from the University of Florida (UF) at a ceremony to be held 10.00am on Saturday (August 9th). The degree will be presented to his daughter Evelyn Kelly on behalf of her father.
The doctorate, to be presented at the UF's Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, is awarded to BO DIDDLEY for his influence on American popular music.
When he died on Monday June 2nd, the process of honoring him was already in the works. He was nominated last fall for the honor, but a lengthy approval process pushed a vote on the recognition past his demise.
BO DIDDLEY's nomination for an honorary degree received letters of support from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame officials and Philadelphia International Records chairman Kenneth Gamble. A resume was submitted that included a list of hits "that rivaled those of Chuck Berry in quality" and accomplishments such as influencing the Rolling Stones and other musicians. The UF trustees' document supporting the honor states: "BO DIDDLEY ... has had a vast influence on the popular music world... BO DIDDLEY's work paved the way for an entire generation of artists, many of whom achieved notoriety by imitating and developing his work... BO DIDDLEY is not only a musician, but also an innovative composer who created a new guitar sound that was quickly absorbed by other players".
Update: August 5, 2008
The Official BO DIDDLEY MySpace Page has been launched. The address is: http://www.myspace.com/bodiddleyofficial
MySpace is a social networking service which allows users to sign up free to the site and build their own on-line microsite where users can upload their own photos, videos and music and express their own identity and interests and attract like-minded people to join their site or vice versa.
Once you have invited another MySpace user to "be your friend" and they accept, their site link will add itself to your site.
Any MySpace users with their own MySpace account will be able to add The Official BO DIDDLEY MySpace Page to their site.
Update: August 3, 2008
The UK-based musicians website Gigwise.com includes 2 of BO DIDDLEY's guitars - the Mean Machine and the Gretsch Billy-Bo Jupiter Thunderbird - in its new "Coolest Guitars in Rock!" listing. The photo gallery of guitars, located at: http://www.gigwise.com/photos/45036/the-coolest-guitars-in-rock pays homage to 30 of the most stylish, iconic and weird guitars in Classic Rock history.
Counter-culture broadcaster, poet, former MC5 mentor/manager and former leader of the White Panther Party, John Sinclair celebrates the life and music of BO DIDDLEY on his latest show #208 on Radio Free Amsterdam, available on-line at: http://www.radiofreeamsterdam.com/john-sinclair-radio-show-208/
In a new exclusive podcast interview, Styx guitarist and founding member James "JY" Young relates to radio air personality Dave Lawrence how he traveled to Archer, FL last March on a pilgrimage to meet BO DIDDLEY. A long-time fan, he poignantly reveals in the interview how the first vinyl LP that he bought in the 1960s was "Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger". Styx have remained remained popular since the mid-1970s, with hits including "Lady", "Come Sail Away", "Renegade", "Babe", "The Best of Times", "Mr. Roboto" and "Don't Let It End" and are the first rock band to have four consecutive albums certified multi-platinum. James "JY" Young's July 2008 interview with Dave Lawrence can be heard at: http://dlplayer.livejournal.com/
Update: July 21, 2008
We send our very best wishes to the great Porky Chedwick (aka The Bossman), who is signing off the airwaves today (Saturday) in the city where he has been a broadcasting legend since the late 1940s.
Porky and his wife Jeanie are moving from Pittsburgh, PA to the Tampa Bay area of Florida next month. He is making his final broadcast in the Steel City this afternoon, on the Charlie Apple Show on Music Power 104 (WLSW 103.9FM).
Porky Chedwick signed on at the former WHOD-AM (which later became WAMO) in 1948, where he started a trailblazing career as a DJ who helped to desegregate popular music by introducing records by African-American artists to a larger audience. He remained on the local airwaves for years, at WAMO and other oldies stations and most recently was heard on WKFB.
BO DIDDLEY was a big draw in Pittsburgh through five decades, thanks in part to Porky, who made him a regular on his WAMO radio show. BO DIDDLEY was on the bill in May 1962 for the first major rock concert at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena, the Porky Chedwick Groove Spectacular, along with Hank Ballard, The Skyliners and Jackie Wilson.
In 1998, BO DIDDLEY was once again headlining in Pittsburgh, when the city celebrated Porky's half-century in radio with the Porkstock Festival at the Three Rivers Stadium.
We wish Porky and his wife Jeanie a very long and a happy life together in Florida.
BO DIDDLEY and Charlie Thomas of The Drifters discuss Porky's importance to rhythm & blues and rock & roll (1986): http://www.porkychedwick.com/files/audio.html
Porky Chedwick official website: http://www.porkychedwick.com/
Update: July 19, 2008
Fans in Melbourne, Australia may be interested to know that the Bar Open nightclub, 317 Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, Victoria, is presenting a special BO DIDDLEY tribute night on Thursday July 31st, with local garage/blues favorites The Breadmakers and The Frowning Clouds. Further details, tel. 9415 9601 or check out the Bar Open website: http://www.baropen.com.au/
Also in Australia, Chris Kinman, maker of BO DIDDLEY's celebrated "Mean Machine" guitar, paid tribute last month on ABC Radio: http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2008/s2263694.htm
Buffalo, NY-based singer-songwriter Tim Baldwin recently recorded a "Bo Diddley Tribute" track, now available for free download on his MySpace website: http://www.myspace.com/timbaldwinbuffalo The track comprises a medley of Donovan's BO DIDDLEY beat song "Hey Gyp (Dig The Slowness)" plus BO DIDDLEY classics "Who Do You Love" and "Mona (I Need You Baby)".
Also on-line, Jonny Meister's "BO DIDDLEY - A Remembrance" tribute podcast is available at: http://www.podcastpickle.com/cast/22139
Leo's Bluesland BO DIDDLEY tribute podcast - Part 1/3 is at: http://leosbluesland.podomatic.com/entry/2008-06-07T22_47_57-07_00
Leo's Bluesland BO DIDDLEY tribute podcast - Part 2/3 is at: http://leosbluesland.podomatic.com/entry/2008-06-09T20_41_54-07_00
Leo's Bluesland BO DIDDLEY tribute podcast - Part 3/3 is at: http://leosbluesland.podomatic.com/entry/2008-06-11T22_15_04-07_00
Professor Groove & DJ Static pay tribute to BO DIDDLEY's 1970s funk tracks on WEFUNK at: http://www.wefunkradio.com/show/2008-06-06
Update: July 16, 2008
The popular "A Prairie Home Companion" radio variety show, created and hosted by Garrison Keillor, recently paid tribute to BO DIDDLEY.
Pat Donohue & The Guy's All-Star Shoe Band - Richard Dworsky, piano, melodica, keyboard, organ; Joe Savage, steel guitar; Pat Donohue, guitar; Gary Raynor, bass and Peter Johnson, percussion - performed a touching adaptation of his song "Bo Diddley" live at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, CA during the opening segment of the show, taped Saturday June 7th. The show is now available on-line by visiting: http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/programs/2008/06/07/
Spanish radio presenter Alex Ruiz' "Bop Street - Especial BO DIDDLEY" tribute program, featuring more than two hours of BO DIDDLEY tracks, is now available as a podcast at: http://bopstreet.podomatic.com/entry/2008-07-14T09_44_42-07_00
On BBC Radio next week, Marshall Chess, son of Leonard, the co-founder of Chess Records, narrates "The Chess Story", a 2000 radio documentary chronicling the label that nurtured the careers of artists including BO DIDDLEY, Chuck Berry, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, Etta James, Little Walter, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson and Howlin' Wolf.
"The Chess Story" is broadcast in 4 daily parts on BBC 6 Music between midnight-12.30am BST (11.00pm-11.30pm GMT/UTC) on Monday July 21st, Tuesday 22nd, Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th.
Each program will be available on-line to listeners around the world by visiting the "BBC 6 Music Plays It Again" webpage at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/pia/ and clicking the "Listen" or "Listen Again" links.
Update: July 10, 2008
We have posted 4 great videos in the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website Forum of last Saturday's (July 5th) BO DIDDLEY tribute night at the Backstage Lounge nightclub in Gainesville, FL.
Making their first public appearance since their father's passing, BO DIDDLEY's daughters Tammi D. Diddley (drums and vocals) and Terri "Bodetta" Diddley (keyboards and vocals) joined forces with Gainesville R&B/funk/rock band favorites Fast Lane, featuring Scott Free (aka Slimmi Hempstix, aka Skyntyte) on guitar and vocals, for a celebration of BO DIDDLEY classics including "I'm A Man", "Crackin' Up" and "Mona (I Need You Baby)".
These videos are now available in the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website's Forum, located at: http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/guestbook.html and then by clicking on the "Enter My Forum" button.
Next Wednesday (July 16th) sees the re-formed Offspring - Tammi D. Diddley (drums and vocals), Terri "Bodetta" Diddley (keyboards and vocals), Scott "Skyntyte" Free (guitars and vocals) and Ronnie "Mack" Haughbrook (bass and vocals) - play The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint, 7501 Highway 57 in Ocean Springs, MS. Tel. (228) 875-9590 or via the Shed BBQ website at: http://www.theshedbbq.com/ Admission is free.
Thursday July 17th sees the band performing their tribute show at The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint, 15094 Mills Avenue in Gulfport, MS. Tel. (228) 832-1447 or via the Shed BBQ website at: http://www.theshedbbq.com/ Admission is free.
Friday July 18th sees Offspring, with the addition of Lil' Bo (maracas and vocals), plus the Hamilton Loomis Band, paying tribute to BO DIDDLEY at the Last Concert Cafe, 1403 Nance Street in Houston, TX. Tel. 713-226 8563 for details or via the Last Concert website at: http://www.lastconcert.com/
BO DIDDLEY's Offspring MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/bodiddleysoffspring
Update: July 6, 2008
Hey BO DIDDLEY fans, The August 2008 issue of the "Smithsonian" magazine includes an excellent BO DIDDLEY tribute article written by Ned Sublette. The article is also available on-line at: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/bo-diddley.html The "Smithsonian" magazine is a monthly magazine which chronicles the arts, history, sciences and popular culture of the times. Each subscription includes a complimentary membership to the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the US Government and by funds from its endowment and contributions and from profits from its shops and the magazine.
In the August 2008 issue of the UK's "Record Collector" magazine, George Thorogood and Dave Davies of The Kinks both discuss BO DIDDLEY's influence on their music. "Record Collector" magazine website: http://www.recordcollectormag.com/
We have posted a video of the Los Angeles-based world music band The Bonedaddys performing a great version of their song "Say Bo (Where'd You Get That Kpolongo)" at the Santa Monica Pier last week, in a both humorous and touching tribute. The video is available in the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website's Forum, located at: http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/guestbook.html and then by clicking on the "Enter My Forum" button.
Update: July 5, 2008
As previously announced, Wednesday July 16th sees the re-formed Offspring - Tammi D. Diddley (drums and vocals), Terri "Bodetta" Diddley (keyboards and vocals), Scott "Skyntyte" Free (guitars and vocals) and Ronnie "Mack" Haughbrook (bass and vocals) - play The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint, 7501 Highway 57 in Ocean Springs, MS. Tel. (228) 875-9590 or via the Shed BBQ website at: http://www.theshedbbq.com/ Admission is free.
Thursday July 17th sees the band performing their tribute show at The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint, 15094 Mills Avenue in Gulfport, MS. Tel. (228) 832-1447 or via the Shed BBQ website at: http://www.theshedbbq.com/ Admission is free.
Friday July 18th sees Offspring, with the addition of Lil' Bo (maracas and vocals), plus the Hamilton Loomis Band, paying tribute to BO DIDDLEY at the Last Concert Cafe, 1403 Nance Street in Houston, TX. Tel. 713-226 8563 for details or via the Last Concert website at: http://www.lastconcert.com/
BO DIDDLEY's Offspring also have a new MySpace website, located at: http://www.myspace.com/bodiddleysoffspring
Update: July 3, 2008
Today's "Thursday Night Feature" program on free-format radio station WXYC 89.3 FM in Chapel Hill, NC will be a 3-hour BO DIDDLEY tribute special. Hosted by Bret Dougherty, he will be interviewing the former Chess Records saxophone player/producer/arranger Gene Barge plus renowned blues photographer/archivist Dick Waterman about BO DIDDLEY's legacy.
"Thursday Night Feature" is broadcast on WXYC tonight between 9.00pm-midnight EDT (1.00am-4.00am GMT/UTC Friday) and is streamed on-line for listeners around the world on the WXYC website at: http://www.wxyc.org/
In other news, "Soul Deep: An Anthology of Black Music" is the title of an upcoming benefit concert that will pay homage to artists including BO DIDDLEY, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway, Little Richard, Curtis Mayfield, Public Enemy and Sarah Vaughan.
The concert, to be staged on Monday August 18th at Birdland, the famed New York jazz venue, will honor stage and screen star Phylicia Rashad and raise funds for the gospel singing group Broadway Inspirational Voices. The concert features the talents of La La Brooks, Chuck Cooper, Lilli Cooper, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Chad Goodwin, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Justin Keyes, Adriane Lenox, Joshua Melvin, Elisabeth Mendes, Maurice Murphy, Harry Thompson, Destan Owens, Shayna Steele and Sophia Stephens. Show time is 7.00pm.
Birdland is located in Manhattan at 315 West 44th Street. Tickets, priced $25 and $50 (VIP), are available by calling (212) 581-3080 or by visiting the Birdland website at: http://www.birdlandjazz.com/
Update: July 1, 2008
BO DIDDLEY's Offspring, featuring his daughters Tammi and Terri Lynne, have announced further tribute shows for later this month.
Wednesday July 16th sees the re-formed band - Tammi D. Diddley (drums and vocals), Terri "Bodetta" Diddley (keyboards and vocals), Scott "Skyntyte" Free (guitars and vocals) and Ronnie "Mack" Haughbrook (bass and vocals) - play The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint, 7501 Highway 57 in Ocean Springs, MS. Tel. (228) 875-9590 or via the Shed BBQ website at: http://www.theshedbbq.com/ Admission is free. Ocean Springs is the sister city of Islamorada, FL, where BO DIDDLEY and E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemmons headlined the Florida Keys Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund Benefit Concert in January 2006, with all proceeeds from the concert going directly to Katrina victims in Ocean Springs.
Thursday July 17th sees the band performing their tribute show at The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint, 15094 Mills Avenue in Gulfport, MS. Tel. (228) 832-1447 or via the Shed BBQ website at: http://www.theshedbbq.com/ Admission is free.
Friday July 18th sees Offspring, with the addition of Lil' Bo (maracas and vocals), plus the Hamilton Loomis Band, paying tribute to BO DIDDLEY at the Last Concert Cafe, 1403 Nance Street in Houston, TX. Tel. 713-226 8563 for details or via the Last Concert website at: http://www.lastconcert.com/
"Wreck It", the 2005 album track by Florida funk/jam band Munkeez Strikin Matchiz featuring BO DIDDLEY, Chuck D, Bernie Worrell and Scott Free, is now available as a download single from SLAMjamz.com. Further info at: http://www.slamjamz.com/music/viewdlsingle/413 The Soul-Patrol.com website currently has a special preview program about the release of the track, located at: http://www.soul-patrol.net/wreckit.ram (Requires RealPlayer).
Update: June 28, 2008
BO DIDDLEY's friend, blues/rock guitarist Hamilton Loomis is staging a special BO DIDDLEY tribute show next month, featuring a reunion of Offspring, the band formed in the early 1980s by BO DIDDLEY's daughters Tammi (drums and vocals) and Terri Lynne (keyboards and vocals). The concert is scheduled for Friday July 18th at the Last Concert Cafe, 1403 Nance St., in Houston, TX, from 8.00pm-midnight. Tel. 713-226 8563 for details or via the Last Concert website at: http://www.lastconcert.com/ To read Hamilton Loomis' moving tribute to his friend and mentor, please visit Hamilton's homepage, located at: http://www.hamiltonloomis.com/index.htm
Lee Rocker's upcoming "Slip Stream Special: Rumble And Twang" radio show on XM Satellite Radio's X Country Channel is a BO DIDDLEY special. XFM Radio's X Country: Channel 12, broadcasts "Slip Stream Special: Rumble And Twang" next Monday (June 30th) at 11.00am ET, with encore presentations on Thursday July 3rd at 7.00pm ET and Saturday July 5th at 11.00am ET. XFM Radio's X Country: Channel 12 webpage: http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/channelpage.xmc?ch=12 "Rumble And Twang" website: http://www.rumbleandtwang.com/
Radio producer Paul Ingles' acclaimed one-hour public radio music special "The BO DIDDLEY Beat: The Music of BO DIDDLEY And His Disciples" has been aired by several public radio stations across the US this month, including Mississippi Public Broadcasting. The program is now available on-line by visiting: http://www.paulingles.com/BO.htm (requires registration).
Bobby Babylon's great "Mobtown Ska Sounds" BO DIDDLEY tribute podcast is available at: http://mobtownskasounds.podomatic.com/entry/2008-06-06T07_38_05-07_00
Dave the Spazz' recent BO DIDDLEY tribute show broadcast on WFMU-FM in Jersey City, NJ is now on-line and available to listeners around the world. For 3 hours of fabulous BO DIDDLEY rarities and cover versions etc, visit: http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/27485
The Cyber Mix Tape Show's 90-minute long "You Ain't BO DIDDLEY - Tribute to The Man and His Sound" is available on-line at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stations/bc/CyberMixtapeShow/2008/06/05/Webslingin-Wednesday
The Vienna, Austria-based DJ not-I has a couple of great BO DIDDLEY tribute mixes available on-line: "Who Do You Love (In The Night)" (BO DIDDLEY vs. Eagles of Death Metal) and "You Can't Judge A Boom Sumting" (BO DIDDLEY vs. DJ Vadim) are now available at: http://www.not-i.com/remixes.htm
"BO DIDDLEY Tribute" is the title of a 5-way musical collaboration track recently uploaded to the Looperman.com website. Looperman is a free pro audio community for musicians, film and video producers, DJs and multimedia designers. The tribute track is available at: http://www.looperman.com/tracks_detail.php?tid=10522
"Diddley" by Mana Junkie is the title of a tribute track recently uploaded to the ACIDplanet.com website at: http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?PID=1121505&P=1&T=1
A YouTube video clip taken from the 1973 Columbia movie "Let The Good Times Roll", featuring his breathtaking performance of his song "Bo Diddley-itis" at the 1972 Rock & Roll Spectacular at New York's Madison Square Garden, was the most popular BO DIDDLEY viral video this month. The video clip, which gained widespread popularity through the process of Internet sharing via e-mail, IM messages, blogs and other media sharing websites, is located at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgzn7VyoqEw
Update: June 26, 2008
BO DIDDLEY's musical protegees The Jewels have spoken of how his death has hit the group hard. Founding member Sandra Bears has told how she and fellow group members Margie Clarke and Grace Ruffin called him at his home last month and sang his 1961 song "Bo Diddley Is A Lover" to him on the phone.
In 1961, BO DIDDLEY discovered and recorded The Impalas, a Washington, DC-based female vocal quartet who later achieved pop and R&B chart success as The Jewels, with hits such as "Opportunity" and "Smokey Joe".
We have posted a couple of great videos of The Jewels reminiscing backstage at the recent "Legends Of DC Night" concert, held at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre in Washington, DC, about their memories of recording with BO DIDDLEY at his home studio in DC and then later meeting and performing on tour with James Brown. In Part 2, in a moving tribute, they perform an impromptu version of the song "Bo Diddley Is A Lover". These videos, along with many other tributes, are now available in the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website's Forum, located at: http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/guestbook.html and then by clicking on the "Enter My Forum" button.
In other news, we are indebted to our good friend Wolfgang Guhl, Webmaster of the popular Chuck Berry - Mr. Rock 'n' Roll website, located at http://www.chuckberry.de/ who has dedicated his website to the memory of BO DIDDLEY.
Update: June 23, 2008
In his special tribute show to BO DIDDLEY broadcast recently on BBC Radio, the British rhythm & blues singer Paul Jones reveals how, around 1963 and 1964, his band Manfred Mann copied BO DIDDLEY's penchant for self-referentiality for several of the band's earliest songs. This program is currently available on-line to listeners around the world, for the next 7 days, by visiting: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/jones/index.shtml and clicking the "Hear the show" link.
There are also a number of wonderful BO DIDDLEY tribute podcasts now available. These include the following:
Public Radio International's (PRI) "The World": Lisa Mullins speaks with music writer Ned Sublette about BO DIDDLEY's musical legacy: http://www.theworld.org/?q=bo_diddley
Chicago Public Radio's "Sound Opinions" tribute podcast: http://www.soundopinions.org/shownotes/2008/060608/shownotes.html
Radio New Zealand's "Arts On Sunday" archive interview with Billy Boy Arnold: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/artsonsunday/20080608
"Old-Time Rock 'n' Roll" BO DIDDLEY tribute podcast: http://www.podango.com/podcast_episode/474/76193/Old_Time_Rock_n_Roll/A_tribute_to_Bo_Diddley
"The Casbah", KSYM Radio in San Antonio, TX, BO DIDDLEY tribute podcast: http://www.archive.org/details/TheCasbah6708BoDiddleyPodcast
Coverville.com's BO DIDDLEY tribute podcast: http://www.coverville.com/archives/2008/06/coverville_469.html
Radio Shic's BO DIDDLEY tribute podcast: http://www.radioshic.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=14&Itemid=83
"Salty Dog Blues & Roots" BO DIDDLEY tribute podcast: http://www.salty.com.au/popups/play_070608.htm
Music BIZ Podcast's BO DIDDLEY tribute podcast: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Music-BIZ-Podcast/2008/06/08/How-Bo-Diddley-Defined-Rock-In-Roll
"Shaddup and Listen" "Homage To BO DIDDLEY" tribute podcast: http://www.shaddupandlisten.com/
GaragePunk.com's "Radi-BO-blivion" tribute podcast: http://www.garagepunk.com/2008/06/04/radi-bo-blivion/
01Podcast.com's "Bo's Beats and Others" tribute podcast: http://www.01podcast.com/episode.php?item_number=63685
Update: June 19, 2008
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Radio 2 Paul Jones rhythm & blues show to be aired next Monday (June 23rd) will include a special tribute to BO DIDDLEY. The Paul Jones show is broadcast weekly on Mondays between 7.00pm-8.00pm BST (6.00pm-7.00pm GMT/UTC). Listeners around the world can hear the program live, or for an additional 7 days after the program has been broadcast, by visiting the BBC Radio 2 Paul Jones webpage, located at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/jones/index.shtml and clicking either the "Listen" or the "Listen Again" links.
We have posted a video of ESPN's Peter Gammons' touching tribute to BO DIDDLEY in the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website Forum. The celebrated baseball commentator and columnist and a noted blues guitar player, played a BO DIDDLEY beat version of baseball's unofficial anthem, "Take Me Out To The Ball Game", on his Fender Stratocaster guitar during ESPN's popular "Baseball Tonight" program on Sunday night. This and other tribute videos and comments are available in the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website Forum, located at http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/guestbook.html and then by clicking on the "Enter My Forum" button.
Bob Englehart, editorial cartoonist for The Hartford Courant newspaper, also recently paid this poignant tribute to BO DIDDLEY: http://blogs.courant.com/bob_englehart/2008/06/june-4-2008.html
Update: June 17, 2008
"Road Runner/The Chess Masters 1959-1960" is the title of the second major BO DIDDLEY 2-CD compilation set to be released by Hip-O Select.
Currently Hip-O Select's Featured Release, this CD Edition is limited to 5,000 non-numbered limited edition copies.
This second Hip-O Select volume of BO DIDDLEY's classic Chess recordings stands as a reminder of how endlessly creative and groundbreaking "The Originator" was. The 52-track volume covers all of his 1959 home and Chess studio recordings, plus half of his first 1960 session, and it shows BO DIDDLEY expanding his musical base far and wide, including adding a second guitarist, emphasizing melodies very different than his original blues base and working on a number of intriguing guitar and rhythm-based instrumentals.
There is only one major hit here, the title song, but this volume is a treasure trove of BO DIDDLEY-ized rare gems - 20 previously unreleased songs or alternates - plus many tracks seeing life on CD for the first time in the US (and sometimes anywhere).
The double CD also includes insightful liner notes by BO DIDDLEY biographer/discographer George R. White, plus complete track by track credits.
Hip-O Select is an Internet-only retail site specializing in reissues of hard to find and out of print titles from the Universal Music Group. Selling directly to customers through its website, the label has released close to 200 projects featuring such diverse artists as The Animals, James Brown, Jimmy Cliff, Etta James, Peggy Lee, The Supremes, DJ Shadow, Suzanne Vega and Joe Walsh.
BO DIDDLEY: "Road Runner/The Chess Masters, 1959-1960"
Disc 1
1. Mama Mia
2. Bucket (Take 1) - Previously Unreleased in USA
3. Bucket (Take 2) - Previously Unreleased in USA
4. What Do You Know About Love
5. Lazy Woman (Alternate Take 1) - Previously Unreleased
6. Lazy Woman (Take 3)
7. Come On Baby (Take 2) - Previously Unreleased
8. Come On Baby (Instrumental Run-through Take 3) - Previously Unreleased
9. Come On Baby (Take 4)
10. Nursery Rhyme aka Puttentang
11. Mumblin' Guitar
12. James' Instrumental - Previously Unreleased
13. Silly Willy - Previously Unreleased
14. I Love You So aka The Beat
15. Story Of Bo Diddley aka My Story
16. She's Alright (Unedited Version)
17. She's Alright (Alternate Take) - Previously Unreleased
18. She's Alright (Mindy Lou) (Alternate Take) - Previously Unreleased
19. She's Alright
20. Darling Tell Me - Previously Unreleased
21. Limbo aka Limber (Alternate Take) - Previously Unreleased
22. Limbo aka Limber
23. Gonna Tell It Like It Is - Previously Unreleased
24. Say Man, Back Again (Alternate Take)
25. Say Man, Back Again
26. Jungle - Previously Unreleased
Disc 2
1. Walking (Alternate Take 2) - Previously Unreleased
2. Walking (Alternate Take 4) - Previously Unreleased
3. To Each His Own - Previously Unreleased
4. Run Diddley Daddy
5. Unknown Title Issued As Run Diddley Daddy - Previously Unreleased
6. Road Runner (Alternate Take) - Previously Unreleased
7. Road Runner
8. Spend My Life With You
9. Love You Baby
10. Diddling aka Tash
11. Cadillac
12. Limbo
13. Willie Fell In Love (Version 1) - Previously Unreleased
14. Willie Fell In Love (Version 2 [Take 10]) - Previously Unreleased
15. Look At My Baby
16. Better Watch Yourself
17. Prisoner Of Love (Fast Version)
18. Prisoner Of Love (Slow Version) - Previously Unreleased
19. You Know I Love You So - Previously Unreleased
20. Let Me In (Alternate Version 1) - Previously Unreleased
21. Let Me In (Alternate Version 2) - Previously Unreleased
22. Let Me In
23. Signifying Blues (Unedited)
24. Signifying Blues
25. Deed & Deed I Do (Alternate Take) - Previously Unreleased
26. Deed & Deed I Do
Hip-O Select website: http://www.hip-oselect.com/
Update: June 16, 2008
The past couple of weeks have seen many performers, including Blondie, Ted Nugent, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, George Thorogood & The Destroyers and KT Tunstall, giving shout-outs to BO DIDDLEY.
One of the more unusual tributes is due later today (Sunday) on ESPN's "Baseball Tonight" program, when the celebrated baseball commentator and columnist Peter Gammons, also a noted blues guitar player, is scheduled to play a BO DIDDLEY beat version of baseball's unofficial anthem, "Take Me Out To The Ball Game", on his Fender Stratocaster guitar.
The program airs on the ESPN cable TV network at 7.00pm ET, ahead of the Los Angeles Angels vs. Atlanta Braves game.
Traditionally sung during the seventh-inning stretch of a game, the song is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
Peter Gammons bio ESPN webpage: http://espn.go.com/gammons/s/bio.html
Update: June 15, 2008
"Wreck It", the 2005 album track by Florida funk/jam band Munkeez Strikin Matchiz featuring BO DIDDLEY, Chuck D, Bernie Worrell and Scott Free, is being rush released as a download single by SLAMjamz.com. Further info at: http://www.slamjamz.com/music/viewdlsingle/413 The Soul-Patrol.com website currently has a special preview program about the release of the track, located at: http://www.soul-patrol.net/wreckit.ram (Requires RealPlayer).
TIME Magazine On-line has published a BO DIDDLEY Photo Essay in celebration of his life and career, located at: http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1811305,00.html (NB. BO DIDDLEY was, of course, inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. The 2005 photograph shown in the TIME magazine gallery is of a special guest performance he gave for the Hall of Fame's 20th annual Induction Ceremony and not as shown in the photo caption).
Writing in his blog today (Monday), Robert Fontenot, About.com's Guide to Oldies Music, chooses his list of the Top Ten Greatest BO DIDDLEY Songs: "Bo Diddley", "I'm A Man", "Who Do You Love", "Before You Accuse Me", "You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover", "Mona (I Need You Baby)", "Pretty Thing", "Bring It To Jerome", "Hey Bo Diddley" and "Say Man" all make the final cut, along with audio clips of each track, over at: http://oldies.about.com/od/rbandblues/tp/bodiddleygreatest.htm
Maggie Mayall, wife of UK bluesman John Mayall, has penned the following tribute to BO DIDDLEY (and his culinary skills) for the Mad as Hell Club website: http://www.madashellclub.net/?p=2407
Update: June 9, 2008
Gator Wood brought a picture on a 25-hour motorcycle ride from Arkanas to attend BO DIDDLEY's funeral, last Saturday. He told reporters how BO DIDDLEY twice saved his life. First, getting him off drug and alcohol addictions and then when he was considering suicide after his wife's death. "I told him I really had enough and was checking out. And he said, I couldn't do that because he'd have to live his life without me. Now I have to go on without him and it's going to be real hard. He might have been a rock and roll star to some, but he was really a friend to others", Wood said with tears in his eyes.
Billy "Dino" Downing, who drummed with BO DIDDLEY in the 1960s, remembered his fondness for playing practical jokes: "Gluing their shoes to the floor, things like that, to musicians, you know. Those are the kind of things we remember. And the cooking, he loved to cook".
Photographer Bob Gruen: "It's a great loss. The beginning of the end of the era. But not the end of rock and roll. Rock and roll will go on forever, thanks to BO DIDDLEY".
We have posted a video titled "BO DIDDLEY: A Celebration of a Rock 'n' Roll Giant" by Tricia Coyne of The Gainesville Sun in the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website Forum. It was recorded on "BO DIDDLEY Day", Saturday June 7th 2008, in Gainesville, FL. This and other tribute videos and comments are available in the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website Forum, located at http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/guestbook.html and then by clicking on the "Enter My Forum" button.
Mike Marti hosts a 3-hour all-BO DIDDLEY record special on WWUH 91.3FM in West Hartford, CT today (Monday), between 1.00pm-4.00pm EDT (5.00pm-8.00pm GMT/UTC). The program can be heard on-line around the world by visiting: http://www.wwuh.org/real.htm
Update: June 7, 2008
BO DIDDLEY's funeral held in Gainesville, FL today (Saturday) rocked and rolled with as much energy as his music.
For four hours, friends and relatives sang, danced and celebrated the life of the man who helped give birth to rock and roll with a signature beat that influenced Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones and many others.
As family members passed by the casket, a gospel band played his namesake song. Within moments, the crowd of several hundred began clapping in time and shouting, "Hey Bo Diddley!"
"In 1955 he used to keep the crowds rocking and rolling way before Elvis Presley," BO DIDDLEY's grandson, Garry Mitchell, said before kicking his legs sideways, high up in the air the way BO DIDDLEY did on-stage. Mourners cheered. "I'm just telling it the way it is", he said.
BO DIDDLEY was remembered for much more than his songs. Friends recounted his generosity, manifested in concerts for the homeless and work with youth groups and other charities; and the way he loved to talk to just about anybody he met.
Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan referred to one of his most famous hits as she told the crowd, "When the question is asked, "Who do you love?", it's you, Bo".
Rock singer Eric Burdon attended the service and flowers were sent from musicians including Jerry Lee Lewis, Tom Petty, George Thorogood and others.
Last night's "Free Fridays" concert at the Downtown Community Plaza in Gainesville, FL was the first of a month-long series of concerts celebrating National Black Music Month and also marked the unofficial beginning of a weekend celebrating the life of BO DIDDLEY. David Ballard, event coordinator with Gainesville's Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, hosted last night's concert and began proceedings with a special acknowledgment of BO DIDDLEY and his legacy.
The UK's BBC Radio 4 weekly obituaries program "Last Word" broadcast yesterday (Friday), included extracts from a recorded interview with BO DIDDLEY plus a poignant tribute to him from Paul Jones, lead singer with Manfred Mann and The Blues Band. The program is currently available on-line to listeners around the world for the next 7 days, by clicking the "Listen To The Latest Edition" link at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/lastword.shtml
This week's edition of "The Beat", the weekly guide to global pop music broadcast on the BBC World Service, featured a special BO DIDDLEY tribute. To mark his genius, music writer Charles Shaar Murray discussed BO DIDDLEY's legacy and the British electro-blues outfit Alabama 3 provided a unique musical tribute. The program is currently available on-line to listeners around the world for the next 7 days, by clicking the "Listen" link at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/the_beat.shtml
We have posted a YouTube video in the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website Forum of a 2-minute radio interview from last Monday with ZZ Top guitarist Billy F. Gibbons, paying tribute to BO DIDDLEY. This and other tribute videos and comments are available in the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website Forum, located at http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/guestbook.html and then by clicking on the "Enter My Forum" button.
A new DVD containing what is believed to be BO DIDDLEY's last extended filmed interview, taped in March 2006, is currently ready to ship. The documentary movies "Electrified: The Story of The Maxwell Street Urban Blues" and "Cheat You Fair: The Story of Maxwell Street" are available to order on-line on DVD from: http://store.electrifiedthemovie.com/StoreBox/index.htm
Top radio personality Jim Ladd paid tribute to BO DIDDLEY this week with a 90-minute live special broadcast on 95.5 KLOS-FM Classic Rock in Los Angeles that included phone calls from George Thorogood and drummer John Densmore of The Doors.
UK singer/composer Peter Gabriel, speaking to BBC Radio, paid tribute to BO DIDDLEY thus: "He appears in a lot of writing that I've done over the years because of the groove with which he was associated, which is the "Bo Diddley rhythm". He was really one of the first people to make an African element a central part of pop music and it was done with a lot of feel and a lot of style. I was sad to see him on the departed list". Gabriel also spoke on BO DIDDLEY's legacy: "It'll be songs using that rhythm, which is great. I mean, to be remembered by a groove - I hope that people visit his grave, they'll hear it".
Rock singer Eric Burdon paid this tribute: "Bo's one of the guys who invented rock 'n' roll. He took two cultures that existed in separate forms - country and western and the kind of blues that used to be known as "race music" - and put them together. His beat was a jungle beat. That's what he called it".
A leading UK politician, Lorraine Barrett, Assembly Member (AM) for Cardiff South & Penarth, has been reminiscing about the time she met BO DIDDLEY: "I only met him once, but he was a lovely man. My husband Paul was acting as the MC for Bo's UK tour with Carl Perkins in 1977. I went up to see the show at Hammersmith Odeon and it was amazing to be watching these incredible rock 'n' roll musicians from the wings. Carl was great, but Bo was amazing. It was one of those magic moments in life. Bo was such a nice guy. I've met quite a few American musicians over the years, but he was one of the best. He'd previously played in Cardiff and he said he wanted to come back to Wales to get some images of Cardiff and Caerphilly castles. His wife had a ceramics business. He was due to play at the Coal Exchange in Cardiff in one of the last gigs before it closed, but he had a stroke and unfortunately couldn't make it. The death of Bo is very sad, because it means there are only two of the truly rock 'n' roll originals left - Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry. Everyone who is into rock 'n' roll knows the Bo Diddley riff - he was a real legend".
Paul Barrett, former manager of the popular UK singer Shakin' Stevens, had this to say about BO DIDDLEY: "Bo was really incredible. At one gig in London some rockabilly kids turned up with a Confederate flag and Bo wondered what was going on. I explained it was nothing to do with racism - they just liked Southern music. Bo insisted on having a picture taken with them because he said the folks back home wouldn't believe the story otherwise".
Radio presenter "Uncle" Joe Benson, from 95.5 KLOS-FM Classic Rock in Los Angeles, has paid this tribute: "The first time Bo Diddley entered my consciousness was at a sock hop in late 1963: his song came on and the kids started dancing like crazy, like they were being driven by some mysterious force! In short order we learned that being able to play that beat could turn neophyte guitarists into rock stars (albeit for two minutes at a time). And when The Rolling Stones covered Buddy Holly's 'Not Fade Away' and really worked that Bo Diddley beat, and when The Yardbirds covered 'I'm A Man,' the power of that Bo Diddley beat was ours! Think about it - primal music that empowered and inspired kids to dance and want to play music. We're all born with a gift of some talent and I still think that touching millions by channeling that beat was Bo's".
Singer/songwriter Willie Nile, who recently penned the song "The Day I Saw Bo Diddley In Washington Square", recalls watching a BO DIDDLEY performance in the early 1960s: "I just heard that Bo Diddley passed away. I'm very sad to hear that. As Dave Marsh pointed out in our last interview, it's great that I got to write and record "The Day I Saw Bo Diddley In Washington Square" while he was still alive. The version on the new DVD is really good. I'm really happy about that. I first saw Bo play when I was in high school in Buffalo, NY. I went with my girlfriend and two friends to a club on the east side of Buffalo called The Pine Grill. We were the only white people in the place. It was an incredible performance, soulful, rockin', lowdown and with rhythm to spare. It was a great night. He raised the roof. Though people looked at us strangely, wondering what these white kids coming down to a place like this were doing there, it was what you always dream of seeing and experiencing - a master, at the top of his game".
Update: June 6, 2008
Further details of this weekend's services for BO DIDDLEY have been announced.
A private wake for family and invited friends will be held today (Friday) at the Showers of Blessing Harvest Center in Gainesville, FL, with a public viewing from 1.00pm-2.00pm and the funeral service from 2.00pm-5.00pm at the same location tomorrow (Saturday).
A memorial service featuring a musical tribute from the Debby Hastings Band and guest musicians will be held immediately following the funeral service at Gainesville's Martin Luther King Center.
The burial service, which is scheduled for Sunday, is also a private event. Fans who wish to send flowers are instructed to contact Prange's Florist at 352-335-0100.
Donations can also be made in lieu of flowers to: The Bo Diddley Charitable Foundation, c/o Ronald Stevens, Esq., 280 East Hathaway Avenue, Bronson, FL, 32621, USA.
BO DIDDLEY is expected to receive a posthumous honorary degree from the University of Florida (UF) for his influence on American popular music. When he died early this week, the process of honoring him was already in the works. He was nominated last fall for the honor, but a lengthy approval process pushed a vote on the recognition past his death Monday. The Faculty Senate approved awarding the degree March 20th and it was endorsed by the College of Fine Arts. The UF trustees will decide next Friday (June 13th). The honorary degree would be awarded at August commencement ceremonies. BO DIDDLEY's nomination for an honorary degree received letters of support from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame officials and Philadelphia International Records chairman Kenneth Gamble. A resume was submitted that included a list of hits "that rivaled those of Chuck Berry in quality" and accomplishments such as influencing the Rolling Stones and other musicians. The UF trustees' document supporting the honor states: "BO DIDDLEY ... has had a vast influence on the popular music world... BO DIDDLEY's work paved the way for an entire generation of artists, many of whom achieved notoriety by imitating and developing his work... BO DIDDLEY is not only a musician, but also an innovative composer who created a new guitar sound that was quickly absorbed by other players".
BO DIDDLEY's home town is to rename this weekend's traditional Yulee Railroad Days celebration in his honor. Tomorrow's (Saturday) celebration has been renamed Yulee Diddley Days and will pay tribute to BO DIDDLEY and his accomplishments. The town of Archer, FL has been celebrating Yulee Days for the past 13 years. In recent years, the event has branched out to other towns across North Florida that were buoyed more than 150 years ago by the building of Yulee's railroad, which stretched from Fernandina to Cedar Key. Saturday's festivities are considered to be the "grand finale" for the Yulee Days' activities, which started May 30th in Gainesville. Rodney Long, chairman of the Alachua County Commission, will read a proclamation for BO DIDDLEY at tomorrow's parade, which kicks off at 10.00am in Archer. Later, Long will speak at BO DIDDLEY's 2.00pm funeral. Condolences for BO DIDDLEY's family also will be collected at the parade. BO DIDDLEY's Mustang will be the head of the parade followed by around 100 riderless horses and blasting cannons.
The Voice of America's "American Mosaic" program, a weekly radio magazine in Special English, broadcast a special tribute to BO DIDDLEY yesterday (Thursday). The program is also available on-line via MP3 and RealAudio downloads at: http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2008-06-05-voa1.cfm
In the UK, Mark Lamarr's popular "Shake, Rattle & Roll" show on BBC Radio 2 yesterday (Thursday) was entirely devoted to BO DIDDLEY and his music. The program is also currently available on-line to listeners around the world, for the next 7 days, by clicking the "Listen Again" link at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/lamarr/
The Experience Music Project and Mississippi Public Broadcasting have both posted YouTube videos in memory of BO DIDDLEY. The videos, along with other video tributes, are available in the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website Forum, located at http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/guestbook.html and then by clicking on the "Enter My Forum" button.
Black Lips, the self-described "flower punk" band from Atlanta, GA, paid homage to BO DIDDLEY this week by performing his song "Mona" during their concert in Hoboken, NJ. The track is now available for free exclusive download at the UK Guardian newspaper's music blog, located at http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/06/black_lips_tribute_to_bo_diddl.html
Also writing in the UK Guardian newspaper, former Jesus & The Mary Chain member John Moore recalls several happy encounters with BO DIDDLEY: http://arts.guardian.co.uk/filmandmusic/story/0,,2283869,00.html
The popular Soul-Patrol.com website this week devoted a special edition of its Newsletter to BO DIDDLEY and his legacy, located at: http://www.soul-patrol.com/newsletter/in/view1.php?id=257
Update: June 3, 2008
Tributes are pouring in for BO DIDDLEY, who passed away peacefully at his Archer, FL home at 1.45am EDT yesterday (Monday).
Family members had gathered at his home and sang the gospel song "Walk Around Heaven". He said "wow" with a thumbs up and in his last words he stated that he was going to heaven.
"Listening to Bo Diddley, you could convince yourself that the only thing you need to create great rock 'n' roll is a tremolo guitar, a killer beat and one and a half chords. Many tried and some have failed, but nobody did it like Diddley". (Elvis Costello)
"It's a good day because I've walked on the planet at the same time as Bo Diddley. The simplistic and humorous artistry that accompanied this creation we all know as the Bo Diddley beat is a resounding testament to someone who knew how to touch us in a rock 'n' roll way. Bo Diddley was the man who constructed the sound we all grew to revolve around ... and a vision of simplicity delivered through effortless expression and sense of humor. Many times, Bo made a point to say, "I'll always be around" and we know he will". (Billy F. Gibbons, ZZ Top)
"I think we were all fans of Bo Diddley's rhythm and style. So many artists have borrowed his simple, but powerful rhythms, his chocolate bar shaped-guitar. Bo Diddley, may you rest in peace and live on through future musicians". (Albert Hammond, Jr., The Strokes)
"The Bo Diddley beat is the bedrock for thousands of bands including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead and countless others. His slashing rhythm guitar brought the most powerful rhythms from west Africa into rock 'n' roll. When I was 14 years old I happened to wander into a club and have the opportunity to play my first public performance with the master. It seems his drummer was late and asked if there was drummer in the house. That moment will always be with me. Rock the heavens, Mr Diddley, like only you can". (Mickey Hart, The Grateful Dead)
"He was a wonderful, original musician who was an enormous force in music and was a big influence on The Rolling Stones. He was very generous to us in our early years and we learned a lot from him. We will never see his like again." (Sir Mick Jagger, The Rolling Stones)
"It's rotten news about Bo Diddley. When I heard it I put "Road Runner" on the record player. What a riff. What a guitarist - totally revolutionised the way the instrument was played with that loose sexy rhythm". (Alex Kapranos, Franz Ferdinand)
"Bo Diddley was a music pioneer and legend with a unique style. We always had a good time when we played together, but his legacy will live on forever". (BB King)
"People will say when someone new comes along, that he's kind of like this guy or that guy. They will never, ever say, "Oh, he's like Bo Diddley". He was as one-of-a-kind as you could possibly imagine". (Dave Marsh, music historian)
"Bo Diddley's voice and relentless, glorious anthems echo down through my years. Without him, the history of music would not have developed as it has. This royal shape shifter continues to influence four generations of musicians on a daily basis". (Robert Plant)
"Bo Diddley was one of rock 'n' roll's true pioneers. He leaves an indelible mark on American music and culture and our deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends and fans. The Bo Diddley beat surely will continue on". (Neil Portnow, The Recording Academy)
"Bo Diddley was a monumental figure in early rock 'n' roll, a huge influence on everyone. He was a wonderful man, a true original musician and beloved the world over. He will be sorely missed". (Bonnie Raitt)
"He's a huge hero of mine and the fact that he knew who I was was a huge compliment. Bo Diddley created a myth that was uniquely his own. An entire rhythm is owed to just one guy and that's pretty rare. He was such a trooper and a timeless individual. I'm hoping the pioneers of rock like Bo Diddley won;t be forgotten". (Slash, Guns N Roses, Velvet Revolver)
"I first heard Bo Diddley in 1966. I knew The Rolling Stones were big on this guy and I got a copy of Bo Diddley's "16 All-Time Greatest Hits" and flipped over it and played it constantly. I first met him in 1979 and as years went on we got closer and closer. It's an honor to be associated with his great music. I just had "Hand Jive" on last night. It goes, "A doctor, a lawyer and an indian chief/They all dig that Diddley beat". That says it all". (George Thorogood)
"I've always felt that Bo Diddley was a groundbreaker and an innovator. It was guys like Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and Johnny Otis that did things in their eras that will never be matched. Here we are 50 and 60 years later, and people are still appreciating what a man like Bo Diddley did. While we may not overall be fans of rock and roll, we should understand that it is the foundation of what our music is today. There would not be hip hop, doo wop and R&B if not for rock. Unfortunately, it's hard for today's generation to appreciate the nostalgia that Bo Diddley brings. He may be considered rock and roll, but we also know that we invented the genre. Rock and roll belongs to us; we just gave it away". (Lorenzo Williams, Hip Hop Hall of Fame and Edutainment Center)
"I've been a Bo Diddley fan ever since I heard those throbbing sounds coming through my little four-inch radio speaker out of WLAC in Nashville back in the the '50. The world just won't be the same without him." (Bob Timmers, Rockabilly Hall of Fame)
"I was about six or seven when I first heard Bo Diddley's music and my dad had his first six albums. The one I used to listen to all the time was "Bo Diddley Is A Gun Slinger". It's just a brilliant record, it's really primal and it just had a huge impact on guitar sounds and how I wanted things to sound.
Without him, there wouldn't be any music - the history of music would not have developed as it has. You wouldn't have the Rolling Stones and you wouldn't have had all the beat groups in the 1960s and you wouldn't have had the Stooges. Conversely, logically, you wouldn't have had punk and the Sex Pistols and a lot of other stuff. His music and that Bo Diddley beat, that kind of shaven-haircut, two-bits beat that he had is kind of the bedrock of most rock 'n' roll. He took a very childlike, simple beat and beefed it up massively and changed the face of modern music very simply. There's him, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and Little Richard that I think are the cornerstones of modern music. The Bo Diddley beat can be heard in "Not Fade Away" - play any number of his tracks. That beat came almost from children's nursery rhymes and it came from outside barber shops in America. Outside the barber shops, they'd have a kid with a little wooden plank with tap shoes playing that kind of rhythm. He took a very childlike, simple beat and beefed it up massively and changed the face of modern music very simply. But it was a very brilliant idea.
People who know, really honor and respect him. I could probably play six records that have completely nicked that beat - from Rolling Stones to U2 - and I don't know if the general public are aware that it actually comes from him. I hope now that he gets the fitting tributes he deserves because he was a genius. He'll definitely be missed by me and probably thousands of other people too. It's always upsetting when you hear that one of the greats has passed away because it takes us further away from the source of what makes great music. I just hope that people continue listening to Bo Diddley for a thousand years. His first album, if anyone can get it - every track is a classic. There's a song of his called "Who Do You Love" that, if you listen to it, you can hear pretty much every rock 'n' roll band in that one track. My dad worked with him in the 60s, he did a gig with him when he toured in England. He said he was really a gentle man and quite a funny bloke and, apparently, he had the biggest hands he'd ever seen on a human being. He was an incredible musician.
As human beings, I think we need something that that's primal to keep us going. I think musicians will inevitably gravitate towards the source of the river - the mountain top - and that's where Bo Diddley was. (UK singer Richard Hawley, speaking on BBC Radio)
Ribald tales, laughs among Bo Diddley memories for Rompin' Ronnie Hawkins.
TORONTO - Rompin' Ronnie Hawkins remembers the late Bo Diddley as more than just a rock 'n' roll pioneer - for the Hawk, Diddley was one of his biggest mentors when it came to the after-show ritual of picking up women.
"He was a ladies man, he was a lover," Hawkins said of Diddley, who died Monday at age 79.
Hawkins, who scored a hit in 1958 with his cover of Diddley's "Hey Bo Diddley," recalled fond times spent laughing and telling stories with the legendary artist, whom he befriended in the late 1950s when they both appeared on a variety show hosted by Alan Freed.
That New York meeting came soon after Hawkins and his group - which included future Band member Levon Helm - moved to Canada from Memphis, Tenn.
Hawkins, who was born in Huntsville, Ark., credited part of his rockabilly style to Diddley.
"We're in mourning everywhere because of poor old Bo," Hawkins said from his home in Peterborough, Ont.
"He was one of my heroes because he invented things, you know, simple things ... the sounds that he could get and the rhythms that he could get were just Bo Diddley."
Oft-referred to as a founding father of rock 'n' roll, Diddley died of heart failure at his home in Archer, Fla., said a spokeswoman. He had suffered a heart attack last summer, and three months earlier had suffered a stroke.
Hawkins said the last time he spoke with Diddley was two or three years ago when they discussed a plan to tour Western Canada together. Those plans never came to pass, and Hawkins turned his hopes for a reunion to an event planned for later this year, when he marks his 50th anniversary in Canada with a massive music jam.
"They asked me who I wanted (for the celebrations) and Bo was Number One," said Hawkins, 73.
Hawkins said he and Diddley would cross paths on the concert circuit several times a year, a collision that would invariably lead to an exchange of ribald tales.
"It was always good, we had lots of laughs," he said, cautioning that most of his stories were too racy for print. "We talked about the old times, this and that, what went on, how crooked the music business is and how much he got cheated."
"He was my hero."
We thank each and every one of you who has e-mailed in or posted messages of condolence on the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website Guestbook and Forum.
We regret that we are unable to respond personally to each e-mail, but please be assured that each message is being forwarded to BO DIDDLEY's family and will be a source of great strength and comfort to them at this most difficult time.
Private and public services are planned for this weekend.
David Blakey, Webmaster,
Lynn Cameron, Technical Support,
BO DIDDLEY-The Originator
http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/index.html
A Celebration of his unique contribution to Popular Music.
Update: May 20, 2008
A BO DIDDLEY Signature Gretsch guitar, signed by BO DIDDLEY in the year 2001, is one of the lots on offer in the upcoming all-star "Icons Of Music" benefit auction.
This unprecedented collection of music memorabilia from many of music's greatest legends including The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Duke Ellington, Fleetwood Mac, Jimi Hendrix, Billie Holiday, Sir Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, Tom Petty, Elvis Presley, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, U2 and The Who, will benefit Music Rising, a campaign co-founded by U2's the Edge, producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz in 2005 to aid musicians of the Gulf Coast Region in regaining their livelihood after the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
More details regarding Lot #12 in the auction, the iconic BO DIDDLEY Signature Gretsch signed guitar, with an estimated value of between $1,000 and $2,000, can be found by visiting the following Auction Network webpage: http://global01.auctionnetwork.vfx.com/UpcomingItem.asp?EventId=4131
Ahead of the auction, the historic collection of offerings go on public display from today (Thursday) until Saturday May 24th at The Celebrity Vault, Beverly Hills, CA, from 11.00am-7.00pm daily and then on to the Hard Rock Cafe, 1501 Broadway, New York, NY from Monday May 26th thru Friday May 30th inc., from 11.00am-10.00pm daily.
The live and on-line auction event is scheduled for Saturday May 31st at the Hard Rock Cafe, 1501 Broadway, New York, NY beginning at 9.30am EST.
Auction Network, the first 24/7, multimedia network solely dedicated to auctions, will conduct a live webcast in real-time streaming video of the "Icons of Music" auction. Auction Network will provide music fans around the world a front row seat to watch the action and excitement of the live auction and the ability to bid in real-time on items via the Internet.
There are four ways to bid in the sale: bidding through Auction Network on the Internet using real-time and absentee bidding, or by placing bids in the room by attending the auction, or by bidding over the telephone through an auction house representative who sits in the room and conveys the bid to the auctioneer, or by absentee bids. Absentee bid forms are printed in the back of each catalog and are available at Julien's Auctions offices or by visiting their website, located at: http://www.juliensauctions..com/
Julien's Auctions On-line Store webpage: http://www.juliensauctions.com/shop/html/Music-Rising-Presents-Icons-of-Music-2008.html
Music Rising website: http://www.musicrising.org/
Update: May 20, 2008
Fans may be interested to know that Marshall Chess, the son and nephew of the Chess Records founders, is to be the guest on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Radio 2 Jools Holland show to be aired next Monday (May 26th). During the program he will be discussing his first encounters with Muddy Waters, his work with blues and hip hop artists and his new album "Chess Moves - Future Blues", a modern interpretation of Chess blues classics by artists including Little Walter, Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf.
The Jools Holland radio show is broadcast weekly on Mondays between 10.30pm-11.30pm BST (9.30pm-10.30pm GMT/UTC).
Listeners around the world can hear the program live, or for an additional 7 days after the program has been broadcast, by visiting the BBC Radio 2 Jools Holland webpage, located at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/holland/index.shtml and clicking either the "Listen" or the "Listen Again" links.
Also next week, BO DIDDLEY's home state of Mississippi celebrates its musical legacy with a star-studded "Mississippi - The Birthplace of America's Music Celebrates Its GRAMMY Legacy" gala hosted by Governor Haley Barbour and First Lady Marsha Barbour.
Reflecting the diversity of the State's unparalleled role in many genres of music, the gala event, set for the evening of Thursday May 29th at the Marriott Windsor Ballroom in Jackson, will celebrate the contributions of Mississippians to America's musical heritage and GRAMMY recognition thereof.
Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Mississippi Blues Commission, whose Blues Trail project places interpretive markers at notable historical sites related to the history and growth of the blues throughout the State.
BBC Radio 2 Jools Holland webpage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/holland/index.shtml
BO DIDDLEY's Blues Marker, Mississippi Blues Trail webpage, (Click on "McComb"): http://www.msbluestrail.org/blues_trail/river/
BO DIDDLEY Featured Article on Mississippi Wiki website: http://www.mississippiwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Bo_Diddley
Update: May 7, 2008
BO DIDDLEY is one of a number of notable Mississippians featuring in the "Mississippi, Believe It!" public service campaign designed to inform and educate the citizens of Mississippi, as well as interested parties across the US, about the wonderful people, aspects and facts associated with the State.
The campaign's new "Y'all May Think We Talk Funny, But The World Takes Our Music Seriously" ad, which features BO DIDDLEY and other notable MS musicians and singers, has just been unveiled and can be viewed on-line at http://www.mississippibelieveit.com/ads/print_music.html
The campaign's 2005 "No Black. No White. Just The Blues" ad, featuring BO DIDDLEY and other notable MS blues musicians, can be viewed on-line at http://www.mississippibelieveit.com/ads/print_blues.html
Designed by The Cirlot Agency, Inc., a MS-based, full-service, marketing, public relations and corporate communications firm, the ads are part of a 17 ads/posters campaign that has reached an estimated 120 million people worldwide and earned national media coverage, from The New York Times to National Public Radio. Posters of each ad have been placed in more than a thousand schools statewide.
In 2005, the ads were sent to select MS newspapers, magazines and trade publications, along with the Associated Press and other wire services. Television stations, Mississippi Public Broadcasting and university and college publications also received the campaign. The posters were sent to all public and private K-12 schools and every college and university in the State.
Outside the State of MS, the ads were sent to the nation's top 100 daily newspapers, top consumer websites and the top news, travel, business and economic magazines. They were also sent to national talk shows and broadcast news outlets with MS ties, such as to FOX News Channel's Shepard Smith and ABC's Robin Roberts. Additional posters were made available to national events with MS ties.
In 2008, the process is being repeated. The sets of 17 posters are being sent to all public and private K-12 schools and every college and university in the State, as well as State and national media.
A prime target for the campaign awaits in September, when more than 3,000 journalists from around the world will travel to Oxford, MS for the first presidential debate, at the University of Mississippi's Gertrude C. Ford Center.
For personal use, anyone may download and print 8 1/2 x 11 copies of the "Mississippi, Believe It!" posters free of charge at the campaign website located at: http://www.mississippibelieveit.com/
"Mississippi, Believe It!" campaign website: http://www.mississippibelieveit.com/
The Cirlot Agency, Inc. website: http://www.cirlot.com/
"Y'all May Think We Talk Funny, But The World Takes Our Music Seriously" ad: http://www.mississippibelieveit.com/ads/print_music.html
"No Black. No White. Just The Blues" ad: http://www.mississippibelieveit.com/ads/print_blues.html
Update: April 22, 2008
The Baton Rouge, LA-based actor Brett Beoubay has been cast in the role of "Bo Diddley's Manager" in "Chess", the new feature biopic currently in production.
Directed by Jerry Zaks, the movie chronicles the life of Leonard Chess (Alessandro Nivola), co-founder of Chess Records which launched the careers of some of the music industry's biggest names, including BO DIDDLEY, Chuck Berry, Etta James and Muddy Waters.
David Oyelowo will play Muddy Waters, while Jon Abrahams will play Leonard's younger brother, Phil Chess.
The script for "Chess" was penned by Peter Wortmann and Bob Conte and is being produced by Jonathan Mitchell, Les Alexander and Andrea Baynes through Checkmate Productions. Shooting is currently underway in New Orleans, LA thru May 16th.
The film will compete against Sony/BMG Film's "Cadillac Records", which also centers on the rise and fall of Chess Records. That film stars Adrien Brody, Beyonce Knowles, Mos Def and Jeffrey Wright.
In other news, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Radio 2 Paul Jones rhythm & blues show to be aired next Monday (April 28th), will include a special tribute to the great Muddy Waters, 2 days ahead of the 25th anniversary of his death.
The Paul Jones show is broadcast weekly on Mondays between 7.00pm-8.00pm BST (6.00pm-7.00pm GMT/UTC).
Listeners around the world can hear the program live, or for an additional 7 days after the program has been broadcast, by visiting the BBC Radio 2 Paul Jones webpage, located at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/jones/index.shtml and clicking either the "Listen" or the "Listen Again" links.
Muddy Waters official website: http://www.muddywaters.com/
BBC Radio 2 Paul Jones show webpage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/jones/index.shtml
Update: April 18, 2008
Fans in London, England will have the opportunity to see the critically acclaimed 1977 TV documentary series "All You Need Is Love: The Story of Popular Music", including interviews with BO DIDDLEY, at a special screening to be held next month ahead of its Tuesday May 13th release on DVD.
In the mid-1970s, at the suggestion of John Lennon, the celebrated UK journalist and film director Tony Palmer decided to document the story of popular music and set about interviewing and filming all the major players in the industry at that time.
Palmer's magisterial 17-part documentary series was credibly hailed on transmission as the best and most important television survey of popular music ever and it remains essential viewing. Performances, in-depth interviews, rare footage and insightful commentary are combined with Palmer's visual flair to create the definitive story of popular music up to 1977.
The British Film Institute (BFI) located on Belvedere Road, South Bank in London is presenting a unique opportunity to watch the entire series over the weekend of May 3rd/4th.
Episodes 1 thru 9, preceded by an introduction by Tony Palmer, will be screened starting at 1.00pm on Saturday May 3rd and episodes 10 thru 17 starting at 1.50pm on Sunday May 4th. All purchasers of a full weekend ticket will receive a complimentary DVD of the opening episode of the series.
Interviewed at his ranch in Los Lunas, NM in 1976, BO DIDDLEY appears in two episodes of the series: Episode 1: Introductory Program, which was first broadcast in the UK in February 1977, and Episode 10: Good Times (Rhythm & Blues), which originally aired in the UK in April 1977.
Originally broadcast in the UK by London Weekend TV in 1977 and around the world during the following five years, since that time the series has neither been repeated nor commercially released on either video or DVD. Now available for the first time through MVD Visual, "All You Need Is Love: The Story of Popular Music" makes its DVD debut as a lavish boxed set containing all 17 hour-long episodes of the series on 5 discs.
A free DVD sampler featuring artists from the series including BO DIDDLEY, The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Bing Crosby, Duke Ellington, Aretha Franklin, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Liberace, Paul McCartney & Wings, Edith Piaf, The Rolling Stones and Muddy Waters, is currently available by visiting http://www.allyouneedislovedvd.com/
Tony Palmer is one of the leading directors of music documentaries and historical drama films in the world. He has won over forty international prizes for his work, including television's most coveted award, the Prix d'Italia.
BFI "All You Need Is Love" webpage: http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/bfi_southbank/events/all_you_need_is_love
"All You Need Is Love: The Story of Popular Music" DVD website: http://www.allyouneedislovedvd.com/
Tony Palmer official website: http://www.tonypalmer.org/
Update: April 16, 2008
Fans in the UK may be interested to know that Marshall Chess, son and nephew of the founders of Chess Records, is lined-up to appear as a guest on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) flagship music show "Later... with Jools Holland", on Friday April 25th on BBC2 at 11.35pm-12.35am BST, (10.35pm-11.35pm GMT/UTC).
Also billed to drop in for a chat on the show that week is the former Animals and War frontman Eric Burdon.
BBC "Later... with Jools Holland" webpage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/later/
Update: April 6, 2008
BO DIDDLEY's classic song "I'm A Man" (aka "Mannish Boy") has been voted the "Greatest Blues Song" by visitors to the popular About.com website guide to blues, zydeco and Americana music.
A cataclysmic celebration of manhood, "I'm A Man", along with the Muddy Waters' cover version "Mannish Boy", is now universally acknowledged as an all-time classic of electric blues. In a tight race, it narrowly beat BB King's "The Thrill Is Gone", Robert Johnson/Magic Sam's "Sweet Home Chicago" and Elmore James/Stevie Ray Vaughan's "The Sky Is Crying" in the on-line poll to find the About.com Blues website's favorite blues song.
Over the past year, visitors to the website have been encouraged to listen to sound clips of versions of songs from a shortlist of 10 of the most recognized blues songs of all-time and then to vote on-line for their favorite.
Originally written and recorded by BO DIDDLEY in March 1955 as "I'm A Man" and covered by Muddy Waters a couple of months later as "Mannish Boy", the song has been performed and recorded countless times by artists including the Beatles, Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, the Rolling Stones, the Who and the Yardbirds, whose recording of "I'm A Man" was a US Top 20 pop hit for the group in the winter of 1965.
The song gained a new audience more recently, when the popular French electroclash quartet Black Strobe's radical reworking of "I'm A Man" became a live favorite last summer and the track released on the band's debut album and 7" and 12" single.
In this YouTube video clip, BO DIDDLEY performs a testosterone-charged version of "I'm A Man" on-stage at the 1989 Transmusicales music festival in Rennes, France: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM_h7gh74cc
About.com Blues website: http://www.blues.about.com/
Black Strobe MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/blackstrobe
Update: April 6, 2008
The Hard Rock Cafe in London, England has recently revamped its legendary treasure trove of rock memorabilia. The Vault, located in the old Coutts Bank at 150 Old Park Lane, London, which used to protect the Queen of England's coffers, now houses the most valuable pieces of memorabilia in the Hard Rock collection, including one of BO DIDDLEY's trademark guitars.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) 6 Music news magazine show "The Music Week" recently visited The Vault and took a look at its most prized possessions. The BBC has recently posted a video clip on-line of their visit to The Vault. The video is now available in the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website's Forum, located at: http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/guestbook.html and then by clicking on the "Enter My Forum" button.
We currently have more than thirty BO DIDDLEY-related video clips available in the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website's Forum, located at: http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/guestbook.html and then by clicking on the "Enter My Forum" button. These range from a 1991 BO DIDDLEY soundcheck to slide show tribute presentations, recent live performances by Canadian, Greek and Japanese bands, along with a number of trailers and promos etc.
Hard Rock Cafe website: http://www.hardrock.com/
BBC 6 Music's "The Music Week" webpage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/music_week
Update: April 7, 2008
Fans may be interested to know that the UK-based publisher and distributor Music Mentor Books will very shortly be publishing the first volume of "The Chuck Berry International Directory", compiled by world-renowned Chuck Berry collector and authority Morten Reff.
Volume 1 of the projected 4-volume directory, each around 500 pages, is due for publication at the end of this month and contains Chuck Berry discographies from the US, the UK and more than 40 countries around the world complete with dozens of label and sleeve illustrations.
Volume 2 is due later in the year and focuses on Chuck's songs, his roots, his influence on other artists, movies, TV shows, videos, DVDs, bootlegs, radio albums, tours, awards, tributes, books, fan clubs and websites plus a comprehensive Johnnie Johnson (post-Chuck Berry) discography and a complete discography of the ultimate Chuck Berry copyist, Eddy Clearwater.
Volume 3 and Volume 4 are to be published in 2009 and will list more than 4,000 Chuck Berry cover versions and 800 soundalike records plus songs from movies and TV etc.
Chuck Berry and BO DIDDLEY have enjoyed several joint releases around the world over the years, including 1964's "Two Great Guitars" album and "Chuck's Beat"/"Bo's Beat" single; the popular 3-volume "Chuck & Bo" series of UK extended-play (EP) discs; the 1972 UK "Chuck Berry & Bo Diddley - Big Daddies" maxi-single; 1997's "Chuck Berry & Bo Diddley - Guitar Legends" CD and "Chuck Berry & Bo Diddley's Rock 'n' Roll All-Star Jam" concert DVD.
Comprehensively annotated with dozens of illustrations of rare record labels and sleeves and containing previously unpublished photos etc, this 4-volume publication will contain everything you ever wanted to know about Chuck Berry and is a must for the heavyweight Chuck fan.
Further details and pre-orders etc are available by visiting the Music Mentor Books website, located at http://musicmentor0.tripod.com/book_cbid_volume1.html
Music Mentor Books is an independent UK publisher and distributor of quality books for the music researcher, record collector and dedicated fan.
Music Mentor Books website: http://musicmentor0.tripod.com/
Chuck Berry official website: http://www.chuckberry.com/
Update: April 2, 2008
In an interview published today (Wednesday) in "Rolling Stone" magazine, Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones describes how watching BO DIDDLEY perform on-stage in 1963 "was university for me".
In the article, written by Senior Editor David Fricke ahead of the Friday (April 4th) release of the new Rolling Stones' concert movie "Shine A Light", the Rolling Stones and Jack White of the White Stripes shine a light on the roots of their music.
Describing the Rolling Stones' Fall 1963 tour of the UK with BO DIDDLEY, The Everly Brothers and Little Richard, Keith Richards declares:
"I learned more in those six weeks than I would have learned from listening to a million records".
When asked what was the primary lesson he learned on the lengthy UK tour, which ran from late September thru early November 1963, Keith responds:
"Stagecraft - what works and how to feel comfortable on-stage.
"The Everly Brothers were superb every night - those beautiful harmonies. We'd open, then climb the rafters and hang there, watching them.
"Watching BO DIDDLEY was university for me. Every set was twenty minutes long in those days. When he came off, if he had two strings left on the guitar, it was a (expletive deleted) miracle. The Duchess was there (on guitar) and Jerome Green, with the maracas in each hand. It was my job to be Jerome's minder. I used to fetch him from the pub - "You're on, mate"".
Directed by Martin Scorsese, "Shine A Light" captures the Rolling Stones in their current feral prime in breathtaking close-up. Scorsese shot the band in 2006, during two intimate shows at New York's Beacon Theatre, with guest appearances by Christina Aguilera, Buddy Guy and Jack White.
The David Fricke "Blood Brothers" interview with the Rolling Stones and Jack White is published in "Rolling Stone" magazine, (issue #1050), cover date Thursday April 17th.
"Rolling Stone" magazine website: http://www.rollingstone.com/
"Shine A Light" movie website: http://www.shinealightmovie.com/
RollingStones.com website: http://www.rollingstones.com/
Update: March 27, 2008
Fans may be interested to know that during the upcoming 25th annual Chicago Blues Festival in June, the Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation and Dixon Landing Music are hosting a 3-day music-filled after party at the former Chess Records studios at 2120 South Michigan Avenue, now home to the Blues Heaven Foundation.
Tickets for this special 3-day "Hot Blues Nights" event to be staged Thursday June 5th thru Saturday June 7th inc., are on sale from Saturday April 5th. Confirmed artists include The Blues Experience with Cash McCall, Billy Branch, Honeyboy Edwards and the Nellie "Tiger" Travis Band. Please note that this is a limited attendee engagement. Further details are available from the Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation and Dixon Landing Music websites.
Willie Dixon's grandson Alex Dixon has recently joined forces with the former Chess Records session guitarist/composer Cash McCall and released their debut CD titled "The Blues Experience - The Vintage Room" (Dixon Landing Music). The pair are due to be interviewed next Wednesday (April 2nd) between 6.00pm-8.00pm PDT, (1.00am-3.00am GMT/UTC Thursday April 3rd), on the popular "The Blues Highway" radio program hosted by Pat Graham on KLBC in Long Beach, CA. Listeners around the world can hear the program on-line via MP3 stream by visiting the KLBC website, located at http://www.klbc.org/
Alex Dixon is currently the only musician in the Dixon family to have written, produced, arranged and recorded a CD since his late grandfather Willie Dixon, who was a producer, arranger and writer for some of the most famous blues songs ever. Some of those songs include "Diddy Wah Diddy", "Pretty Thing" and "You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover" for BO DIDDLEY, as well as "Hoochie Coochie Man", "I Just Want To Make Love To You", "Back Door Man" and "Spoonful" for Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf.
In related news, The InterContinental Chicago, the only hotel with a front entrance on the Magnificent Mile, has announced that it is offering several themed packages for travelers vacationing in the Windy City this summer, including a "Blues Chicago" package.
Once home to BO DIDDLEY, Chuck Berry, Little Walter, Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, Chicago continues to boast a wonderfully vibrant blues scene. The InterContinental Chicago's "Blues Chicago" package allows visitors to explore the city's legendary music scene and includes overnight accommodations for two, VIP passes to the Blue Chicago club plus a tour of the former Chess Records studios at 2120 South Michigan Avenue, where Chicago's greatest blues artists once recorded. Rates start at $221 each night per couple with a minimum two-night stay. For reservations, call 312-944-4100 or visit The InterContinental Chicago website, located at http://www.icchicagohotel.com/ for more information.
Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation website: http://www.bluesheaven.com/
Dixon Landing Music website: http://www.dixonlandingmusic.com/
Blues Experience MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/dixonlandingmusic2
Cash McCall MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/cashmccallblues
KLBC.org website: http://www.klbc.org/
InterContinental Chicago website: http://www.icchicagohotel.com/
Chicago Blues Festival website: http://www.chicagobluesfestival.us/
Update: March 25, 2008
BO DIDDLEY has been honored by the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) as one of a select group of notable CPS alumni.
He is one of the distinguished honorees in the Recognized Achievement category, the highest category of honor on the new interactive CPS Alumni website, located at http://www.cpsalumni.org/ due to be officially launched later this month.
The CPS Alumni Recognized Achievement category honors Chicago Public Schools alumni that have reached the pinnacle of their profession and whose accomplishments are unassailable. Examples of Recognized Achievement honorees include Olympic Medal winners, Oscar winners and Pulitzer Prize winners.
BO DIDDLEY attended Chicago's Frances Willard Elementary School, located at 4915 South Saint Lawrence, during the late 1930s and John Foster Elementary School, at 720 West O'Brien Street, in the early 1940s. It was at the latter that he built his first musical instruments, including a violin, a bass fiddle and his first home-made guitar.
BO DIDDLEY's CPS Alumni Honor Roll webpage, located at http://www.cpsalumni.org/honor_roll/feb/05/2008/bo-diddley describes how he is considered to be one of the pioneers of rock & roll and how his signature guitar sound and rhythm is one of the most influential and copied of all-time.
CPSalumni.org has been created to build relationships among alumni of the Chicago Public Schools and their former schools and classmates. At CPSalumni.org, alumni will find a unique webpage for every former and current CPS elementary, middle and high school, as well as opportunities to share memories and learn about CPS history. CPS are the only large urban public school district trying to connect in this way. Every school that existed within CPS has its own unique Home Page and Alumni Forums and each school's Home Page has sections for Shared Stories, Alumni News and an Honor Roll.
The new website will be launched publicly on Monday March 31st, during a press conference held at one of the CPS schools.
BO DIDDLEY's CPS Alumni Honor Roll webpage: http://www.cpsalumni.org/honor_roll/feb/05/2008/bo-diddley
CPSalumni.org website: http://www.cpsalumni.org/
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) website: http://cps.k12.il.us/
Update: March 19, 2008
The first national symposium on blues and gospel music, to be held in May, will include in the program a visit to the Blues Heaven Foundation, located in the landmark Chess Records building, 2120 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago.
"The Blues and the Spirit" symposium takes place May 22nd thru 24th on the Dominican University campus, 7900 West Division Street in River Forest, IL and will take a scholarly look at the cultural legacy of Chicago's blues and gospel music scene. Tickets for the event are already half sold.
With the possible exception of New Orleans and Memphis, few locations in history can claim to have singularly defined blues music as Chicago. Following the great migration between 1916 to roughly 1960, many Southern blues men like Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters moved to northern cities such as Chicago. Along with their hope of economic prosperity, these artists also brought along their musical ideas. Providing a stage for influential rhythm & blues artists including BO DIDDLEY and Chuck Berry, Chicago was also the home of Chess Records.
The upcoming symposium features scholars of black music and culture, locally-acclaimed blues and gospel artists, a gospel workshop and a tour of Chicago's historic South Side Bronzeville community, stopping off at the former Chess Records studio. Participants in the symposium will include:
Billy Boy Arnold, leading blues harmonica player, singer/songwriter and a former member of BO DIDDLEY's band in the 1950s,
Billy Branch, the much honored Chicago bluesman and driving force behind the formation of the Sons Of Blues,
Bob Davis, writer, media consultant and the CEO, co-owner and creator of Soul-Patrol.com, the influential African-American Internet music industry resource,
Marie Dixon, the widow of Chess Records blues legend Willie Dixon and CEO and President of the Blues Heaven Foundation, whose mission is to assist in the documentation and promotion of the blues, supporting artists and educational initiatives,
Jim O'Neal, historian, author, producer and research director of the Mississippi Blues Trail historical marker project,
Dr. Fannie Rushing, Associate Professor of History at Benedictine University, who has created a guided tour itinerary of the Bronzeville neighborhood that explains its historical, political and cultural importance.
The symposium is sponsored in part by The Illinois Humanities Council, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Illinois General Assembly.
For more information about "The Blues and the Spirit Symposium", please contact Dr. Janice Monti, Symposium Director, at (708) 524-6050.
"The Blues and the Spirit Symposium" website: http://www.dom.edu/blues/index.html
Willie Dixon's Blues Heaven Foundation website: http://www.bluesheaven.com/
Update: March 14, 2008
Premiered in November 2007, Eric Clapton and Robbie Robertson's thrilling performance of BO DIDDLEY's song "Who Do You Love" at the 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival, which Robbie Robertson told the 28,000 sold-out audience he was dedicating to BO DIDDLEY, is one of the highlights of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) TV program "Great Performances - Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival Chicago", which is being rebroadcast on Wednesday (March 19th). Please check local listings for details.
Hosted by comedian and actor Bill Murray, the program features a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of guitar superstars, including Jeff Beck, Robert Cray, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Buddy Guy, BB King, Los Lobos, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, Robbie Robertson, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmie Vaughan, Johnny Winter, Steve Winwood and more.
A slide show presentation excerpt of Robbie Robertson and Eric Clapton's performance of "Who Do You Love" at the Festival is also available on the PBS "Great Performances" website, located at: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/shows/crossroads2/video.html
The July 28th 2007 music festival and benefit concert was held at Chicago's Toyota Park in aid of Eric Clapton's Crossroads, Antigua drug and alcohol addiction rehabilitation centre.
The official "Crossroads" double-DVD set of the concert, which also features the Robbie Robertson and Eric Clapton performance of "Who Do You Love", is currently available on Rhino Home Video.
PBS "Great Performances" website: http://www.pbs.org/gperf
Rhino Home Video website: http://www.rhino.com/
2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival website: http://crossroadsguitarfestival2007.com/
Eric Clapton's Crossroads, Antigua website: http://www.crossroadsantigua.org/
Update: March 14, 2008
BO DIDDLEY is one of the guitarists to be featured in an upcoming "Record Collector" magazine article celebrating 70 years of the electric guitar.
Due for publication in the May 2008 issue (#349), to be published on Thursday April 10th, the feature will celebrate the guitar riffs and the guitar records that changed the world.
Based in London, England, "Record Collector" magazine is the world's leading publication for collectors of rare records and memorabilia.
"Record Collector" magazine website: http://www.recordcollectormag.com/
Update: March 11, 2008
Bo Diddley's Website Celebrates 10th Birthday! This Friday (March 14th) marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website, the most detailed and accurate source of information about BO DIDDLEY on the Internet.
Special thanks are due in particular to the following for their assistance, advice and kind messages over the past 10 years:
Sam Andrew, Carmine Appice, Charlie Apple, The Association, Robin Bachman, Paul Barrere, Benny & The Jets, Black Oak Arkansas, Eric Burdon, Bishop Solomon Burke, Canned Heat, Freddy Cannon, Keith Caton & The Accelerators, Bob Corritore, Carl Cunningham, Dick Dale, Andy Davis, Bob Davis, Albert J. DeGroft, Jack de Keyzer, Rick Derringer, Bennie Dingo, The Dovells, Carlos R. Duque, The Electric Prunes, Entrain, Paul Evans, Harry Fink, The Five Americans, Gary Fletcher, Foghat, Robert Fontenot, Frankie Ford, Peter Frampton, Scott Free, Faith Fusillo, Gary Gordon, Francis Goulet, Graham Central Station, David Gross, Wolfgang Guhl, Debby Hastings, Ronnie Hawkins, The Hi-Risers, Mike Hugg, Iron Butterfly, Tommy James, Gloria Jolivet, Patricia T. Jones, Patrina Jones, Paul Jones, Carol Kaye, Bob Keane, Dave Kelly, Chris Kinman, Al Kooper, Lady Bo, Alan Lakey, Margo Lewis, Wally Malone, The Marcels, Mike Marti, Roger McGuinn, Tom McGuinness, Andy McKaie, Barry Melton, The Mills Brothers, Anna Moo, John Moore, Charlie Musselwhite, Richard Nader, Chuck Negron, Carla Olson, Stan Perkins, The Platters, The Priests, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Elliott Randall, Tommy Roe, Emperor Rosko, Nick Savage, Duke Shanahan, Sha Na Na, Pat Shediack, Sheena & The Rokkets, Sly & The Family Stone, Peter Stitt, Barry Tashian, Kingsize Taylor, Bob Timmers (Rockabilly Hall of FameŽ), The Treniers, Moe Tucker, Chris Tuthill, Vini & The Demons, George R. White and Steve Winwood.
The webite has been recognised and listed by a number of major on-line education resources, including the US Institute of Museum & Library Services' Librarians' Index to the Internet (LII), the BUBL Information Service Catalogue of Internet Resources located at the Centre for Digital Library Research at Strathclyde University in Scotland, the MSN Encarta Encyclopedia and the on-line version of the Encyclopedia Britannica.
We are also delighted that the website has maintained strong links over the past decade with Allexperts.com, the oldest and largest free Q&A service on the Internet, answering many questions from fans and students relating to BO DIDDLEY, his life and music. Here's to the next 10 years... let it roll!
Encyclopedia Britannica On-line - one of the world's most trusted sources of information: http://www.britannica.com/
MSN Encarta On-line Encyclopedia: http://encarta.msn.com/
US Institute of Museum & Library Services' Librarians' Index to the Internet - Websites You Can Trust: http://www.lii.org/
BUBL Information Service's Catalogue of Internet Resources - Selected Internet resources covering all academic subject areas: http://www.bubl.ac.uk/index.html
Allexperts.com - the oldest and largest free Q&A service on the Internet: http://www.allexperts.com/ep/2124-23725/Bo-Diddley/David-Blakey.htm
Update: March 11, 2008
There is another opportunity next week to hear the acclaimed 2007 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) 3-part documentary radio series "Hey! Bo Diddley".
The series is to be rebroadcast in the BBC 6 Music digital radio station's "6 Music Plays It Again" documentary strand on Monday 17th, Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th March at 9.30pm-10.00pm GMT/UTC.
Listeners around the world can hear the programs live, or for an additional 7 days after each of the programs has been broadcast, by visiting the BBC's "6 Music Plays It Again" webpage located at http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/pia/ and clicking either the "Listen Live" or the "Listen Again" links.
"Hey! Bo Diddley", a 3-part radio series celebrating the life and career of BO DIDDLEY, was first aired on the BBC Radio 2 network on January 16th, 23rd and 30th 2007. The series was written and produced by Neil Rosser for Above The Title Productions Ltd and hosted by Roger Daltrey of The Who.
Episode 1/3 originally broadcast at 9.30pm-10.00pm GMT/UTC on Tuesday January 16th 2007: Synopsis: Discussions on the origins of his songs "Bo Diddley" and "I'm A Man" plus the enduring popularity of the BO DIDDLEY beat.
Contributors: BO DIDDLEY, Billy Boy Arnold, Paul Barrere (Little Feat), Dave Davies (The Kinks), Wilco Johnson (Dr. Feelgood, Solid Senders etc), Phil May and Dick Taylor (The Pretty Things), Tom McGuinness (Manfred Mann, The Blues Band, John Mayall etc), Benny Speer (Benny & The Jets).
Memorable quote: "Bo really built the building. He put the door on and everyone came in. Without Bo, the house wouldn't have been there to walk in. He really built the house of rock & roll..." (Benny Speer of the Detroit rock & roll band Benny & The Jets).
Tracks played:
"Hey Bo Diddley" by BO DIDDLEY (1957)
"I'm A Man" by BO DIDDLEY (1955)
"Bo Diddley Is Crazy" by BO DIDDLEY (1996)
"Pretty Thing" by BO DIDDLEY (1955)
"Mona" (aka "I Need You Baby") by BO DIDDLEY (1957)
"Bo Diddley" by BO DIDDLEY (1955)
"Signifying Blues" by BO DIDDLEY (1960)
"Call Me" (aka "Bo's Blues") by BO DIDDLEY (1961)
"I'm A Man" by The Who (1965)
"She Moves Me" by Muddy Waters (1952)
"Manish Boy" by Muddy Waters (1977)
"Hambone" by Red Saunders (1952)
"Ross' Juba" by "Black Face" Eddie Ross (1922)
"Say Bo (Where'd You Get That Kplongo)" by The Bonedaddys with BO DIDDLEY (2003)
"Willie & The Hand Jive" by The Johnny Otis Show (1958)
"Faith" by George Michael (1987)
"Rudie Can't Fail" by The Clash (1979)
"I Love You Too Much" by Steve Earle & The Dukes (1987)
"Ain't Got You" by Bruce Springsteen (1987)
"Cuban Slide" by The Pretenders (1980)
Above The Title program notes:
"An exploration of the life and music of BO DIDDLEY. He was enormously influential and his "BO DIDDLEY Beat" changed rock music. The programme features interviews with artists who acknowledge his mastery and those who have worked with him over the years, as well as a new interview with BO DIDDLEY."
Chosen as one of the week's program choices in the January 13th-19th 2007 issue of the BBC magazine "Radio Times", contributor Frances Lass wrote:
"That stuttering, primeval, sensual beat that is the backbone of some of the greatest songs in the rock pantheon is what puts BO DIDDLEY up there with Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis. Everybody who is anybody in rock has used that rhythm - from Buddy Holly ("Not Fade Away") to George Michael ("Faith"). Yet Bo believes his part in history has been overlooked and is royally miffed, to say the least.
This towering three-parter, tolerably well read by Roger Daltrey, goes a long way to redressing that omission. Musicians as diverse as Dave Davies of The Kinks and Don Everly pay tribute while some 60s British blues boomers try to nail down the origin of that echo-rich sound. Is it derived from juba, a minstrel tradition of body slapping, or from the rhythms of west African tribes? If you expect Bo himself to clear things up, forget it. Put on "Mona" instead and knock yourselves out."
This from the "Radio Times" website's program information webpage: "In the first of three programmes, Roger Daltrey celebrates the life and music of the rock 'n' roll legend BO DIDDLEY. Part of the great triumvirate that includes Little Richard and Chuck Berry, BO DIDDLEY will always be famous for The BO DIDDLEY Beat, used by artists as diverse as the Smiths, Bruce Springsteen and Guns N' Roses. Including interviews with Dave Davies from the Kinks, Tom McGuinness of Manfred Mann, Wilko Johnson from Dr Feelgood, Marshall Chess, Paul Barrere and BO DIDDLEY himself. This is the story of a remarkable life, from Diddley's humble beginnings to rock 'n' roll superstardom."
Episode 2/3 originally broadcast at 9.30pm-10.00pm GMT/UTC on Tuesday January 23rd 2007. Synopsis: BO DIDDLEY's upbringing, his early days playing on the street corners of Chicago and the origins of his stage name. An assessment his impact on 1960s British rock and pop acts and an exploration of the West African sensibility in some of his music.
Contributors: BO DIDDLEY, Billy Boy Arnold, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Jody Williams plus Paul Barrere (Little Feat), Marshall Chess, Dave Davies (The Kinks), Don Everly, Phil May and Dick Taylor (The Pretty Things), Tom McGuinness (Manfred Mann, The Blues Band, John Mayall etc), Benny Speer (Benny & The Jets).
Memorable quote: "I'm sure he influenced every guitarist that was playing in 1962/63..." (Tom McGuinness, bass and lead guitarist with British bands Manfred Mann and The Blues Band).
Tracks played:
"Hey Bo Diddley" by BO DIDDLEY (1957)
"She's Fine, She's Mine" (aka "You Don't Love Me") by BO DIDDLEY (1955)
"Road Runner" by BO DIDDLEY (1960)
"The Story of Bo Diddley" (aka "My Story") by BO DIDDLEY (1960)
"Down Home Special" (aka "Down Home Train" and "I'm Going Home") by BO DIDDLEY (1956)
"I'm Bad" by BO DIDDLEY (1956)
"Little Girl" (aka "Can I Go Home With You") by BO DIDDLEY (1955)
"Diddy Wah Diddy" by BO DIDDLEY (1956)
"Bring It To Jerome" by BO DIDDLEY (1955)
"Hush Your Mouth" by BO DIDDLEY (1958)
"Bo's Guitar" by BO DIDDLEY (1958)
"Bo Diddley" by BO DIDDLEY (1955)
"Crackin' Up" by The Rolling Stones (1977)
"Road Runner" by The Animals (1964)
"Cadillac" by The Kinks (1964)
"...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears (1998)
"The Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap)" by Shirley Ellis (1965)
Episode 3/3 originally broadcast at 9.30pm-10.00pm GMT/UTC on Tuesday January 30th 2007. Synopsis: BO DIDDLEY's legacy, his relationship with Chess Records and insights into the recording of the "Bo Diddley's Beach Party" live album and the writing of his classic song "Who Do You Love".
Contributors: BO DIDDLEY, Billy Boy Arnold and Jody Williams plus Keith Altham, Marshall Chess, Don Everly, Ray Fenwick (Spencer Davis Group, Ian Gillan Band, Syndicats etc), Wilco Johnson (Dr. Feelgood, Solid Senders etc), Phil May and Dick Taylor (The Pretty Things), Benny Speer (Benny & The Jets), Spider Webb (The Horrors), Ronnie Wood (The Rolling Stones).
Memorable quote: "This is the man who virtually invented rock & roll in 1955..." (Keith Altham, former journalist with the UK music weekly "New Musical Express").
Tracks played:
"Hey Bo Diddley" by BO DIDDLEY (1957)
"Diddley Daddy" by BO DIDDLEY (1955)
"I'm Alright" by BO DIDDLEY (1963)
"Money To Ronnie" by BO DIDDLEY & Ronnie Wood (1987)
"Soul Food" by BO DIDDLEY (1965)
"Who Do You Love" by BO DIDDLEY (1956)
"Sixteen Tons" by BO DIDDLEY (1960)
"Bo Diddley's A Gunslinger" by BO DIDDLEY (1960)
"Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley (1957)
"Wake Up Little Susie" by The Everly Brothers (1957)
"Shake, Rattle & Roll" by Bill Haley & His Comets (1954)
"Hello Stranger" by Billy Boy Arnold (1953)
"Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off" by Joe Nichols (2005)
"Bye Bye Love" by The Everly Brothers (1957)
"Not Fade Away" by The Rolling Stones (1964)
"Mimi" by The Pretty Things (2007)
"I Can Tell" by Dr. Feelgood (1975)
"This Old Face" by Benny & The Jets (1990)
"Jack The Ripper" by The Horrors (2006)
"Bo Diddley Is Jesus" by The Jesus & Mary Chain (1988)
"Seventeen" by The New York Dolls with BO DIDDLEY (2006)
BBC 6 Music "6 Music Plays It Again" webpage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/pia/
Update: March 10, 2008
Our good friend Mike Marti at WWUH-FM 91.3FM Public Alternative Radio in Hartford, CT has 3 BO DIDDLEY weekly specials lined up for today (Monday) and the next 2 Mondays (March 17th and March 24th), broadcast at 1.00pm-4.00pm EDT (5.00pm-8.00pm GMT/UTC).
Listeners around the world can also hear these programs via RealAudio Webcast by visiting: http://wwuh.org/real.htm
WWUH 91.3FM is a public radio station broadcasting alternative programming from the University of Hartford, CT.
Update: March 7, 2008
BO DIDDLEY is one of the featured artists on the new Hard Rock Memorabilia interactive website, launched yesterday (Wednesday) at MIX08, Microsoft's Web developer and designer conference in Las Vegas, NV.
Based on Microsoft Silverlight 2, the new Hard Rock Memorabilia interactive Web experience, located at http://memorabilia.hardrock.com/ serves up high-resolution images of Hard Rock's memorabilia and allows fans the ability to zoom in on tiny details. Silverlight 2 makes such detailed views possible by delivering photos through a Web interface that allows visitors to experience them in a very natural way, to pan and zoom across them and get a feel for the items as if they were in the same room.
Included amongst the Top Ten items in the 70,000 strong Hard Rock Collection, the world's greatest collection of rock memorabilia, are BO DIDDLEY's first musical instrument his circa 1940 violin, an autographed circa 1940 Harmony Cremona II acoustic guitar, his circa 1945 home-made guitar plus several of his later custom-built electric guitars.
Delegates to the Microsoft MIX08 conference at yesterday's unveiling of the Hard Rock Memorabilia site were shown detailed images of BO DIDDLEY's adaption of a TV tuner as a volume control for his first hand-built guitar plus details of John Lennon's handwriting on the lyrics to "Imagine".
In other recent on-line news, the European music community MusicMakesFriends.com and the Universal Music Group, the world's largest recording company, yesterday (Wednesday) announced a deal to make the Universal digital catalog available on the MusicMakesFriends platform, which yesterday launched its premium subscription in addition to its free advertising-supported streaming service.
MusicMakesFriends is the first legal pan-European music-driven community platform of its kind and enables users to legally listen to radio programs created by other members. Now more than 1.5 million tracks will also be available on demand alongside other features for a monthly fee. The Luxembourg-based company says more than 80% of all music marketed in Europe is now available on the site. All members of the on-line community can stream free full-track radio programs as many times as they wish. The new premium service operates in nine countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.
Representing some of the most influential and legendary recording artists of the century, the Universal Music Group has the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, including: BO DIDDLEY, Abba, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Chuck Berry, James Brown, The Carpenters, Eric Clapton, Patsy Cline, The Commodores, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, The Four Tops, Judy Garland, Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix, Billie Holiday, Buddy Holly, The Jackson Five, Bob Marley, The Police, Smokey Robinson, Rod Stewart, The Supremes, The Temptations and Muddy Waters.
Hard Rock Memorabilia Web experience: http://memorabilia.hardrock.com/
Microsoft Silverlight 2 webpage: http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/
MusicMakesFriends.com - BO DIDDLEY artist webpage: http://www.musicmakesfriends.com/artist/5745
MusicMakesFriends.com - BO DIDDLEY with Mainsqueeze artist webpage: http://www.musicmakesfriends.com/artist/41522
Universal Music Group website: http://www.umusic.com/
Update: March 5, 2008
BO DIDDLEY's original girl guitar player LADY BO is included in "Venus Zine" magazine's "Greatest Female Guitarists of All-Time" listing in its Spring 2008 edition, (issue #35), published today (Tuesday).
"Venus Zine" is the leading source for coverage of women in music, art, film, fashion and DIY culture. To shine light on the greatest female guitarists of our time, the Chicago-based quarterly selected 46 of the best, based on an array of excellence factors including technical skill, standout performance and style pioneering. To diversify the selection process, the magazine invited guitar experts and music leaders from various genre backgrounds to nominate their favorites.
The "Greatest Female Guitarists of All-Time" feature is also available on the venuszine.com website. The accompanying LADY BO article, written by Katie Heath and located at http://venuszine.com/articles/music/features/2572/The_Greatest_Female_Guitarists_of_All_Time_HM includes a photo gallery and a link to a brief YouTube video clip taken from the BO DIDDLEY 1987 Swedish TV special "I Don't Sound Like Nobody", in which BO DIDDLEY and LADY BO discuss their first chance meeting outside the Apollo in New York in the late 1950s.
"Venus Zine" magazine is carried in independent record stores and newsstands as well as such chain retailers as Borders, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Hudson News, Universal News, Chapters.Indigo, Hastings and Waldenbooks.
venuszine.com's "Greatest Female Guitarists of All-Time" webpage: http://venuszine.com/articles/music/features/2575/The_Greatest_Female_Guitarists_of_All_Time
LADY BO - A Tribute webpage: http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/ladybo.html
Update: March 3, 2008
Originally broadcast in 1977, BO DIDDLEY's appearances in the critically acclaimed "All You Need Is Love: The Story of Popular Music" TV documentary series will be available on DVD from Tuesday May 13th.
In the mid-1970s, at the suggestion of John Lennon, the celebrated UK journalist and film director Tony Palmer decided to document the story of popular music and set about interviewing and filming all the major players in the industry at that time.
Originally broadcast in the UK by London Weekend TV in 1977 and around the world during the following five years, since that time the series has neither been repeated nor commercially released on either video or DVD. Now available for the first time through MVD Visual, "All You Need Is Love: The Story of Popular Music" makes its DVD debut as a lavish boxed set containing all 17 hour-long episodes of the series on 5 discs.
BO DIDDLEY appears in two episodes of the series: Episode 1: Introductory Program, which was first broadcast in the UK in February 1977, and Episode 10: Good Times (Rhythm & Blues), which originally aired in the UK in April 1977.
A free DVD sampler featuring artists from the series including BO DIDDLEY, The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Bing Crosby, Duke Ellington, Aretha Franklin, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday, Liberace, Paul McCartney & Wings, Edith Piaf, The Rolling Stones and Muddy Waters, is currently available by visiting http://www.allyouneedislovedvd.com/
Tony Palmer is one of the leading directors of music documentaries and historical drama films in the world. He has won over forty international prizes for his work, including television's most coveted award, the Prix d'Italia.
"All You Need Is Love: The Story of Popular Music" DVD website: http://www.allyouneedislovedvd.com/
Tony Palmer official website: http://www.tonypalmer.org/
Update: March 2, 2008
The 2008 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, during which the great Little Walter Jacobs is to be posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame, is to be broadcast live on the VH1 Classic digital cable/s