Bo Diddley's innovative and hypnotic "Bo Diddley beat" has been a driving force behind some of the most iconic songs in rock 'n' roll history. Born Ellas Bates on December 30, 1928, on a small farm in Mississippi, Bo Diddley was adopted by his mother's cousin and eventually moved to the south side of Chicago.
Growing up in Chicago, Bo Diddley began taking violin lessons from Professor O.W. Frederick at the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, where he studied for 12 years and even composed two concertos for the instrument. It was during this time that he acquired the nickname "Bo Diddley" from his fellow pupils at Foster Vocational High School.
Bo Diddley's fascination with rhythms led him to experiment with his guitar, using his violin bow to create a unique sound. He continued to practice and eventually formed his first group, The Hipsters, later known as The Langley Avenue Jive Cats.
Throughout his early years, Bo Diddley worked a variety of low-paying jobs, including truck driving, building site work, and boxing, while also playing music locally to supplement his income. He married twice, first to Louise Woolingham and then to Ethel "Tootsie" Smith, with the second marriage lasting over a decade.
In 1950, maracas player Jerome Green joined the group, followed a year later by harmonica player Billy Boy Arnold. After years of playing on street corners and in clubs around Chicago, Bo Diddley finally got the chance to cut a demo with Chess Records, which became his breakthrough.
The song "Bo Diddley" was released as a double A-side disc with "I'm A Man" and went straight to the top of the R&B charts, establishing Bo Diddley as one of the most exciting and original new talents in American music. With influences ranging from Louis Jordan to John Lee Hooker, and from Nat King Cole to Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley helped shape and define the sound and presentation of rock music.
Throughout his career, Bo Diddley has been acknowledged as an influence by countless artists, including Elvis Presley, George Thorogood, The Rolling Stones, ZZ Top, The Doors, The Clash, Buddy Holly, Prince, and Run DMC, among many others.
