Billy Boy Arnold
Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley, the American blues singer was born on 28th December 1928 as Otha Ellas Bates. He started his career as a boxer and got the nickname “Bo Diddley”. Diddley entered into the world of music influenced by Muddy Waters, Louis Jordan and John Lee Hooker.
In the early days Bo Diddley sung for the blues clubs of Chicago and in 1954 joined with Billy Boy Arnold, and recorded "Bo Diddley" and "I'm A Man". The song "Bo Diddley" became huge hit in the country and became one of R&B’s top hit songs in 1955. Bo’s amplified, colored and customized rectangular shaped guitar turned out as his trademark.
One of his songs “Say Man” appeared in the list of US Top 20 hit during 1959. Likewise his "Hey Good Lookin'" and "Pretty Thing" also reached the UK charts in 1963. After that Bo was treated as an R&B ‘legend’ courtesy of the UK’s beat boom. As a multi-instrumentalist he could play violin, piano, electric piano, guitar, organ, percussion, synthesizer and drums. His unique style influenced many of the Sixties blues based bands and musicians including The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, John Mayall, and Eric Clapton.
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The Rhythm and Blues Foundation and National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (Grammy) honoured him by giving Lifetime Achievement Awards and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted him, as one would expect.
Bo Diddley died on 2nd June 2008 aged 79.
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