As you may already have heard, legendary rock star Bo Diddley died yesterday, at the age of 79, from heart failure. He had, as previously reported, suffered a stroke and a heart attack during the course of 2007, and his health never really returned.
Diddley, born Ellas Otha Bates in McComb, Mississippi, moved to Chicago at the age of seven. He took violin lessons as a child, but became inspired to play the guitar by seeing John Lee Hooker and began his musical career playing on street corners with friends. In 1951 he obtained a regular gig at Chicago's 708 Club, and adopted the name Bo Diddley.
Known for creating the distinctive 'Bo Diddley beat', he also developed many special effects and innovations for the guitar. He reached the peak of his fame in the fifties, when he recorded and released such tracks as 'I'm A Man', 'Who Do You Love?', 'Mona', and 'Road Runner', and also got barred from appearing on 'The Ed Sullivan Show'. He was a prolific artist – between 1958 and 1963, Diddley released a total of 11 albums via Checker Records, and in addition to performing songs he also wrote them for other people – Mickey and Sylvia's 'Love Is Strange' being the most notable. His output slowed down in later years, but he continued to tour into his late seventies.
Over the course of his career, he received many awards and honours, including induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame back in 1986, a Grammy Lifetime achievement award in 1998 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm And Blues Foundation in 1996.
Diddley died at home, surrounded by more than thirty five family members.