Bo Diddley

Blues, Musical Artist

1928 – 2008

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Who was Bo Diddley?

Ellas Otha Bates, known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American R&B vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and rock and roll pioneer. He was also known as The Originator because of his key role in the transition from the blues to rock, influencing a host of acts, including Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Velvet Underground, The Who, The Yardbirds, Eric Clapton, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles, among others. He introduced more insistent, driving rhythms and a hard-edged electric guitar sound on a wide-ranging catalog of songs, along with African rhythms and a signature beat that remains a cornerstone of rock and pop. Accordingly, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation and a Grammy Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. He was known in particular for his technical innovations, including his trademark rectangular guitar.

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Born
Dec 30, 1928
McComb
Also known as
  • Bo Diddly
  • Bo Didley
  • Ellas McDaniel
  • Ellas Otha Bates McDaniel
  • Ellas Bates
  • bo_diddley
  • Diddley, Bo
  • Elias McDaniel
  • Ellas B. McDaniel
  • The Originator
Parents
Siblings
Spouses
Children
Ethnicity
  • African American
Nationality
  • United States of America
Profession
Lived in
  • McComb
  • Chicago
Died
Jun 2, 2008
Archer

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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"Bo Diddley." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/bo_diddley>.

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