BO DIDDLEY-The Originator

11 Comments / By /

The musician the world knows as BO DIDDLEY has, over the past 5 decades, indelibly stamped his mark on rhythm’n’blues, rock’n’roll, and popular music. His innovative trademark rhythm, his electric custom-built guitars, his use of female musicians, his psychedelic guitar sounds, his wild stage shows, and his on-record and on-stage rapping, pre-date all others. His influence on other musicians, both black and white, is immeasurable, and yet he remains probably the least known and the least celebrated of all the major early contributors to rock’n’roll. This site is an attempt to put the record straight.

See also: Bo Diddley at GuitarSite.com

11 thoughts on “BO DIDDLEY-The Originator”

  1. BO DIDDLEY BBC radio special
    David Blakey

    Hey BO DIDDLEY fans,

    An exclusive interview recorded with BO DIDDLEY in London, England in August 2004 is due to be broadcast as part of a one-hour BO DIDDLEY special on the Paul Jones rhythm & blues show on British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Radio 2 on Thursday September 16th 2004 commencing at 8.00pm BST.

    The Paul Jones show is available on-line to listeners around the world via the BBC Radio Player’s "Listen Live" and "Listen Again" functions located at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/jones

    David Blakey, Webmaster,
    BO DIDDLEY-The Originator
    http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/index.html
    A Celebration of his unique contribution to Popular Music.
    1954-55 to 2004-05 – Celebrating 50 Years of The Bo Diddley Beat!

    1. Re: BO DIDDLEY BBC radio special
      LEe

      There’s a free program called Silent Bob which will allow you to record any sound your PC makes: including the sound of Bo playing through Real Audio.

      Anyone know of a good, large recent pic of the man for a CD cover…?

  4. Bo Diddley brand new CD available
    David Blakey

    Bo Diddley and the funk/soul band Munkeez Strikin’ Matchiz’ controversial new song "We Ain’t Scared Of You", available on promotional CD from "Bo Bo Diddley’s Turnup Root". Visit http://www.turnup-root.com/ now to download your 2 minute audio sample of this fantastic new song.

    "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 is a fungus among us.

    Keep rockin’ an’ rollin’, but keep it clean…!"

    Love forever,

    Bo Diddley.
    "Bo Bo Diddley’s Turnup Root"
    http://www.turnup-root.com/
    The Bo Diddley Website

    (Also available, exclusive Bo Diddley online store).

    1. Re: This popular thread has been given its own page :... David Blakey
      David Blakey

      Rock legend Bo Diddley and the funk/soul band Munkeez Strikin’ Matchiz have recently recorded and are set to release a brand new, hard-hitting song titled "We Ain’t Scared". Written to capture the feelings of patriotism that Bo Diddley has felt from the audiences at his US concerts since the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001, the song’s lyrics throw out a stark and direct challenge to America’s enemies.

      To listen to an audio sample of "We Ain’t Scared", to read the transcript of a no punches pulled interview with Bo Diddley on the occasion of the recent broadcast debut of the song, or to e-mail him directly with their comments about this new song, Bo Diddley’s many fans around the world are currently being invited to visit his new "Bo Bo Diddley’s Turnup Root" website at http://www.turnup-root.com/

      A deservedly early inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, plaudits bestowed upon Bo Diddley in recent years have included Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation and from the Recording Academy, a Pioneer in Entertainment Award from the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters and in May of this year an inaugural Icon Award from the performing rights organization BMI. That award is inscribed with the following few simple words that succinctly validate Bo Diddley’s contribution to popular music: "In recognition of your unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers".

      In conjunction with his new website, Bo Diddley is also currently shaping up to release CDs of brand new recordings as well as a series of exciting limited edition collectors’ CDs of previously unreleased archive material recorded in his various home studios during the past 40 years. Additionally, and in response to his fans’ many requests at concerts for T-shirts, stickers and other official merchandise, in conjunction with the launch of his new website Bo Diddley is currently inviting visitors to view and purchase a range of exclusive, limited edition Bo Diddley authorised designs available from the new Bo Diddley’s Online Store powered by CafePress.com.

      For further information, please visit: "Bo Bo Diddley’s Turnup Root" at http://www.turnup-root.com/

  6. Bo Diddley launches new website & online store
    David Blakey

    Bo Diddley, one of the founding fathers of rock & roll and the popularizer of the world-famous "Bo Diddley beat", has announced that he will be launching his new website and online store this coming Thanksgiving. The website, which with typical idiosyncrasy he has named "Bo Bo Diddley’s Turnup Root", is located at http://www.turnup-root.com/

    "Bo Bo Diddley’s Turnup Root" promises to offer its visitors a unique insight into a quite extraordinary man.

    With rock & roll now fast gearing itself up in readiness to celebrate its 50th anniversary, it is perhaps fitting that one of the musicians who was there at the very beginning should finally be receiving some of the plaudits that are his due. Rock & roll, rhythm & blues, British Invasion, garage, rock, funk, punk, new wave, hip hop, rap, metal and breakbeat, all have been immeasurably shaped and influenced by the man with the cool-looking trademark oblong-shaped guitars and the black Stetson hats; the one and only Bo Diddley.

    "Back in the ’50s I had the first ever rap record to hit the charts, a song called "Say Man", states Bo Diddley, "Now I’m all set to release new records for a whole new generation of kids, just like I released records for some of their grandparents before them!"

    It has been said that if rock & roll were a pair of underpants, Bo Diddley’s songs would be the very elastic that holds them up: "Bo Diddley", "I’m A Man", "Diddley Daddy", "Crackin’ Up", "Say Man", "Road Runner", "You Can’t Judge A Book By The Cover", "Pretty Thing", "Who Do You Love" and many other classic songs have been recorded over the past half-century in more than a thousand different cover versions by artists ranging from Connie Francis to the Rolling Stones, Buddy Holly to the Doors, Carlos Santana to Sir Paul McCartney. Even best-selling fiction writer and Bo Diddley fan Stephen King couldn’t resist the urge to join in the fun a couple of years back, and record his own version of the song "Bo Diddley" in musical homage to his hero.

    "I’m gonna show people a whole new side to Bo Diddley. In fact, I think I’m probably gonna shock a few people! I gave the record companies a lot of my material over the years, but I kept the best stuff! I’m currently fixin’ to release recordings of me playing classical music, for instance. I also have a brand new song comin’ out titled "We Ain’t Scared", that I just know is all set to get people talkin’!"

    A deservedly early inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, plaudits bestowed upon Bo Diddley in recent years have included Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation and from the Recording Academy, a Pioneer in Entertainment Award from the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters and in May of this year an inaugural Icon Award from the performing rights organization BMI. That award is inscribed with the following few simple words that succinctly validate Bo Diddley’s contribution to popular music: "In recognition of your unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers".

    "Thanksgiving is an appropriate time for me to be launching my new website and online store", says Bo Diddley. "It was at Thanksgiving in the year of 1955 that I made my first ever TV appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show singing my big hit song "Bo Diddley".

    In conjunction with his new website, Bo Diddley is currently also shaping up to release CDs of both brand new recordings as well as a series of exciting limited edition collectors’ CDs of previously unreleased archive material recorded in his various home studios during the past 40 years. Right now, visitors to his website can shop online at Bo Diddley’s Online Store powered by CafePress.com and purchase a range of cool-looking and exclusive limited edition items including T-shirts, sweatshirts, BBQ aprons and vehicle license plate frames that will make perfect gifts for the forthcoming holiday season.

    For further information, please visit: "Bo Bo Diddley’s Turnup Root" at http://www.turnup-root.com/

  7. "Originator Radio"
    David Blakey

    "Originator Radio"….. BO DIDDLEY, Chuck Berry, Little Walter, Memphis Slim, George Thorogood, Sunnyland Slim, Billy Boy Arnold, The Dells, Howlin’ Wolf, Irma Thomas, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, The Rolling Stones, The Flamingos, Quicksilver Messenger Service, ZZ Top, Slim Harpo, The Pretty Things, Koko Taylor, Inez & Charlie Foxx, Canned Heat, Big Brother & The Holding Company, Tony Clarke, LaVern Baker, Them, and many, many more…..

    "Originator Radio"….. the Station with the only customized playlist to feature the music of BO DIDDLEY, the very best of the Chess and Checker labels, and lots of the all-time greats of Rhythm & Blues and Soul Music. "Originator Radio" is brought to you by Radio.SonicNet, an ASCAP, BMI and SESAC licensed website.

    "Originator Radio"….. at http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/radio.html

    BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website
    http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/index.html
    A Celebration of his unique contribution to Popular Music.

Leave a Reply