Bo's Bio Below

A message from Bo Diddley:
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's a fungus among us! Keep rockin' an' rollin', but keep it clean. Love Bo Diddley - forever.




Update: July 2, 2006
             A review of BO DIDDLEY and the Debby Hastings Band's upcoming July 13th concert at the prestigious Jazz Sommer Graz Festival in the City of Graz in south-east Austria, is set to be included in an article about BO DIDDLEY due to be published in the September 2006 edition (Issue #109) of "American Music Magazine".
             The quarterly fanzine, which is devoted exclusively to news, features and reviews about 1950s rock & roll, rockabilly and country music, is published by the Swedish Rock & Roll Club in Varberg, Sweden in both Swedish and English. Subscription rates and other info are available by visiting the "American Music Magazine" website.
"American Music Magazine" website: http://www.americanmusicmagazine.com/
Jazz Sommer Graz Festival website: http://www.jazzsommergraz.at/


Update: June 29, 2006
             A new one-hour radio special titled "Chuck Berry: Hail, Hail The King of Rock 'n' Roll" will air between 10.00am-11.00am (Eastern) next Wednesday (July 5th) on Bob Putignano's popular "Sounds of Blue" radio program on WFDU-FM 89.1 in the New York tri-state metro area. It will also be available to listeners around the world via a live stream at the WFDU-FM website located at http://wfdu.fm/ and for an additional 7 days after the show has aired at the Live365.com website located at http://www.live365.com/stations/bob8003
             Hosted by director Taylor Hackford, this radio special has been produced by Tres Hombres Productions in conjunction with the DVD home video release this week of the documentary "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll", the celebrated 1987 feature film that captured the musical event commemorating the 60th birthday of Chuck Berry. "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll" is widely acclaimed as one of the most significant filmed musical events of the past few decades. BO DIDDLEY appears in the movie in several sequences with Chuck Berry and Little Richard.
             The radio program includes live music, rehearsal sessions and insider interviews compiled from both the original film and the bonus materials unearthed for the multi-disc DVD reissues. Distributor Image Entertainment's standard two-disc "Special Edition" and four-disc "Ultimate Edition" boxed set of the movie feature a wide array of bonus content, including over seven hours of never-before-seen footage, extended interviews with many of the original founders of rock & roll, documentaries and more. The 4-disc box set is bolstered with "Witness To History", an hour-plus round table with Chuck Berry, Little Richard and BO DIDDLEY discussing their shared experiences for the first time.
             DVDs of the movie will also be given away during next Wednesday's live broadcast over WFDU-FM.
Sounds of Blue website: http://www.soundsofblue.com/


Update: June 28, 2006
             The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Radio 2 show "Rockin' With Suzi Q", which features a blend of the best American music from the rock & roll era of the 1950s and early 1960s, will on Thursday July 6th between 9.00pm-10.00pm BST (8.00pm-9.00pm GMT/UTC) recall the release 50 years ago next month of BO DIDDLEY's fifth single "Who Do You Love"/"I'm Bad" (Checker 842). The show's "Golden Anniversary" feature celebrates the 50th anniversary each week of a key moment in rock & roll history.
             Listeners around the world can listen on-line to the show streamed as RealMedia either by visiting the BBC Radio 2 Suzi Quatro Home Page located at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/quatro and clicking the "Listen Live" link or for an additional 7 days after the show has aired by clicking the "Listen Again To This Show" link.
             One of BO DIDDLEY's most potent and enduring compositions, "Who Do You Love" has since been recorded and performed countless times by artists including Cheap Trick, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Dion, Doors, Downliners Sect, Foghat, Gov't Mule, Sammy Hagar, Ronnie Hawkins, Jesus & The Mary Chain, Steve Miller Band, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Carlos Santana, Bob Seger, Smashing Pumpkins, Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen, Stooges, George Thorogood, Johnny Thunders and the Yardbirds.
             In April 2005, the release of BO DIDDLEY's debut single "Bo Diddley"/"I'm A Man" (Checker 814) and in November 2005, his third single "Pretty Thing"/"Bring It To Jerome" (Checker 827), were both previously the subject of the "Rockin' With Suzi Q" show's "Golden Anniversary" feature. Suzi Quatro Home Page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/quatro


Update: June 26, 2006
             BO DIDDLEY's original girl guitar player LADY BO will be performing at this weekend's 21st annual Monterey Bay Blues Festival, being staged today thru Sunday (June 23rd-25th inc.) at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, CA.
             LADY BO is scheduled to perform on the Garden Stage on Sunday afternoon commencing at 1.25pm.
             Ticket packages for the 3-day Festival start at $110 for all shows, including grounds stages and booths; grounds stages shows at $85 for all 3 days; $25 for Friday and $35 each for Saturday and Sunday. For further information, please call 394-2652 or visit the Festival website.
             This summer marks the 50th anniversary of the historic chance meeting outside New York's Apollo Theater between BO DIDDLEY and LADY BO. As the world's first female rock group guitarist, she went on to appear on such popular and influential recordings as "Hey Bo Diddley", "Mona", "Say Boss Man", "Say Man", "Story of Bo Diddley", "Road Runner", "Cadillac", "Ride On Josephine", "Bo Diddley's A Gunslinger", "Pills", "Bo's Bounce" and the underground instrumental classic "Aztec".
Monterey Bay Blues Festival website: http://www.montereyblues.com/


Update: June 9, 2006
             Fans living in the Greater Grand Forks area of North Dakota and Minnesota may be interested to know that the Grand Forks Police and Grand Forks County Sheriff's Departments are holding a benefit auction tonite (Friday) beginning at 7.00pm to raise funds for colleagues whose lives have been stricken by cancer.
             Amongst the more than 200 items to be auctioned is a Fender electric guitar autographed by a number of top performers including BO DIDDLEY and the Everly Brothers.
             The auction takes place in the East Grand Forks Eagles Club, 227 10th St. NW East Grand Forks, MN. A free spaghetti dinner will be served beforehand at 5.30pm and a dance will follow the auction. The auction is open to the public. Cash, checks and credit cards will all be gratefully accepted.
Grand Forks Police Department website: http://www.grandforksgov.com/policedept
Grand Forks County Sheriff's Department website: http://www.grandforkscounty.net/sheriff/index.htm


Update: June 8, 2006
             BO DIDDLEY's guest appearance on the track titled "Seventeen" on the New York Dolls' new album "One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This" will only be available as a limited edition bonus track on the first pressings of the CD. These initial releases will also include a special bonus 45-minute documentary DVD about the making of the album, which is due for release on Roadrunner Records on Tuesday July 25th. The 14 original tracks which make up the album were recorded last summer.
             The influential group included their version of the BO DIDDLEY song "Pills" on their 1973 debut album and it has since remained a staple of their live shows. Citing him as their hero, BO DIDDLEY and the re-formed New York Dolls appeared on-stage at the celebrated Little Steven's International Underground Garage Festival held at Randall's Island, NY in the summer of 2004.
Roadrunner Records website: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/


Update: June 2, 2006
             Coffee merchant Starbucks enters the home video business on Tuesday June 27th with an exclusive DVD version of the documentary "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll", the celebrated 1987 feature film that captured the musical event commemorating the 60th birthday of Chuck Berry.
             "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll" is widely acclaimed as one of the most significant filmed musical events of the past few decades. BO DIDDLEY appears in the movie in several sequences with Chuck Berry and Little Richard.
             The Starbucks DVD comprises a single-disc that includes 40 minutes of bonus footage selected and edited by director Taylor Hackford, as well as an exclusive 14-track CD of Chuck Berry's hits. The package will sell for $19.95 at more than 5,200 Starbucks locations across the US. Starbucks Coffee Company is the leading retailer, roaster and brand of speciality coffee in the world.
             The DVD is released on the same day that distributor Image Entertainment's standard two-disc "Special Edition" and four-disc "Ultimate Edition" boxed set of the movie go on sale in conventional retail outlets, featuring a wide array of bonus content, including over seven hours of never-before-seen footage, extended interviews with many of the original founders of rock & roll, documentaries and more. The 4-disc box set is bolstered with "Witness To History", an hour-plus round table with Chuck Berry, Little Richard and BO DIDDLEY discussing their shared experiences for the first time.
Starbucks.com website: http://www.starbucks.com/
Image Entertainment, Inc. website: http://www.image-entertainment.com/


Update: May 20, 2006
             BO DIDDLEY & the Debby Hastings Band have added further dates to their schedule in Western Europe this summer.
             During the month of July, they are currently scheduled to play a series of music festivals, theater and club dates in Austria, England, Finland, Germany and Spain.
             Further details of these dates, and the rest of BO DIDDLEY's busy 2006 touring schedule, are available on the Forthcoming Appearances page of the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website, located at http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/dates.html
             Our thanks go to our good friend Wolfgang Guhl in Germany, Webmaster of the Chuck Berry - Mr. Rock 'n' Roll website, for creating a webpage on his site giving venue and ticketing information for BO DIDDLEY's forthcoming July 14th appearance in Munich, located at http://www.chuckberry.de/bdmunich.htm


Update: May 18, 2006
             BO DIDDLEY, blues guitarist Alvin Youngblood Hart and blues/gospel vocalist Ruthie Foster are to embark on a 37-date coast to coast "BO DIDDLEY & Friends" tour this fall.
             Beginning in California on September 22nd and concluding in Florida on November 12th, the tour will play to theaters and concert halls in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Utah, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
             Further details are available on the Forthcoming Appearances page of the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website, located at http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/dates.html
Alvin Youngblood Hart official website: http://www.mojomusic.com/alvin/index.htm
Ruthie Foster official website: http://www.ruthiefoster.com/


Update: May 14, 2006
             BO DIDDLEY is to kick off a new American Heritage tribute series to the rich world of American roots music. The concert will be staged at the Mondavi Center for the Arts' Jackson Hall on the campus of the University of California, Davis on Friday September 22nd, beginning at 8.00pm.
             The Mondavi Center at UC Davis has established itself as one of the leading presenters of world music and its 2006-07 season begins with a focus on blues music. Billed as an evening with BO DIDDLEY & Friends, the concert will also feature blues/gospel vocalist Ruthie Foster and blues guitarist Alvin Youngblood Hart and is the Center's official season opener.
For more information, call (530) 754-2787.
Mondavi Center for the Arts website: http://www.mondaviarts.org/


Update: April 30, 2006
             The City of Gainesville in North Central Florida will be celebrating Black Music Month this June with a free concert headlined by BO DIDDLEY and R&B/funk outfit Munkeez Strikin Matchiz.
             Beginning at 8.00pm on the evening of Saturday June 17th, the show is being staged as part of the City of Gainesville Division of Cultural Affairs "Let's Go Downtown" Plaza Series of live music, theater and dance performances at the Community Plaza located on the corner of SE 1st and E University Ave in historic downtown Gainesville. For more info, call 334-ARTS.
             Munkeez Strikin Matchiz' acclaimed debut CD "BananAtomic Mass", which features guest appearances from BO DIDDLEY, Chuck D of the hip hop group Public Enemy and Bernie Worrell of WOO Warriors/P-Funk/Talking Heads fame, is now available for digital downloading, as a full-length CD or as individual tracks, from a number of on-line music services including eMusic, Napster and Rhapsody. "BananAtomic Mass" is also available to purchase from the CD Baby on-line record store as well as locally in the Gainesville area at Hyde & Zeke Records, No Future Records and CD Warehouse.
City of Gainesville Division of Cultural Affairs website: http://www.gvlculturalaffairs.org/
Munkeez Strikin Matchiz official website: http://munkeezstrikinmatchiz.com/
CD Baby "BananAtomic Mass" webpage: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/munkeezsm
eMusic "BananAtomic Mass" webpage: http://www.emusic.com/label/118/118773.html
Rhapsody "BananAtomic Mass" webpage: http://www.rhapsody.com/munkeezstrikinmatchiz/bananatomicmass
Napster website: http://www.napster.com/


Update: April 25, 2006
             TheMusiciansLounge.com website, a new on-line resource for musicians, entertainers and fans, designed to promote local live music in Calgary, AB, Canada and around the world, features an exclusive interview with BO DIDDLEY ahead of his show at the Back Alley nightclub in Calgary tonight (Tuesday).
             The transcript of this recent telephone interview with BO DIDDLEY is located at: http://www.themusicianslounge.com/phBB69/viewtopic.php?t=565 (registration required).
             A transcript of the interview, in which BO DIDDLEY shares his thoughts on various topics including drugs, rap music and the recent proclamation of "BO DIDDLEY Day" in North Central Florida, is also available in the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website Forum, located at http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/guestbook.html and then by clicking on the "Enter My Forum" button.
TheMusiciansLounge.com website: http://www.themusicianslounge.com/ The Back Alley nightclub website: http://www.backalleycalgary.com/


Update: April 12, 2006
             BO DIDDLEY makes a special guest appearance on a track titled "Seventeen" on the New York Dolls' new album "One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This", due for release on Roadrunner Records on Tuesday July 25th. The 13 original tracks which make up the album were recorded last summer.
             The influential group included their version of the BO DIDDLEY song "Pills" on their 1973 debut album and it has since remained a staple of their live shows. Citing him as their hero, BO DIDDLEY and the re-formed New York Dolls appeared on-stage at the celebrated Little Steven's International Underground Garage Festival held at Randall's Island, NY in the summer of 2004.
Roadrunner Records website: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/


Update: April 11, 2006
             Image Entertainment, Inc., a leading independent licensee, producer and distributor of home entertainment programming in North America, has secured the DVD rights to Taylor Hackford's movie "Hail! Hail! Rock'n'Roll", the celebrated 1987 feature film that captured the musical event commemorating the 60th birthday of Chuck Berry. BO DIDDLEY appears in the movie in several sequences with Chuck Berry and Little Richard.
             Image Entertainment plan to release the DVD on Tuesday June 27th as both a 2-disc "Special Edition" and as a 4-disc "Ultimate Edition" boxed set, featuring a wide array of bonus content, including over seven hours of never-before-seen footage, extended interviews with many of the original founders of rock & roll, documentaries and more. The 4-disc box set is to be bolstered with "Witness To History", an hour-plus round table with Chuck Berry, Little Richard and BO DIDDLEY discussing their shared experiences for the first time.
             "Hail! Hail! Rock'n'Roll" is widely acclaimed as one of the most significant filmed musical events of the past few decades.
Image Entertainment, Inc. website: http://www.image-entertainment.com/


Update: April 5, 2006
             BO DIDDLEY and the Debby Hastings Band are to perform at the inaugural Ruth Brown Blues Festival, being held at 8.00pm on the evening of Saturday May 13th at the nTelos Pavilion, Harbor Center, Olde Towne in Portsmouth, VA.
             Presented as part of Festival Portsmouth and the 10th annual Virginia Arts Festival, this special homecoming tribute evening to Portsmouth native Ruth Brown will also feature performances from Shemekia Copeland and Clarence "Frogman" Henry.
             With pop hits such as "Lucky Lips" in 1957 and "This Little Girl's Gone Rockin'" in 1958, Ruth Brown was Atlantic Records' top selling artist of the 1950s.
Ruth Brown Official Website: http://www.missrhythm.com/
Virginia Arts Festival website: http://www.virginiaartsfest.com/jazz-blues.html
nTelos Pavilion website: http://www.pavilionconcerts.com/


Update: April 4, 2006
             The popular About.com website guide to blues, zydeco and Americana music has begun a poll to find the "Greatest Blues Song" from a shortlist of 10 of the most recognized blues songs of all-time. Included in the listing is BO DIDDLEY's classic "I'm A Man" (aka "Mannish Boy"). Other songs making the shortlist include Elmore James' "The Sky Is Crying", Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind", BB King's "The Thrill Is Gone" and the Muddy Waters hits "I'm Ready", "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Got My Mojo Workin'".
             Originally written and recorded by BO DIDDLEY in March 1955 as "I'm A Man" and then later reworked by Muddy Waters in May of 1955 as "Mannish Boy", visitors to the About.com blues website are being encouraged to listen to sound clips of both versions of the song and then to vote for their favorite song in the poll.
             "I'm A Man"/"Mannish Boy" has been performed and recorded countless times in the past 50 years by artists including the Beatles, the Grateful Dead, John Lennon, the Rolling Stones, the Who and the Yardbirds, whose recording of "I'm A Man" was a US Top 20 pop hit for the group in the winter of 1965.
About.com "Greatest Blues Song" poll: http://blues.about.com/od/bluestoppicks/a/bestsongpoll.htm


Update: April 2, 2006
             Movie actor and musician Steven Seagal and his band Thunderbox' new blues CD "Mojo Priest" is released on his Nonsolo Blues label, distributed by EMI France, in Europe tomorrow (Monday), with a scheduled US release due in May.
             The album, which was recorded at the House of Blues and Sounds Unreel Studios in Memphis, TN last fall, includes tracks recorded with an all-star line-up of musicians including BO DIDDLEY, Ruth Brown, James Cotton, Honeyboy Edwards, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Louisiana Red, Bob Margolin, Hubert Sumlin and Koko Taylor. The US release next month is scheduled to include a bonus DVD filmed at the recording sessions for the album.
             BO DIDDLEY features on the album singing and playing guitar on his new song titled "Shake". Amongst the 13 tracks that make up the album are 3 reworkings of blues standards: Howlin' Wolf's "Little Red Rooster", Muddy Waters' "Hoochie Coochie Man" and Elmore James' "Dust My Broom".
             Steven Seagal's movie credits include "Above The Law", "Under Siege", "Executive Decision" and "Exit Wounds".
Steven Seagal Official Website: http://www.stevenseagal.com/
Steven Seagal Official Music Website: http://www.stevenseagal.info/index_uk.html


Update: March 28, 2006
             Fans may be interested to know that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Radio 2 network is to broadcast a special 2-part tribute to Howlin' Wolf, part one to air next Tuesday (April 4th) between 9.30pm-10.00pm BST (8.30pm-9.00pm GMT/UTC) with part two the following Tuesday (April 11th), also between 9.30pm-10.00pm BST (8.30pm-9.00pm GMT/UTC).
             This 2-part documentary relates the story of Howlin' Wolf and examines his enduring influence on rock music and is being broadcast to mark the 30th anniversary of his death. It include tributes from musicians and associates including Jeff Beck, Marshall Chess, Bonnie Raitt, Hubert Sumlin and Bill Wyman.
             In September 1967, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and BO DIDDLEY joined forces in the Chess Records studios to record the all-star blues super session album "The Super Super Blues Band" (Checker LP-3010), featuring spirited reworkings of a number of their classic songs including "Little Red Rooster", "Diddley Daddy", "Spoonful" and "Goin' Down Slow".
             In a Chess Records feature recently published in the UK's "Record Collector" magazine, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry and BO DIDDLEY were described as "the Big Four of Chess who revolutionised popular music".
             Listeners around the world can hear this special 2-part Howlin' Wolf tribute program via RealAudio media format by visiting the BBC Radio 2 webpage located at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/documentaries/index.shtml and clicking either the "Listen Live" or "Listen Again" icons to launch the BBC Radio Player. The 2 programs can be heard on-line for an additional 7 days after each show has aired.
BBC Radio 2 webpage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/documentaries/index.shtml
Howlin' Wolf Home Page: http://www.howlinwolf.com/


Update: March 21, 2006
             BO DIDDLEY and the Debby Hastings Band will be one of the featured attractions at this year's prestigious Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, TN.
             The 3-day festival, which each year features more than 60 of the nation's top blues, rock, gospel, R&B, alternate and soul music acts, is being held in Tom Lee Park at Beale St. & Riverside Dr. in downtown Memphis, the weekend of Friday thru Sunday May 5th-7th inclusive. BO DIDDLEY takes to the stage on Saturday May 6th.
             Other artists appearing on this year's special bill, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of the month-long Memphis In May International Festival, sponsors of the Beale Street Music Festival, include Bryan Adams, the Bar-Kays, James Brown, Chicago, George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic, Bruce Hornsby, BB King, Huey Lewis & The News, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Hubert Sumlin, Booker T & The MGs and Johnny Winter.
             Tickets for the Festival are now on sale through Ticketmaster. No age restrictions; everyone must have a ticket.
             Memphis In May International Festival website: http://www.memphisinmay.org/
Ticketmaster website: http://www.ticketmaster.com/


Update: February 28, 2006
             Saturday (February 25th) was declared "BO DIDDLEY Day" in Alachua County, North Central Florida, during a Black History Month celebration at the Archer Church of God in Christ. He was cited for his many music accomplishments, including his role of bridging blues and rock & roll.
             Many of BO DIDDLEY's children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren were in attendance at the gospel-infused event and presented much of the afternoon's musical entertainment in honor and celebration of BO DIDDLEY's contributions to the Church and to the community of Alachua County. BO DIDDLEY has helped the Church over the years by giving items of musical equipment and other donations.
             During the celebration, BO DIDDLEY performed a new song titled "Get Out of My Face Satan" as well as a duet with his grandson Deacon Garry Mitchell aka Philosopher G on BO DIDDLEY's powerful anti-drugs, anti-gang rap "Kids Don't Do It". The event also included many local Christian music performers, including the Latin sounds of singer Dagna and the gospel mime artist the Boy of Silence, but the festivities on the day focused on BO DIDDLEY, with many of his family filling the Church to honor him. His offspring comprised all the members of the Church's youth choir and most of the members of its adult choir.
             Presenting a proclamation declaring it to be "BO DIDDLEY Day", Alachua County Commissioner Rodney Long paid tribute: "It goes to show... how deep the roots of Bo run. He does it from his heart and he doesn't expect pay".
Alachua County, Florida website: http://www.co.alachua.fl.us/


Update: February 19, 2006
             We were greatly saddened to learn of the death of former BO DIDDLEY band drummer Clifton James in Chicago, IL on Thursday morning (February 16th). He was aged 69.
             BO DIDDLEY's original drummer, Clifton began playing with the band in 1954 and continued throughout the 1950s and 1960s, playing on many of BO DIDDLEY's classic Chess recordings, including "Bo Diddley", "I'm A Man", "Diddley Daddy", "Pretty Thing", "Bring It To Jerome", "Diddy Wah Diddy", "Who Do You Love", "Cops & Robbers" and "Road Runner".
             He was the drummer for BO DIDDLEY's landmark November 1955 appearance on the Ed Sullivan CBS Television show, which is now widely hailed as the earliest example of rock music on TV and for which Clifton received an award in Chicago last month, recognizing him as a rock music- television pioneer. He also appeared in BO DIDDLEY's highly acclaimed live performance in the 1966 AIP movie "The Big TNT Show" and in DA Pennebaker's 1970 "Sweet Toronto" concert film.
             Throughout the 1960s, Clifton toured and recorded sessions with many of the Chess Records greats, including Willie Dixon, the Flamingos, Buddy Guy, the Moonglows, Koko Taylor, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson and Howlin' Wolf, before touring with his own blues band in the 1970s.
             In May 2002, Clifton was reunited on-stage with BO DIDDLEY and former band members Billy Boy Arnold and Jody Williams at that year's Chicago Blues Festival and in April last year he made another triumphant return to live performance at the New Orleans 2005 Ponderosa Stomp series of concerts, backing BO DIDDLEY's former guitarist LADY BO. He had been scheduled to perform once again with LADY BO, Billy Boy Arnold and Jody Williams at a BO DIDDLEY band reunion show at this year's upcoming Ponderosa Stomp event in May.
             As an integral part of BO DIDDLEY's bands in the 1950s and 1960s, Clifton James' pioneering drumming skills, utilising complex cross- rhythms, helped create the original BO DIDDLEY sound and thereby shaped the beat of rock & roll. We send our sincere condolences to his family and friends at this very sad time.


Update: February 15, 2006
             Fans living in the Denver-Aurora area of Colorado may be interested to know that a new exhibit titled "Rock & Roll: The Day They Came To Town" goes on display at the Aurora History Museum at 15001 East Alemeda Drive in Aurora, CO from next Tuesday (February 21st) thru to Sunday May 28th inclusive. Admission is free.
             The exhibit includes electric guitars previously owned by BO DIDDLEY and Chuck Berry, along with rock & roll concert posters, items of clothing and other memorabilia gathered from a number of sources, including the Experience Music Project in Seattle, WA and the Stax Museum in Memphis, TN.
             Call 303-739-6660 or visit the City of Aurora website for further details.
             City of Aurora website: http://www.auroragov.org/


Update: February 9, 2006
             BO DIDDLEY and the R&B/funk band Munkeez Strikin Matchiz will be headlining the 5-day Bronson Music Festival on Saturday February 18th, beginning at 7.00pm. The Festival, which features rock & roll, bluegrass, gospel, blues and country music, is being held from Wednesday February 15th thru Sunday 19th inclusive, at the Bronson Motor Speedway in Bronson, FL. Organised by the Bronson Chamber of Commerce, the Festival is a community event to benefit the local chapters of the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity.
American Red Cross website: http://www.redcross.org/
Habitat for Humanity website: http://www.habitat.org/
Bronson Motor Speedway website: http://www.bronsonmotorspeedway.com/
Munkeez Strikin Matchiz website: http://munkeezstrikinmatchiz.com/


Update: January 19, 2006
             The February 2006 issue of the popular UK monthly magazine "Record Collector" (Issue #320), which goes on sale today (Thursday, Jan. 19th), includes a feature on the history of Chess Records written by Kingsley Abbott plus an interview with Marshall Chess.
             "Record Collector" magazine is the world's leading publication for collectors of rare records and memorabilia. In the feature, along with Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, BO DIDDLEY is described as "one of the Big Four of Chess who revolutionised popular music".
             Metropolis Publishing's "Record Collector" website: http://www.metropolis.co.uk/recordcollector.html


Update: January 14, 2006
             BO DIDDLEY's long-time friend and tenor saxophone player Nick Savage was one of the headliners at a Hurricane Katrina benefit concert weekend (January 14th/15th) in north-central Florida.
             "Nasty" Nick Savage has recorded and performed on-stage with BO DIDDLEY for almost 20 years, appearing on his 1989 album "Breakin' Through The BS". He has also appeared on-stage many times with Bill Haley's Comets and opened for artists including Ray Charles and Willie Nelson.
The SuperSax Sounds of Nick Savage - Have Sax Will Travel:
http://www.nicksavage.com/pages/1/index.htm
"Waveland to Wasteland: The Mississippi Town That FEMA Forgot" website:
http://www.femaforgotwaveland.com/index.html


Update: January 8, 2006
             Fans living in Chicago, IL may be interested to know that former BO DIDDLEY band drummer Clifton James is scheduled to be be one of the honored panelists at a special event titled "TV A-Go-Go: Rock Music On Television" being held this Wednesday (January 11th) starting at 6.00pm at the Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater, 77 E Randolph St. Admission is free. Hosted by Jake Austen, author of the recently published book "TV A-Go-Go: Rock on TV From American Bandstand to American Idol", the event celebrates the history of rock music on TV, with an emphasis on Chicago artists and programs, and will screen rare rock & roll-related TV clips, including BO DIDDLEY's historic November 1955 debut TV appearance on Ed Sullivan's "Toast of The Town" CBS-TV show, and feature talks with a number of Chicago rock music and TV pioneers.
             Clifton James played drums in the BO DIDDLEY band from 1954 and throughout the 1950s and 1960s and appears on the Ed Sullivan show video clip. He also recorded many classic tracks with BO DIDDLEY over the years, including "Bo Diddley", "I'm A Man", "Diddley Daddy", "Pretty Thing", "Bring It To Jerome", "Diddy Wah Diddy", "Who Do You Love" and "Road Runner".
             In the year 2000, BO DIDDLEY's appearance on the Ed Sullivan show was acclaimed as one of VH1's "100 Greatest Rock & Roll Moments On TV".


Update: January 1, 2006
             Writing in an article in the "Hampton Roads Daily Press" newspaper in Hampton Roads, VA today (New Year's Day), its pop music/entertainment reporter Sam McDonald lists BO DIDDLEY's September 10th performance at the 2005 Hampton Bay Days concert as one of his 10 memorable music moments from last year. He writes:
             "This architect of rock & roll was feeling good when he stepped on the stage in downtown Hampton. Playing classics from the 1950s, joking with the crowd and entertaining with endearing freestyle raps, he showed flashes of the bohemian spirit that made him a legend. Not bad for a guy who remained seated through most of his set".
             BO DIDDLEY's dates for 2006 currently include shows in California, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Canada and Jamaica. Please check the Forthcoming Appearances page of the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website at http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/dates.html for all the latest details.
"Hampton Roads Daily Press" website: http://www.dailypress.com/


Update: December 31, 2005
             BO DIDDLEY's original girl guitar player LADY BO is slated to perform at the 5th annual Ponderosa Stomp being held on Tuesday & Wednesday May 9th & 10th at the Gibson Factory in Memphis, TN. Other former members of the BO DIDDLEY band also slated to play are Billy Boy Arnold, Clifton James and Jody Williams.
             The annual New Orleans roots music romp, that draws crowds from all over the world, will find a temporary home in Memphis in 2006. Billed as "2 Nights of Insane Rock & Roll", the 2-day music festival, which celebrates the unsung heroes of the blues, soul, rockabilly, swamp pop and New Orleans R&B, will benefit New Orleans and Gulf Coast musicians rendered homeless and jobless by Hurricane Katrina.
             Tickets are $40 per night. Advance tickets will be available on-line at www.knights-maumau.com/tickets_merchandise.php from Friday January 20th and will also be available at the door on the night of the show.
Ponderosa Stomp website: http://www.ponderosastomp.com/


Update: December 28, 2005
             Writing in a news article in "The Post-Standard" newspaper in Syracuse, (Monday, Dec. 26th), its music critic Mark Bialczak describes BO DIDDLEY, Dave Brubeck and Smokey Robinson as "performers who helped shape the American musical landscape for generations" and as "a trifecta of stars that still earn their idol status because of what they accomplish on-stage right now".
             Listing BO DIDDLEY's July 17th performance at the New York State Blues Fest as one of his Top 10 shows in Central New York for 2005, Mark Bialczak writes: "BO DIDDLEY has so much fun croaking his rock-blues classics to the rain-soaked fans that his handlers have to pull him off the Clinton Square stage. BO DIDDLEY rocks, raps and reminisces with an attitude that says "Nobody's nearly as cool as me". "Hey, Bo Diddley", indeed".
             BO DIDDLEY's dates for 2006 currently include shows in California, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Canada and Jamaica. Please check the Forthcoming Appearances page of the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website at http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/dates.html for all the latest details.
             Just a reminder from us that BO DIDDLEY celebrates his 77th birthday this Friday (December 30th) and we encourage all his many fans around the world, if they haven't done so already, to sign the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website Guestbook with their birthday greetings and messages.
             As we always do at this time of the year, we have made special arrangements for BO DIDDLEY to view each and every one of your greetings. This is an opportunity for you to convey your appreciation and best wishes to one of the undisputed legends of rock & roll and a true original, on the occasion of his 77th birthday.
             Please sign the Guestbook, located at http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/guestbook.html and show your support for The Originator - BO DIDDLEY. Thank you very much.
"The Post-Standard" website: http://www.syracuse.com/


Update: December 6, 2005
             BO DIDDLEY's original girl guitar player LADY BO, along with her husband Wally Malone on bass, will be performing tomorrow evening (Wednesday) at the annual "Toys For Tots" Community Party being staged at The Chateau in Incline Village, NV.
             Admission to the party, which is sponsored each year by the Marine Corps Reserve of Reno, is one new unwrapped toy or a check or credit card donation to purchase toys and winter clothing for local children in need.
             Thursday thru Saturday evenings of this week, (December 8th thru 10th inc.), LADY BO and Wally Malone will be in residence at the Rapscallion Seafood House & Bar, 1555 South Wells Ave. in Reno, NV, followed by further dates at this venue during January, February and March 2006. For reservations or more information, call (775) 323-1211.
             In other LADY BO news, an article titled "LADY BO: First Lady of Guitar" written by Renee Westbrook is published in the Fall (November/December) 2005 issue of "ROCKRGRL" magazine, issue #57.
             "ROCKRGRL" is published six times a year out of offices in Seattle, WA and distributed in the US, Canada and internationally by Tower, Small Changes, Disticor, Newbury Comics, Ingram, Armadillo, Ubiquity, Hudson, Kent, Lambda Rising, Chris Stadler, Soure Interlink, Media Solutions, BuyOlympia.com, Carrot Top, Bookazine and Don Olson.
Rapscallion Seafood House & Bar website: http://www.rapscallion.com/
"ROCKRGRL" magazine website: http://www.rockrgrl.com/


Update: December 1, 2005
             BO DIDDLEY and the Debby Hastings Band are to perform at next month's prestigious 3-day Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival 2006, to be held from Thursday January 26th thru Saturday January 28th inc. at the Rose Hall Resort & Country Club in Montego Bay, Jamaica. BO DIDDLEY takes to the stage on the Friday night, January 27th.
             Black Entertainment Television (BET), one of the top cable TV entertainment networks, has joined forces with the Jamaica Tourist Board to promote the Festival.
             BET will produce a half-hour preview show, to premier on BET and its sister channel BET Jazz this month, promoting the destination, the Festival and the Festival location. In addition, a Festival commercial will air repeatedly on BET Jazz and VH1 Soul. BET will also promote the Festival in Atlanta, GA on KISS 104.1 FM, Atlanta's Old School R&B radio station.
Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival 2006 website: http://www.airjamaicajazzandblues.com/
Black Entertainment Network (BET) website: http://www.bet.com/


Update: November 18, 2005
             The twice-postponed "Florida Keys For Katrina Relief" concert starring BO DIDDLEY and featuring artists including Clarence Clemons, Frankie Ford, Mike Pinera, the Soul Providers and many Keys and South Florida musicians, is now scheduled for Sunday January 8th at Founders Park in Islamorada, FL.
             Originally due to take place in October and then rescheduled for December 4th, the concert had to be rescheduled again because of extensive flooding and damage to the Florida Keys caused by Hurricane Wilma last month.
             The benefit concert and associated one-day festival has been organized by a coalition of Florida Keys businesses and civic organizations to raise funds to help Islamorada's sister city, Ocean Springs, MS, a small coastal town that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in August.
             Much to the dismay of the organizers, it was decided that the proposed alternate date in December did not afford sufficient time to reorganize the event while dealing with their own storm damage issues.
             It has been decided that the proposed concert and festival will now be a joint fund-raiser for both Ocean Springs, MS and for those areas of the Florida Keys that were severely impacted by Hurricane Wilma last month. Owing to the unusual circumstances surrounding the proposed concert, a representative for The Weather Channel has expressed an interest in the cable TV channel broadcasting the event either live or taped.
Florida Keys For Katrina Relief website: http://www.info.floridakeysforkatrinarelief.com/
Ocean Springs, MS website: http://www.oceansprings-ms.com/


Update: November 17, 2005
             BO DIDDLEY's unique and lasting influence on rock music remains as strong as ever, as Will Young's new single "Switch It On", with its exhilarating mix of fervent rhythms set to the BO DIDDLEY beat, was released in the UK this week and looks set to climb towards the top of the UK singles chart.
             Will Young was the winner of the first series of the UK's "Pop Idol" reality TV series in 2002. The multi-platinum selling artist's current single joins a lengthy list of international chart-topping hit songs that have utilised the world-famous BO DIDDLEY beat. These include Elvis Presley's "His Latest Flame" (1961), Buddy Holly's "Bo Diddley" (1963), The Rolling Stones' "Not Fade Away" (1964), Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders' "Game of Love" (1965), Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet Ride" (1968), Neil Sedaka's "Bad Blood" (1975), George Michael's "Faith" (1987), U2's "Desire" (1988) and Craig McLachlan & Check 1-2's "Mona" (1990).
             In other news, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band's homage to the BO DIDDLEY beat, when the band performed a medley of the songs "Hey Bo Diddley" and "She's The One" at the Concert for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH in September 1995, is to be included on a new UK DVD release titled "Bruce Springsteen: Broadcasting Live", due for release in the UK in December on Classic Rock Direct (DVD HIT1987).
Will Young official website: http://www.will-youngonline.com/
Classic Rock Direct website: http://www.classicrockproductionsonline.com/


Update: November 15, 2005
             The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Radio 2 show "Rockin' With Suzi Q", which features a blend of the best American music from the rock & roll era of the 1950s and early 1960s, on Thursday November 24th between 9.00pm-10.00pm GMT/UTC will recall the release 50 years ago this month of BO DIDDLEY's third single "Pretty Thing"/"Bring It To Jerome" (Checker 827). The show's weekly "Golden Anniversary" feature celebrates the 50th anniversary of a key moment in rock & roll history.
             Listeners around the world can listen on-line to the show streamed as RealMedia either by visiting the BBC Radio 2 Suzi Quatro Home Page located at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/quatro and clicking the "Listen Live" link or for an additional 7 days after the show has aired by clicking the "Listen Again To This Show" link.
             A UK Top 40 hit single for BO DIDDLEY in the fall of 1963, "Pretty Thing" has since been performed and recorded by many other artists including the Animals, Canned Heat, Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks, Van Morrison, the Pretty Things (who derived their name from the song), the Rolling Stones and the Who.
             In April 2005, the release of BO DIDDLEY's debut single "Bo Diddley"/"I'm A Man" (Checker 814) was previously the subject of the show's "Golden Anniversary" feature.
             Suzi Quatro Home Page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/quatro


Update: November 8, 2005
             Fans living in the area of Norman, OK may be interested to know that ahead of BO DIDDLEY's November 18th show at Norman's historic Sooner Theatre, the venue will be showing a free screening of the 2003 Marc Levin directed film "The Blues: Godfathers and Sons" to help inform audiences about the blues and its effect on American culture.
             Everyone who attends the screening at 7.00pm next Wednesday (November 16th) will be entered into a free draw to win a pair of tickets to the November 18th BO DIDDLEY concert.
             "The Blues: Godfathers and Sons" explores the heyday of Chicago blues and Chess Records and includes archive footage of Chess musicians including BO DIDDLEY, Willie Dixon, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson and Howlin' Wolf.
             For more information, call 321-9600 or visit the Sooner Theatre website.
Sooner Theatre website: http://www.soonertheater.com/


Update: October 27, 2005
             Owing to extensive flooding and damage to the Florida Keys caused by Hurricane Wilma, the "Florida Keys For Katrina Relief" concert which was originally due to take place in Islamorada, FL last Sunday (October 23rd) and then rescheduled for December 4th, has had to be rescheduled again to a date to be determined.
             The concert was due to headline BO DIDDLEY and feature Clarence Clemons, Frankie Ford, Mike Pinera, the Soul Providers and many Keys and South Florida musicians.
             The benefit concert and associated one-day festival had been organized by a coalition of Florida Keys businesses and civic organizations to raise funds to help Islamorada's sister city, Ocean Springs, MS, a small coastal town that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in August.
             Much to the dismay of the organizers, it has now been decided that the proposed alternate date of December 4th does not afford sufficient time to reorganize the event while dealing with their own storm damage issues. The new date for the concert will depend on how quickly Islamorada's Founder's Park site, municipal headquarters and building are able to recover from extensive storm surge flooding.
             It has also been decided that the proposed concert and festival will now be a joint fund-raiser for both Ocean Springs, MS and for those areas of the Florida Keys that have been severely impacted by Hurricane Wilma this week. Owing to the unusual circumstances surrounding the proposed concert, a representative for The Weather Channel has expressed an interest in the cable TV channel broadcasting the event either live or taped.
             Our thoughts and prayers are with all those whose lives have been affected during this particularly long and distressing hurricane season.
Mississippi Hurricane Recovery Fund website: http://www.mississippirecovery.com/
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency website: http://www.msema.org/index.htm
The Weather Channel website: http://www.weather.com/


Update: October 27, 2005
             Friends of the Arts (FOTA) in Long Island, NY is currently auctioning off a signed Gibson Les Paul Studio Cherry electric guitar. The guitar was signed by all the performers at the 2005 Long Island Summer Festival, including BO DIDDLEY, George Benson, Stanley Clarke, Ravi Coltrane, Donovan, Roberta Flack, Bela Fleck, Nanci Griffith, Arlo Guthrie, John Hiatt, Michael McDonald, Jean Luc Ponty, Seal, Susan Tedeschi plus Sam Clayton, Ken Gradney, Richie Hayward and Fred Tackett of the band Little Feat.
             Photographs of the signed guitar and BO DIDDLEY and other artists autographing the guitar, are currently displayed on the FOTA website, located at http://www.fotapresents.org/WinFOTAGuitar.asp
             The retail value of the unsigned guitar is $1,300. The minimum bid for the signed guitar is $1,500. All bids must be received by FOTA by no later than the close of business on Friday November 11th. The winner will be notified by Wednesday November 16th.
             To bid, please e-mail your name, address, phone number and your bid to fotaguitar@aol.com or send a letter to FOTA Guitar Auction, P.O. Box 702, Locust Valley, NY 11560, USA.
             FOTA is a not for profit organization whose mission to enrich the cultural life on Long Island, NY is achieved through the presentation of world-class artists and captivating arts education programs for young people. All the proceeds from this auction will benefit FOTA programs.
Friends of the Arts (FOTA) website: http://www.fotapresents.org/


Update: October 20, 2005
             Fans living in the area of Norman, OK may be interested to know that the Norman Chamber of Commerce's annual auction, to be held next Thursday evening (October 27th) between 6.00pm-9.00pm at the Oklahoma Memorial Union Ballroom, includes a special opportunity to bid for "A Downtown Evening". Lot #15, "A Downtown Evening", consists of a pair of tickets to see BO DIDDLEY's performance at Norman's historic Sooner Theatre on the evening of Friday November 18th, a $50 gift certificate to Coach's Restaurant and a night's stay at the Montford Inn, all courtesy of Republic Bank & Trust. Further details are available by contacting the Norman Chamber of Commerce.
Norman Chamber of Commerce website: http://www.normanok.org/
The Sooner Theatre website: http://www.soonertheater.com/


Bo's Birthday
             Hey BO DIDDLEY fans, One of the founding fathers of rock & roll, BO DIDDLEY celebrates his 77th birthday on Friday December 30th and we encourage all his many fans around the world to sign the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website Guestbook with your birthday greetings and messages. As we always do at this time of the year, we are making special arrangements for BO DIDDLEY to view each and every one of your greetings. This is an opportunity for you to convey your appreciation and best wishes to one of the undisputed legends of rock & roll and a true original, on the occasion of his 77th birthday. Please sign the Guestbook, located at http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/guestbook.html and show your support for The Originator - BO DIDDLEY.


Update: October 17, 2005
             BO DIDDLEY has recently recorded with movie actor Steven Seagal in Memphis, TN for a projected blues album, tentatively titled "Mojo Priest". Other musicians at the sessions include Ruth Brown, James Cotton, Honeyboy Edwards, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Louisiana Red, Bob Margolin, Hubert Sumlin and Koko Taylor.
             The recording sessions are also being filmed for a potential DVD release.
             Steven Seagal's movie credits include "Above The Law", "Under Siege", "Executive Decision" and "Exit Wounds".
             Whilst in Memphis, BO DIDDLEY also made a surprise guest appearance on- stage during BB King's 80th birthday celebrations at BB King's Blues Club on Beale Street, performing a short impromptu set in front of the capacity crowd.
Steven Seagal official website: http://www.stevenseagal.com/
BB King official website: http://www.bbking.com/


Update: September 21, 2005
             BO DIDDLEY and the Debby Hastings Band are to perform at the annual United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Masquerade Gala at the Mardi Gras Restaurant & Lounge, 824 South State Street (at Silas Brown Road) in Jackson, MS on Friday October 28th at 7.00pm.
             The UNCF is the nation's largest, oldest, most successful and most comprehensive minority higher education assistance organization.
             The UNCF provides operating funds and technology advancement services for 39 member historically black colleges and universities, scholarships and internships for students at about 900 institutions and faculty and administrative professional training.
             Over 60 years, the UNCF has raised more than $2 billion to help a total of more than 350,000 students attend college and has distributed more funds to help minorities attend school than any entity outside of the Government.
             All proceeds from the UNCF Masquerade Gala will fund scholarships for deserving students at Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, MS and Rust College in Holly Springs, MS.
             Due to Hurricane Katrina, the need for scholarships has increased significantly. Almost half of the families of Tougaloo College students lost homes, jobs and the ability to assist their children with college expenses.
             Tickets for the Gala are $75 for VIP seating and $50 for general admission. Tickets may be purchased at the Mardi Gras Restaurant, the Office of Institutional Advancement at Tougaloo College or Be-Bop Record Stores.
United Negro College Fund (UNCF) website: http://www.uncf.org/
Tougaloo College website: http://www.tougaloo.edu/
Rust College website: http://www.rustcollege.edu/
US Department of Education's Hurricane Help For Schools website: http://hurricanehelpforschools.gov/


Update: September 19, 2005
             BO DIDDLEY is one of the musicians paid tribute to on a newly released various artists compilation CD titled "Washington Area Music Timeline Concert Series, Vol. 1".
             The popular blues roots rock band The Nighthawks' live recording from February 2004 of the classic BO DIDDLEY song "Before You Accuse Me" is one of 17 tracks on the CD taken from the Strathmore Arts Center and Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) recent groundbreaking series of concerts celebrating the Washington DC area's music and musicians. These special tribute concerts honored and celebrated Washington's rich, deep and diverse musical history saluting music legends, rising stars, key moments, events, institutions and venues from 1854 to the present, including BO DIDDLEY, Patsy Cline, Duke Ellington, Roberta Flack and Marvin Gaye.
             BO DIDDLEY moved to Washington DC in late 1959 and lived there during the 1960s. In 1986, he was inducted into the WAMA Hall of Fame and in 2003 "The Washingtonian" magazine included him in its Washington Music Hall of Fame.
             Also included on this new tribute CD is a live recording from May 2004 by the female vocal trio The Jewels who, as The Impalas, recorded a number of sessions with BO DIDDLEY in his home studio in Washington DC in the early 1960s.
             This "Washington Area Music Timeline Concert Series, Vol. 1" special live tribute CD is now available to purchase from the CD Baby on-line record store webpage located at http://cdbaby.com/cd/strathmore
The Nighthawks official website: http://www.thenighthawks.com/
Strathmore Arts Center website: http://www.strathmore.org/
Washington Area Music Association (WAMA) website: http://www.wamadc.com/wama/
CD Baby webpage: http://cdbaby.com/cd/strathmore


Update: August 30, 2005
             John McEnroe, 4 times US Open and 3 times Wimbledon Men's Singles Champion, last night swapped his tennis racket for a Les Paul guitar and joined BO DIDDLEY on-stage for a rocking performance of "Who Do You Love" at yesterday's (Monday) opening ceremonies at the 2005 US Open Tennis Championships in Flushing Meadows, NY. Under the headline "John McEnroe Sings The Blues", the unusual musical pairing makes the news today on the celebrity pages of the popular "HELLO!" UK magazine website, located at: http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2005/08/30/usopen/
2005 US Open official website: http://www.usopen.org/
hellomagazine.com website: http://www.hellomagazine.com/


Update: August 23, 2005
             Around 800 fans raised between $3,000 to $5,000 at BO DIDDLEY's benefit concert for the Houchin Community Blood Bank at California State University, Bakersfield last Friday evening.
             The money raised is being donated to the Bank's bone marrow registry. In addition to the money, the concert was also a chance to raise awareness and to appeal to the fans in the audience to be placed on the national registry. Thanks to fund-raisers such as last Friday's concert, there is now no charge to be tested in Kern County, California and you could save a life. If you reside in Kern County and would like to be placed on the national bone marrow registry, please call the Houchin Community Blood Bank toll free on 1-877-364-5844.
             The Houchin Community Blood Bank is a non-profit service organization serving the residents of Kern County.
Houchin Community Blood Bank website: http://www.hcbb.com/


Update: August 13, 2005
             The August/September issue #27 of the UK's most popular blues magazine "Blues Matters!" carries a special 50th anniversary tribute by Stephanie Thorburn to BO DIDDLEY titled "Signifying Blues: BO DIDDLEY's 50th Anniversary in the Music Industry". Issue #27 of "Blues Matters!" is now available. This issue of the magazine also features articles on Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Holly Golightly, Nick & Joe Moss, Iggy Pop, The White Stripes and more. You can obtain copies of "Blues Matters!" magazine direct from their website store, which is located at: http://www.bluesmatters.com/catalog You can also contact info@bluesmatters.com and/or 01656 743406 for a copy. Thanks to the Assistant Manager/Editor of "Blues Matters!" magazine, we are able to bring fans a transcript of Stephanie's article:
Signifying Blues: Bo Diddley's 50th Anniversary In The Music Industry.
By Stephanie Thorburn.
             When Bo Diddley cut "Signifying Blues" in 1960, he was celebrating the language of the ghetto. His upbringing had seen him move from Mississippi to the South Side of Chicago where Ellas McDaniel spent a productive youth on the streets of the Windy City. Well equipped with a fundamental talent and the rectitude of a religious upbringing, he first made contact with a Harmony acoustic guitar on his 12th birthday, a gift from sister Lucille. This landmark followed a transition from the violin, under the disciplinary eye of a certain Professor O.W. Frederick, who was no stranger to enforcing traditional learning methods. By the time that Ellas had secured his debut recording session in March 1955, he was performing for the expectations of Leonard and Phil Chess and was delegated to their subsidiary Checker with high expectations of appealing to an eager teen market. At this stage the pseudonym "Bo Diddley" was crafted, a name taken from a one-stringed African guitar and hence the "bad boy" was born. By 1959/60, Bo cut his teeth and articulated the spirit of his roots onto "Signifying Blues" and "Say Man", a US Top 20 hit. From this point, the essence of funk and rap began to emanate within the seeds of these novelty rap records, absurd in their trade of street insults and folk wit; codes safely negotiated between Bo and side kick Jerome Green, an integral part of his sound. Bo's concept of "signification" does seem curiously akin in places to the phrase coined by Structuralist socio-linguists such as Saussure, yet musically he revelled in bating the creation of completely new sound associations, cross rhythms and whole genres previously unwritten or heard. Needless to say, Bo Diddley is an iconoclastic originator of modern contemporary rock & roll, rhythm & blues, a father to post modern funk, soul, hip hop and rap. He may have put together the "Super, Super Blues Band" with Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, but remains worlds apart from his contemporaries in possessing his own irrepressible and extrovert versatility.

Waking Up A Legend
             2005 marks fifty years in the industry for Bo Diddley. With the assistance of his dedicated musicians, PR and logistical team, he recently toured the States, Australia and Europe in form of a tribute. It was a joy to be able to speak with Bo directly at his home in Florida some weeks after his exhilarating set at The Forum, Kentish Town in April. Armed with my quota of questions, I was in search of some reflections and a little of his acquired wisdom on early sessions, notable working relationships and this year's anniversary dates. I plied my brief carefully with the receiver in hand. Twelve midday being seven am in the States, I reasoned that the advice to 'phone at this time was based on a conscientious morning mentality. The legend took to the other end of the line pitched perfectly in tone, earthy but a little ominously worn. My suspicions were confirmed that this was indeed too damned early for the maestro to be considering the Platonic logics of his life, music and the industry. You can't dampen the essence of a creative spirit and the next half hour was probably more a joy to behold for me than vice versa. With a loud yawn and in breath from Bo, I was now engaging with the impressionistic world of Mr. Diddley, "Fifty years and still a rock and roller, I have been lucky and I have been blessed!" quipped Bo. "I have learned a few things that's all.. I've seen three generations of music and am still here now. I've lasted fifty years and that's a hell of an achievement. It's the music that has kept me around... I have been blessed and something tells me that I've been doin' something right!" Yes indeed Bo.
             Although the facts and contextual milieu of early tours and sessions are for Bo, "Over fifty years ago now, baby", his insights were still vivaciously illuminating. Apparently it has not always been innate for Ellas McDaniel to simply take up his guitar to travel outside the States. On his first UK tour in 1963 with The Stones, Everly Brothers and Little Richard he experienced a sense of strangeness away from home, the UK was a "new thing" and at first it seemed to him as though the audiences were not paying "any attention". Further could have been from the truth with increasing commercial success between 1963 and '64 surely warming Bo's heart a little, with four of his albums in the UK Top 20. Bo's initial perception of Chess was equally uneasy. His overriding memories of the classic session recording of double-sided smash hit "Bo Diddley"/"I'm a Man" were governed by his recollections of an all-night vigil to, "Stay up and get it right, we finally figured it out... The record company was trying to get us to do something". That "something" involved the collective efforts of Billy Boy Arnold, Otis Spann and Jerome Green on harmonica, piano and maracas respectively; his self-titled recording in fact took some thirty-five takes to perfect. Bo's raw energy and hypnotic African/Latin fused, pounding rhythm & blues has yet to be surpassed for many critics and consumers alike. "Bo Diddley" became "A Man" and alternately the "Manish boy" as Muddy Waters expressed his affections for this infectious groove by recording his own version shortly after Bo. The "Originator's" charm and influence was spreading steadily throughout the industry. The double-sided single, "I'm a Man" takes its place next to the demonic imagery and machismo of "Got My Mojo Working" and the "Hoochie Coochie Man" for artists from the Stones, who jammed on a version with Muddy, to every contemporary R&B act in search of the most authentic expression taken from this electric, although unconventional Chicago sound.

Archetypes - Remembering Johnnie Johnson & "The Duchess"
             On a more sombre note, as time moves forward, fewer and fewer founding protagonists of popular music remain with us. April this year saw two dear colleagues of Bo pass away - friend and legend Johnnie Johnson and "Duchess" Norma-Jean Richardson, who took her place in Bo's band between 1962 and 1966. Johnnie, Bo recalls as not only a "great man and great musician", but a firm personal friend. The "Duchess" however was simply Bo's sidekick, "She did a lot of work and travelled all over with me". At the time that Norma-Jean played on Bo's albums "Bo Diddley and Company" (1962) and "Bo Diddley's Beach Party" (1963), it was almost unprecedented for a female guitarist to be hired by a major act. Norma-Jean's predecessor being the seminal Peggy Jones aka "Lady Bo". Bo Diddley's fearlessly avant-garde perception of the music he wished to create and the artists with whom he wished to jam, moved in no uncertain terms beyond any parochial beginnings. Bo was anxious to remind me of the fact that, "There are only four people left from my original band now: me, Gloria (Morgan), Jesse (James Johnson) and Clifton James". Indeed a roll call on his official site, takes the eye through several formative bands represented as teams of "Hipsters" and "Bo-ettes". Undoubtedly, Bo Diddley's dreams and visions have always been strong, but he has shared his goals, preferring to form a firm creative family around him. The "blessing" of his work has seen him share the stage with Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf. These legends are all indeed co-stars within the complex plot of an animated career. Each performance for Bo has been valued equally over the passage of time and captured in his stage act, celebrating the birth of rock & roll beyond the new millennium.

50th Anniversary Tour - The Forum, Kentish Town
             Bo's UK date was tantalisingly poised between further commitments on the European leg of his recent anniversary tour. He had but one date and a few hours to make his mark on an adoring audience. This certainly was a renaissance man performing his best shot, offering a guide through his illustrious repertoire with the help of his current band. Bo and sterling "M.C." Debby Hastings on bass and vocals did a fine job of introducing and delivering the goods, with Bo's increasingly loquacious tongue offering anecdotes and pearls of well-received wisdom. His signature rhythm was reproduced through "Hey Bo Diddley", "Bo Diddley", with the final alternate version being "The Story Of Bo Diddley". Originally "Hey Bo Diddley" was recorded in New York in 1957 with The Flamingos and Peggy Jones. The irony of the tale is that some say this is an adaptation from the nursery rhyme "Old MacDonald", complete with a series of endearing machismo gestures and irreverent tongue-in-cheek humour. Most of Bo's songs are in fact humorous adaptations of traditional folk themes. "Who Do You Love" is of hoodoo origin, in the African-American vein of toasts and boasts. "Bo Diddley" is based on the lullaby "Mockingbird", other sources suggest that "Hey Bo Diddley" is from "Frog Went A-Courtin". Everyone present in the auditorium at The Forum simply absorbed the essence of Bo Diddley's idiosyncratic performance, his language is universal and won over the audience's heart, although I'm sure there could be a real risk of those trad. nursery rhymes turning into Bo anthems back at home; "I'm a man, I'm bad!" declare the kids...
             Indeed, the "history of rock & roll" is one of Bo's favoured themes and he loves to name-drop through all the key exponents of the form from himself and Elvis, to Chuck and beyond. The emphasis of the night never stopped being on the "Originator's" own back catalogue though with, "You Can't Judge A Book", "Crackin' Up", "Say Boss Man" and "Road Runner" all delivered irresistibly. A clear show pinnacle had to be Bo's loud and strong rapping, "Do You Like My Stuff?" Well, not only did the audience appreciate Bo Diddley, but he seemed to be enjoying himself, so much so that he re-appeared after the final curtain to pound out his rhumba-based beat. Without a doubt, Bo is still as fresh as the street performers who influenced his "hambone" style; perhaps the only sting in the tail is that his life-force may have made him a significant influence to his peers, but to an extent an egalitarian helping of wealth and fame may have eluded him, (although only just).

"Say Man, Back Again" - The New Diddley...
             At seventy-six, Bo Diddley's achievements are clear enough and speak for themselves. Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, Grammy Hall of Fame (1998), Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1999). His material has been covered by a diverse assortment of likely and unlikely candidates from The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck and Hendrix to Iggy Pop. Bo's last significant solo album, "A Man Amongst Men" was simply one of his best recordings in twenty years, integrating Chicago blues, reggae and some storming rock & roll with a distinguished cast of collaborators. The past nine years have not yet seen him better this album and having witnessed Bo's recent classy live performance, I was keen to round off my interview by exploring the terrain of what might lay ahead... "Yes, I have been blessd... I can't really explain what it feels like to be Bo to you. It (music) always just looked like something for me to do! And I ain't finished yet, I only just got started. I've been put through school for fifty years; I've still got twenty-thirty years to do somethin'. I'm planning on recording something new, when I have taken care of some personal stuff. There will be a new Diddley, wait and see. Do not forget, I will be back STRONG AND HEAVY!" So, the definitive story of Bo Diddley may yet be a tale of the unexpected... From the man who gave us the tremolo unit, reverb, distortion and a taste for custom-built electric guitars, I can't wait to hear what the shape and sound of things to come will be in future as the "Originator" continues to excel on his trusty Gretsch. Indeed, the most up to date information on-line suggests that a new 21st century version, the Bo Diddley Gretsch Jupiter Thunderbird, now christened the "Billy (Gibbons) - Bo" guitar, could be just one creative endeavour in prospect.
Copyright Stephanie Thorburn 2005

Update: August 11, 2005
             A special 50th anniversary interview and feature on the life and the career of BO DIDDLEY is included in "Rolling Stone" magazine issue #981, dated Thursday August 25th, which goes on sale tomorrow (Friday).
             The feature is titled "BO DIDDLEY - The Life, the Soul and the Indestructible Beat".
             In 2004, "Rolling Stone" named BO DIDDLEY as one of "The Immortals - The 50 Greatest Artists of All-Time".
"Rolling Stone" magazine website: http://www.rollingstone.com/


Update: August 10, 2005
             In a special collectors' edition published to celebrate its 100th issue, the popular UK music and movie magazine "Uncut" has included BO DIDDLEY's 1958 debut album "Bo Diddley" (Chess LP-1431) in its listing of "100 Music, Movie & TV Moments That Have Changed The World".
             Over the past 12 months, "Uncut" magazine has asked industry experts along with music and movie icons including Alice Cooper, Robert Downey Jr., Sir Paul McCartney, Moby, Lou Reed, Keith Richards, Patti Smith, Michael Stipe and Brian Wilson to name their seminal moments from the past 50 years; the 100 rock music songs and albums, films, TV programs and books that have changed our world.
             The "Bo Diddley" album includes such classic tracks as "Bo Diddley", "I'm A Man", "Bring It To Jerome", "Hey Bo Diddley", "Diddley Daddy", "Diddy Wah Diddy", "Who Do You Love" and "Pretty Thing".
             In 2003, "Mojo" magazine in the UK included the LP in its guide to the "100 Greatest Guitar Albums".
"Uncut" magazine website: http://www.uncut.net/
"Mojo" magazine website: http://www.mojo4music.com/


Update: August 9, 2005
             The September/October issue of "HMV Choice", the HMV UK magazine of new specialist music, will be including a special feature about the current Universal Catalog Marketing Chess label relaunch. The comprehensive reissue campaign got under way in the UK yesterday (Monday). The magazine, issue #31, will be available free in-store in all the HMV outlets in the UK and Ireland from September. HMV is the UK and Ireland's leading specialist retailer of music, DVD/video, computer games and related products.
             The Universal Music Chess label relaunch will see the label join the top table treatment afforded to other ground breaking black music labels such as Motown, Studio One and Stax.
             Released yesterday, (Monday), was the BO DIDDLEY limited edition 50th anniversary collectors' single "Bo Diddley"/"I'm A Man", now available in 2 formats: CD single: Chess/Universal 9830032 and 7" single: Chess/Universal 9830033.
             Also released yesterday was the remastered CD version of his classic 1960 LP "Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger" (Chess/Universal 9861447), now available with a total of 15 tracks, including 5 bonus tracks: "Working Man", "Do What I Say", "Prisoner of Love", "Googlia Moo" and "Better Watch Yourself".
             Available from Monday August 29th will be a new 25 track various artists compilation CD titled "Chess Originals" (Chess/Universal 9830156), with all the tracks being handpicked by staff writers at the UK monthly rock music magazine "Mojo" as being ones that particularly illustrate the roots of rock music and the influence that Chess artists had on British musicians such as the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Van Morrison, the Rolling Stones and many others. This collection includes a total of 6 tracks by BO DIDDLEY covering the years 1955 to 1962: "Who Do You Love", "You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover", "I'm A Man", "Pills", "Road Runner" and "I Can Tell", as well as tracks by artists including Chuck Berry, Little Walter, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson and Howlin' Wolf.
             Due for release in September is a new 2 CD various artists anthology titled "Chess Pieces: The Very Best of Chess" (Chess/Universal 9831719). This initial set of releases is due to be followed in the fall by the CD reissue of further original Chess albums, including BO DIDDLEY's 1970 funk classic "The Black Gladiator".
HMV UK website: http://www.hmv.co.uk/


Update: July 30, 2005
             Australian comedy writer Dom Romeo's interview with BO DIDDLEY which took place in Sydney, Australia earlier in the year, is now available for podcast download. Available from this month from the Sydney-based Audio2u, the home of quality podcasts, the interview is episode #1 of "Waxing Lyrical", a new series of audio interviews with musicians and performers complete with musical sound bites.
             Copy and paste the XML link: http://www.audio2u.com/xml/wl.xml into your podcast software in order to download all episodes of "Waxing Lyrical" as they become available. Alternatively, you can visit the Audio2u "Waxing Lyrical" webpage, located at http://www.audio2u.com/waxinglyrical.htm and manually download the podcasts via MP3.
             Excerpts from this interview were previously aired on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News Radio and Music News programs in April, during BO DIDDLEY's successful 50th anniversary concert tour of Australia.
             A written transcript of the interview, in which BO DIDDLEY discusses rap music and the origins of rock & roll and his famous beat, is also available by visiting the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website Forum, located at http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/guestbook.html and then by clicking on the "Enter My Forum" button.
Audio2u "Waxing Lyrical" webpage: http://www.audio2u.com/waxinglyrical.htm


Update: July 13, 2005
             The Chess label is relaunched in the UK this summer by Universal Catalog Marketing with a comprehensive reissue campaign that will see the label join the top table treatment afforded to other ground breaking black music labels such as Motown, Studio One and Stax.
             Available from Monday August 8th will be the special 50th Anniversary Collectors' Edition reissues on CD and 7" vinyl of BO DIDDLEY's debut single "Bo Diddley"/"I'm A Man" (Chess/Universal 9830032/33), plus the remastered version on CD of his 1960 LP "Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger" (Chess/Universal 9861447) with a total of 15 tracks including 5 bonus tracks: "Working Man", "Do What I Say", "Prisoner of Love", "Googlia Moo" and "Better Watch Yourself".
             Also reissued are Chuck Berry's debut single "Maybellene"/"Wee Wee Hours" (Chess/Universal 9830034/35), his 1957 debut album "After School Session" (Chess/Universal 9861350) and his 1964 album "St. Louis to Liverpool" (Chess/Universal 9861352).
             Also due for release in the UK on the same day is a new 25 track various artists compilation CD titled "Chess Originals" (Chess/Universal 9830156), with all the tracks being handpicked by staff writers at the UK monthly rock music magazine "Mojo" as being ones that particularly illustrate the roots of rock music and the influence that Chess artists had on British musicians such as the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Van Morrison, the Rolling Stones and many others. This new collection includes a total of 6 tracks by BO DIDDLEY covering the years 1955 to 1962: "Who Do You Love", "You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover", "I'm A Man", "Pills", "Road Runner" and "I Can Tell", as well as tracks by artists including Chuck Berry, Little Walter, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson and Howlin' Wolf.
             Also available from August 8th in the same series will be the various artists compilation CDs "Chess Northern Soul" (Chess/Universal 9830153), "Chess Tearjerkers" (Chess/Universal 9830154) and "Chess Soul Sisters" (Chess/Universal 9830155).
             These initial Chess releases are due to be followed in the fall by the CD reissue of further original Chess albums including BO DIDDLEY's 1970 funk classic "The Black Gladiator", along with various artist collections including "Chess Psychedelic Jazz & Funky Grooves", "Chess Funk", "Chess Mod" and "Chess Doo Wop".
             In celebration of the Chess label's remarkable impact and to celebrate next month's Universal Music reissue campaign, the August issue of "Mojo" magazine also includes a free 15-track CD titled "Chess Classics", which includes BO DIDDLEY's 1960 recording of his song "Bo Diddley's A Gunslinger" along with tracks by artists including Chuck Berry, Etta James, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson and Howlin' Wolf. The magazine also includes a recent interview with BO DIDDLEY along with a special 50th anniversary feature in which 3 generations of musicians including Eric Burdon, Chuck D, Al Kooper and Keith Richards celebrate BO DIDDLEY's genius by discussing and selecting their favorite BO DIDDLEY tracks. "Mojo" magazine website: http://www.mojo4music.com/.


Update: July 13, 2005
             The new Gretsch G6199 "Billy-Bo" Jupiter Thunderbird Guitar is expected in the stores Tuesday, July 12th. This new guitar, the latest in the Gretsch Professional Collection: Artist Signature Models, highlights BO DIDDLEY's original futuristic design with Billy F Gibbons' added ingredients for a "steaming hot helping of dirty rotten rock & roll!"
             BO DIDDLEY and Billy F Gibbons, guitarist with rock band ZZ Top, recently joined forces and teamed with Gretsch Guitars to create a 21st Century version of the elusive 1959 BO DIDDLEY-designed Gretsch Jupiter Thunderbird that they have dubbed the "Billy-Bo" Guitar.
             Built to BO DIDDLEY and Billy F Gibbons' own specifications and the result of a "science project gone wrong", this black with a Firebird Red top semi-hollow body electric guitar is available in stores from this week.
             This new Gretsch G6199 "Billy-Bo" Jupiter Thunderbird Guitar features a futuristic "stranger than fiction" body design with a heavily chambered mahogany body and one-piece mahogany neck, a Rosewood fingerboard with vintage mother-of-pearl neo-classic "thumbnail" inlays, 22 frets, an ultra-thin laminated maple top, a Gretsch G-Cutout tailpiece, chrome-plated hardware, headstock and body bindings, a black plexi pickguard, an adjustable truss rod, Grover Sta-Tite machine heads, TV Jones Power'Tron (neck) and Power'Tron "Plus" (bridge) pick-ups, pinned Adjusto-matic bridge, Schaller straplocks, a 3-position toggle pick-up switching, a custom de luxe hardshell case and "enough vibe to make space aliens dance the alligator!"
             The new Gretsch G6199 "Billy-Bo" Jupiter Thunderbird Guitar now proudly takes its place alongside the other BO DIDDLEY Gretsch Artist Signature Models: Gretsch Professional Collection: Artist Signature Model - G6138 Bo Diddley:
             For five decades, BO DIDDLEY has been turning heads with his great chops, incredible showmanship and outrageous guitars. Now it's your turn! The G6138 is a faithful reproduction of the famous rectangle-shaped guitar Gretsch built for BO DIDDLEY back in 1958.
             Measuring 17-3/4" x 9-1/4" x 2" and made of alder and 5-ply maple, the eye catching Firebird red semi-hollow body features two FilterTron pick-ups, a Tune-O-Matic bridge, Gretsch "G" tailpiece and plenty of gold hardware. The 3-piece rock maple neck has an ebonized rosewood fingerboard with "dot" pearl inlays, a 1957 style headstock and a special BO DIDDLEY signature on the truss rod cover.


Update: July 12, 2005
           BO DIDDLEY and the Debby Hastings Band will be performing at an exclusive concert and party hosted by HITS - Horse Shows In The Sun on the evening of Friday September 16th to benefit Family of Woodstock, Inc., a not for profit organization providing crisis intervention, information and support services to individuals and families throughout Ulster County, NY.
           The event is part of the equestrian Marshall & Sterling League National Finals being held from September 16th thru 18th inc. at the HITS-on-the-Hudson show grounds, 454 Washington Avenue Extension in Saugerties, NY.
           Family of Woodstock, Inc. was launched in 1970 when young people who attended the Woodstock rock music festival remained in town and needed help rather than intervention from the police. What started as a rudimentary helping hand has developed into the second oldest continuously operating 24-hour-a-day emergency switchboard in the United States.
           Family of Woodstock, Inc.'s principle focus is crisis intervention, including emergency shelter and food, services to teens, childcare and comprehensive services for people with substance abuse problems, domestic violence issues, HIV/AIDS and people who are involved with the criminal justice system. The charity has more than 100,000 contacts each year through its hotline, social services programs and three walk-in centers. Approximately 180 people are on staff along with 200 volunteers to meet the community needs.
           HITS produced its first series of horse shows - a three-week circuit in Gainesville, FL - in 1982. Today, HITS produces five circuits - Ocala Winter Circuit in Florida; Indio Desert Circuit in California; Arizona Winter Circuit in Tucson; HITS Culpeper in Virginia; and HITS-on-the Hudson in New York. Collectively, they represent the largest group of equestrian events under a single management group in the United States.
Family of Woodstock, Inc. website: http://www.familyofwoodstockinc.org/
HITS - Horse Shows In The Sun website: http://www.hitsshows.com/


Update: June 8, 2005
           The special limited edition 50th anniversary reissue of BO DIDDLEY's debut single "Bo Diddley"/"I'm A Man" set for release by the Universal Music Group in the UK on Monday June 20th will be available in 2 formats: 2-track CD (Chess 9830032) and 7" vinyl (Chess 9830033).
           The 50th anniversary reissue of Chuck Berry's debut single "Maybellene"/"Wee Wee Hours" will also be available on both 7" vinyl (Chess 9830034) and 2-track CD (Chess 9830035) formats on the same day.
           Both singles are described by Universal thus: "We present this historical 50th anniversary limited edition single. Celebrating a pivotal moment in modern guitar music that changed the lives of both the people who heard it, (The Beatles and The Rolling Stones included), and the direction of music itself".


Update: June 4, 2005
           To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of BO DIDDLEY's debut single "Bo Diddley"/"I'm A Man" (Checker 814), the 2 tracks are to be reissued in the UK on Monday June 20th by the Universal Music Group on a special limited edition 2-track CD single, (Chess CD 9830032).
           Also set for reissue by Universal in the UK on the same day is Chuck Berry's debut single "Maybellene"/"Wee Wee Hours", (Chess CD 9830035).
           Both CDs are described by Universal thus: "We present this historical 50th anniversary limited edition single. Celebrating a pivotal moment in modern guitar music that changed the lives of both the people who heard it, (The Beatles and The Rolling Stones included), and the direction of music itself".
           The original 2 singles were recently voted by visitors to the popular DigitalDreamDoor.com website into the #1 and #2 positions respectively in their listing of the 100 Greatest Rock Debut Singles. Both records are now widely hailed as being amongst the most influential debut singles in history and the cornerstones of rock music.
           In other BO DIDDLEY 50th anniversary news, the popular UK monthly rock music magazine "Mojo" is set to include an interview with BO DIDDLEY along with a special 50th anniversary feature in its August issue, available on news-stands on Wednesday July 6th, and the UK's most popular blues magazine "Blues Matters!" will be carrying a special 50th anniversary tribute to BO DIDDLEY in its August/September issue #27, which will be available around Monday August 1st.
Mojo magazine website: http://www.mojo4music.com/
Blues Matters! magazine website: http://www.bluesmatters.com/


Update: May 25, 2005
           BO DIDDLEY's original girl guitar player, Lady Bo, along with her horn section the BC Horns, will be performing this Memorial Day Weekend at the 16th Annual Boulder Creek Art, Wine & Music Festival in Boulder Creek, CA. Lady Bo & the BC Horns will be taking to the stage on Sunday afternoon (May 29th) at 5.00pm, for an hour-long show. Admission to the 3-day Festival is free.
           The power duo of Lady Bo and her husband/bassist Wally Malone also have the following dates upcoming at the Rapscallion Seafood House & Bar, 1555 South Wells Avenue in Reno, NV:
           Wednesday thru Saturday 1st-4th June (inclusive), Wednesday thru Saturday 6th-9th July (inclusive), Wednesday thru Saturday 17th-20th August (inclusive) and Wednesday thru Saturday 7th-10th September (inclusive), all shows beginning at 6.30pm (Wednesdays & Thursdays) and at 7.00pm (Fridays & Saturdays). For further info call (775) 323-1211.
           Lady Bo was one of the undoubted success stories of the 4th Annual Ponderosa Stomp held in New Orleans, LA last month, her duet with soul singer Brenton Wood on the Sam Cooke favorite "You Send Me" in particular being hailed as a "show-stopper" by the local press and music fans variously describing her as "amazing" and as "an incredibly classy lady". We'd like to take this opportunity to send our very best wishes and congratulations to Lady Bo on the occasion of her upcoming 65th birthday on Tuesday July 19th.
           Lady Bo - "Rock & Roll's First Lady of Guitar" - was born Peggy Jones in New York City. In 1957, at the tender age of 17, Peggy joined BO DIDDLEY's band (replacing guitarist Jody Williams) and becoming his original girl lead guitarist, arranger and protegee. She recorded and appears on every original BO DIDDLEY Chess/Checker album from "Bo Diddley" in 1958 thru to "Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger" in 1960, plus all the single releases from that period, along with all the 75+ reissues and retitled compilations released by MCA/Universal and on other labels around the world. She later performed on the newer material that BO DIDDLEY recorded in the 1980s and 1990s and that was released on the Triple XXX label.
           Lady Bo can be heard on vocals and electric guitar on such late 1950s/early 1960s BO DIDDLEY classics as "Hey Bo Diddley", "Mona". "Say Man", "Story of Bo Diddley", "Crackin' Up", "Say Man, Back Again", "Road Runner", "Cadillac", "Ride On Josephine", "Bo Diddley's A Gunslinger", "Aztec", "Pills" and many others.
           She later went on to play on the sessions for Les Cooper & The Soul Rockers' Top 30 instrumental hit "Wiggle Wobble" and on Eric Burdon & The Animals' worldwide smash "San Franciscan Nights", as well as appearances with BO DIDDLEY on the Kenny Rogers and the Donny & Marie Osmond TV shows in the 1970s and in the popular Warner Bros. movie of 1987 "The Lost Boys".
           Lady Bo has gone on in recent years to perform, both in solo performance and with her rhythm section the Family Jewel and/or horn section the BC Horns, to appreciative audiences right across North America and Europe; audiences that are eager to witness at first-hand the show-stopping performances of "Rock & Roll's First Lady of Guitar" - Lady Bo.
Rapscallion Seafood House & Bar website: http://www.rapscallion.com/


Update: May 24, 2005
           The popular UK music magazine "Q Classic" has included the 1997 BO DIDDLEY compilation CD "Bo Diddley-His Best" (MCA/Chess CHD 9373) in its new Essential Blues Buyers' Guide to the 75 Blues Greats' Best Albums, published this month.
           Amongst the classic tracks on the "Bo Diddley-His Best" CD, which covers his recording career from the years 1955 to 1966, are "Bo Diddley", "I'm A Man", "Pretty Thing", "Bring It To Jerome", "Who Do You Love", "Hey Bo Diddley", "Mona", "Before You Accuse Me", "Road Runner" and "You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover".
           This new listing was compiled by the staff writers at "Q" and "Mojo" music magazines in the UK. This is the latest of several accolades to be awarded to the "Bo Diddley-His Best" CD over recent years. Writing in "Vanity Fair" magazine in 2000, songwriter and performer Elvis Costello listed it as one of his "500 Albums You Need - The Best Of The Best". In 2003, "Blender" magazine listed it as one of its "500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die!" and last year, to mark 50 years of rock & roll, the LAUNCH Music on Yahoo! website listed it as one of its "Required Rock Albums".
           Also making the list in this new "Q Classic" guide to the 75 Best Blues Albums are the 1997 2 CD compilation set "The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection" (MCA/Chess CHD 2-9382), which includes 2 tracks by BO DIDDLEY: "I'm A Man" and "Road Runner" along with classic recordings by artists such as Chuck Berry, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Etta James, Little Walter, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson and Howlin' Wolf, plus the 5 CD compilation box set "Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: A Musical Journey" (Hip-O/Universal CD 39302), released in 2003, which includes BO DIDDLEY's classic recording of "Who Do You Love" as well as tracks by artists such as Louis Armstrong, WC Handy, Billie Holiday, Robert Johnson, BB King, Elvis Presley and Bonnie Raitt.
"Q" music magazine website: http://www.q4music.com/
"Mojo" music magazine website: http://www.mojo4music.com/


Update: May 20, 2005
           There's a special opportunity for fans when BO DIDDLEY and the Debby Hastings Band play New York's only floating music festival, the New York City Blues Cruise on the evening of Wednesday August 24th.
           The 2-hour scenic cruises around New York Harbor for this unique and exciting musical experience depart from 42nd Street and the Hudson River's Circle Line Pier 83 at 7.00pm and 9.30pm, rain or shine.
           Although it is not possible to make any arrangements in advance and depending on BO DIDDLEY's schedule, there is provision made for a meet and greet session on-board ship after each performance.
           Now in its 10th year, tickets for the Summer 2005 season of the NYC Blues Cruise are now available. Each cruise is a scenic 2-hour tour around lower Manhattan, passing beneath the Brooklyn Bridge and floating by the Statue of Liberty, accompanied by live music performed by America's top artists. For ticket information, call (212) 630-8888. To hear a recorded message with the latest on the NYC Blues Cruise, call (212) 560-BLUE.
           Fans living elsewhere in North America will also get the opportunity to see BO DIDDLEY live on-stage during this, his 50th anniversary tour, with appearances currently lined-up at venues in California, Connecticut, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba.
           Please note that all dates and venues are subject to change and that you should check with the Forthcoming Appearances page of the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website located at http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/dates.html for all the latest updates.
           New York City Blues Cruise website: http://www.bluescruiseny.com/


Update: May 18, 2005
           BO DIDDLEY and Billy F Gibbons, guitarist with the popular rock trio ZZ Top, have joined forces and teamed with Gretsch Guitars to create a 21st century version of the elusive 1959 BO DIDDLEY-designed Gretsch Jupiter Thunderbird that they have dubbed the "Billy-Bo" Guitar.
           This message from Billy F Gibbons of ZZ Top: "Some time ago, Bo gave me the guitar as a gift. It was during the recent ZZ Top recordings when the engineering crew and I snaked through the guitar vault searching for that 'certain-something' guitar and there it was! We didn't risk subjecting such a rare instrument to the rigors of the road so this new, reproduction model was recreated with some BFG Mojo thrown in for good measure. It's now the main stage guitar with a groove."
           The new Gretsch "Billy-Bo" Jupiter Thunderbird Guitar will highlight BO DIDDLEY's original futuristic design with Billy F Gibbons' added ingredients for a steaming hot helping of dirty rotten rock & roll!
           The result of this "science project gone wrong" will feature a heavily chambered mahogany body, one-piece mahogany neck, ultra-thin laminate maple top, TV Jones Power'Tron (neck) and Power'Tron "Plus" (bridge) pick-ups, pinned Adjusto-matic bridge, Schaller Straplocks and enough "vibe" to make space aliens dance the alligator!
           First availability in stores is expected to be July.
           ZZ Top had the honor of inducting BO DIDDLEY into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. A decade later, during a joint appearance in the UK by BO DIDDLEY and ZZ Top on the BBC TV music show "Later With Jools Holland", in answer to several questions put to them about their career such as what influences the band had had in their early years and where the name ZZ Top came from, the band each time simply pointed across the studio to BO DIDDLEY and replied "Him!"
           During the band's 36-year long career, ZZ Top have enjoyed considerable Top 40 success with songs such as "Tush", "Gimme All Your Lovin'", "Legs", "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Cheap Sunglasses". ZZ Top will embark on an extensive 24-week tour of North America next month.
Gretsch Guitars "Billy-Bo" Guitar webpage: http://www.gretschguitars.com/news/billy-bo.html
ZZ Top official website: http://www.zztop.com/


Update: May 12, 2005
           Norma-Jean Richardson aka Duchess, fondly-remembered member of the BO DIDDLEY band between the years 1962 and 1966, died on Saturday April 30th in Fontana, CA.
           BO DIDDLEY was very saddened by the news that Duchess ... his "Play Sister" ... had passed away. "Norma-Jean was my first sidekick," he said, "...we did everything together. She was like family, which was why I told everyone she was my sister. There was no one else like her and I will miss her very much. I hadn't seen Duchess in so many years, but then she surprised me at a show in California last July. I'm so glad we had the chance to spend some time together again before she left this Earth".
           BO DIDDLEY would like to thank the MusiCares organization for¬Żassisting him in handling the funeral arrangements for Duchess and encourages all his fans to support their wonderful charity. The tragic health and financial hardships faced by too many members of the music profession prompted the Recording Academy's establishment of the MusiCares Foundation in 1989. For more information about the MusiCares Foundation, please visit their webpage located at http://www.grammy.com/musicares


Update: May 7, 2005
           BO DIDDLEY will be performing this Sunday, (Mother's Day, May 8th), at the House of Blues, 329 N Dearborn in Chicago, IL at the inaugural "Jammin' The Blues" fundraiser for the Koko Taylor Celebrity Aid Foundation. Other performers set to appear at the show include Otis Clay, Melvia "Chick" Rodgers, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Slackdaddies Blues Band, Koko Taylor and Nellie "Tiger" Travis.
           The mission of the non-profit Koko Taylor Celebrity Aid Foundation is to provide struggling and impoverished members of the arts and entertainment industry with everything from career counseling on topics such as insurance, health care and alcohol and drug problems, to help with rent and medical bills. Sunday evening's benefit will specifically aid Chicago performers Cicero Blake and Willie Kent.
           Tickets for the 18+ show, which begins at 7.00pm on Sunday, are priced at $35 for general admission and $50 for VIP (which includes reception). Tel: (312) 559-1212 or (312) 923-2000.


update: May 6, 2005
           We were very saddened to receive the news that Norma-Jean Richardson aka Duchess, fondly-remembered member of the BO DIDDLEY band between the years 1962 and 1966, died at 4.00am local time this morning (Saturday) in hospital in Fontana, CA.
           Born Norma-Jean Wofford in Pittsburgh, PA, BO DIDDLEY taught her to play and how to emulate his sound on the electric guitar. Contrary to speculation during the time that she was a member of his band, Norma- Jean and BO DIDDLEY were not related.
           Given the stage name Duchess by BO DIDDLEY, she joined his band on electric guitar and vocals just prior to the recording of the "Bo Diddley & Company" LP in 1962 and appearing on the front cover of the album sleeve.
           The following year she played on the classic live "Bo Diddley's Beach Party" LP, before undertaking BO DIDDLEY's debut UK tour in the fall of 1963, along with the Everly Brothers, Little Richard and the then newly-formed Rolling Stones, followed by a second tour of the UK in the fall of 1965.
           Notable TV and movie appearances for BO DIDDLEY and Duchess included the Clay Cole TV show and "The Big TNT Show" movie and two appearances on the popular "Ready Steady Go!" UK TV music show.
           Duchess was also immortalised in song at the time by Eric Burdon in the Animals' recording "The Story of Bo Diddley":
           He turned around the Duchess And he said, "Hey Duchess...what do you think of these young guys Doin' our material?" She said, "I don't know. I only came across here To see the Changin' of the Guards and all that jazz."
           (Words and music: Eric Burdon/Ellas McDaniel)
           This message from Norma-Jean's long-time friend Ritzy Lee of the singing group The Del-Vikings:
           "I am very saddened by this news, because in the 40 or more years that I have known Norma-Jean, I have never seen or heard anything about her or the life she lived that was not GOOD. She not only loved playing the guitar, but loved as well the reception that she experienced from all of the BO DIDDLEY fans around the world. And she expounded on that fact many, many times to me during our various conversations over the years. Norma-Jean Richardson was truly The Duchess of Rock and Roll".
           We send our sincere condolences to Norma-Jean's family and friends at this very sad time.


update: April 19, 2005
           Fans may be interested to know that there will be another opportunity to hear "The Chess Story" radio documentary, first broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in the year 2000.
           Narrated by Marshall Chess and with contributions from such British rock luminaries as Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison and Bill Wyman, the 4 half-hour programs document the story and importance of the Chess record label in the development of electric blues and rock & roll music and the influence that the label's artists including BO DIDDLEY, Chuck Berry, Little Walter, Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, had on British musicians in the rhythm & blues boom of the 1960s.
           "6 Music Plays It Again - The Chess Story" will be broadcast on the BBC 6 Music DAB digital radio service over the course of the 4 evenings of Tuesday April 26th, Wednesday April 27th, Thursday April 28th and Monday May 2nd between 9.30pm-10.00pm BST (8.30pm-9.00pm GMT/UTC).
           Listeners around the world can also listen on-line to the shows streamed as RealMedia via the BBC Radio Player, either by visiting the BBC 6 Music "6 Music Plays It Again" webpage located at http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/inthearchive/ and clicking the "Listen Live" link or for an additional 7 days after each show has aired by clicking the "Listen Again To This Show" link.
           BBC 6 Music "6 Music Plays It Again" webpage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/inthearchive/


update: April 7, 2005
           BO DIDDLEY is included in "Rolling Stone" magazine's updated listing of "The Immortals - The 100 Greatest Artists of All-Time". The 100 artists chosen were voted for by a number of performers and movie and music luminaries including BO DIDDLEY, Jackson Browne, Chuck D, Neil Diamond, Dr. John, The Edge, Art Garfunkel, Billy Gibbons, Don Henley, Chrissie Hynde, Keith Richards, Smokey Robinson, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Stephen Stills, Quentin Tarantino, Pete Townshend and Jerry Wexler.
           The list is included in a special issue of the magazine published tomorrow (Friday) to mark 50 years of rock & roll. In previous special issues of "Rolling Stone" published to mark rock & roll's 50th anniversary, the magazine named BO DIDDLEY as one of "The Immortals - The 50 Greatest Artists of All-Time" and included his songs "Bo Diddley", "Who Do You Love" and "I'm A Man" amongst its "500 Greatest Songs of All-Time".
"Rolling Stone" magazine website: http://www.rollingstone.com/


update: April 1, 2005
           BO DIDDLEY's recent interview on the "Jay & The Doctor" breakfast show on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) triple j music network is now available to download in MP3 format from the show's "Listen" page, located at: http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/jayandthedoctor/listen/default.htm.
           The interview was originally broadcast in Australia on Wednesday morning (March 30th). We are delighted to be able to announce that BO DIDDLEY and the Debby Hastings Band received a rapturous welcome from the fans in Australia during their recent tour there. Writing in "The Age", Melbourne's leading quality newspaper, Patrick Donovan reports today (Friday) that: "Last weekend, 76-year-old rock guitar "originator" BO DIDDLEY defied sceptics who accused him of being a one-trick pony by playing a genre-defying set of funk, soul, doo wop, psychedelic rock, country, rap - and his signature BO DIDDLEY blues beat".
           BO DIDDLEY and the Debby Hastings Band are shortly to take their 50th anniversary tour on to Europe, with shows in England, Ireland, Finland, Czech Republic, Italy, The Netherlands, France, Croatia and Slovenia, before returning to the US to perform coast to coast throughout the remainder of 2005. Fans are invited to check with the Forthcoming Appearances page of the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website for details.
"Jay & The Doctor" breakfast show
"The Age" newspaper.


update: March 31, 2005
           The winners of the 2004 International Songwriting Competition (ISC) have been announced. The prestigious panel of judges, which included BO DIDDLEY, Clint Black, Sean "P Diddy" Combs, Macy Gray, David Hidalgo, Taj Mahal and Branford Marsalis, judged submissions on the basis of creativity, originality, lyrics, melody and composition in a number of different categories including blues, instrumental, jazz, R&B/hip hop and rock.
           We send our warmest congratulations to Virginia "Gin" Wigmore, aged 18, of Auckland, New Zealand whose songs "Hallelujah" won the grand prize in the competition and "Angelfire" in the teen category and to all of the winners in each of the other song categories.
           The mission of the Nashville, TN-based annual songwriting contest is to provide the opportunity for both aspiring and established songwriters to have their songs heard in a professional international arena. To see the complete list of 2004 winners, please visit the ISC website's winners' page, located at http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners.htm and click on the song titles to hear the winning songs. The judging panel for the 2005 competition will be announced shortly.
International Songwriting Competition (ISC)


update: March 29, 2005
           The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Radio 2 show "Suzi Quatro: Rockin' With Suzi Q", which features a blend of the best American music from the rock & roll era of the 1950s and early 1960s, on Thursday April 7th between 9.00pm-10.00pm BST, (8.00pm-9.00pm GMT/UTC), will recall the release 50 years ago of BO DIDDLEY's debut single "Bo Diddley"/"I'm A Man" (Checker 814). The show's weekly "Golden Anniversary" feature celebrates the 50th anniversary of a key moment in rock & roll history.
           Listeners around the world can listen on-line to the show streamed as RealMedia either by visiting the BBC Radio 2 "Suzi Quatro: Rockin' With Suzi Q" webpage located at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/quatro and clicking the "Listen Live" link or for an additional 7 days after the show has aired by clicking the "Listen Again To This Show" link.
           In related news, visitors to the popular DigitalDreamDoor.com website have recently nominated "Bo Diddley"/"I'm A Man" into Number 1 position in the website's "100 Greatest Rock Debut Singles" music list. The singles that make up the list were chosen and ranked based upon their initial and lasting popularity and their impact and influence on rock & roll and its related genres.
           In recent months, visitors to the DigitalDreamDoor.com website have nominated BO DIDDLEY and his recordings in many other categories, including as one of the "100 Greatest Artists of Rock", one of the "100 Most Influential Rock & Roll Artists" and as one of the "100 Greatest Rock Guitarists"; nominated his song "Bo Diddley" as one of the "100 Greatest Rock Songs", one of the "100 Greatest R&B/Soul Songs" and as one of the "100 Greatest Rock Guitar Riffs" and nominated his 1958 album "Bo Diddley" and his 1960 album "Have Guitar-Will Travel" amongst the "100 Greatest Rock Guitar Albums" and his 1960 album "Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger" as one of the "100 Greatest Rock Albums of the 1960s".
BBC Radio 2 "Suzi Quatro: Rockin' With Suzi Q
DigitalDreamDoor.com


update: March 22, 2005
           A reminder to fans living in Australia that BO DIDDLEY & the Debby Hastings Band are set to perform twice on the Crossroads Stage over 2 consecutive days this Easter, (Good Friday and Easter Saturday), at the 16th annual East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival being held at Red Devil Park in Byron Bay, New South Wales.
           On Easter Sunday (27th), they will be appearing at the Prince of Wales nightclub in Melbourne and on Wednesday March 30th, at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney.
           To mark BO DIDDLEY's appearance at this weekend's music festival, Warners Music in Australia have included his recording of his song "Who Do You Love" amongst the 38 tracks on the official album of the 2005 Festival, available this week on Warners 2CD-5046772192.
           BO DIDDLEY is also scheduled to be interviewed by Jordie Kilby, host of the "Roots 'n All" radio program heard over the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) "triple j" national music network, beginning at 11.00pm local time (noon GMT/UTC) this Thursday (24th). "Roots 'n All" is a weekly 2-hour program broadcast from Sydney, featuring the best in blues, folk, jazz, country, soul, reggae and world music.
           The "Roots 'n All" shows are also available to listeners around the world on-line either via live simulcast audio stream or audio on demand streaming, using the free versions of RealPlayer or Windows media, by visiting the ABC's "Roots 'n All" radio program webpage, located at: http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/roots/default.htm The shows remain on-line for one week after broadcast.
           Fans living in the Sunshine Coast district of Queensland may also be interested to know that the following day, (Good Friday), a number of performers at this weekend's music festival are lined-up to be interviewed by Gerry Blain, the host of the popular weekly "Chillblain's Port & Cornflakes" blues show, broadcast between 6.00am-9.00am local time on Noosa Community Radio 4NSA 101.3FM in Tewantin, Queensland.
           Please note that all the interview dates and times listed above are subject to change.
2005 East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival

Noosa Community Radio


update: March 19, 2005
           BO DIDDLEY's landmark November 1955 appearance on Ed Sullivan's "Toast Of The Town" CBS-TV show is included in a new movie titled "Rock Is Fifty!", a newly-created compilation of pioneering early rock performances from "The Ed Sullivan Show" from the years 1955-1960. Produced by Andrew Solt and Martin Lewis for Sofa Entertainment, the movie also features "The Ed Sullivan Show" debuts of Bill Haley & His Comets, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley.
         &nb This movie will be screened daily (except Mondays) at the New York Museum of TV & Radio, 25 West 52nd St. in New York, NY from Wednesday March 23rd to Sunday April 24th inc. at 1.30pm and also daily (except Mondays & Tuesdays) at the Los Angeles Museum of TV & Radio, 465 North Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, CA from Wednesday March 30th to Sunday April 24th inc. at 12.30pm.
         &nb Additionally, a gallery exhibit of posters, artifacts and photographs titled " Rock Is Fifty! A Celebration of an Era from The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum" is being staged between Wednesday March 30th and Sunday July 10th inc. at the Los Angeles Museum of TV & Radio.
         &nb In the year 2000, BO DIDDLEY's performance of his song "Bo Diddley" on Ed Sullivan's "Toast Of The Town" TV show was included in VH1's listing of the "100 Greatest Rock & Roll Moments On TV".
Museum of TV & Radio website.


update: March 15, 2005
           In joint celebration of rock & roll's 50th anniversary and the 20th birthday of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, BO DIDDLEY and his bass player Debby Hastings joined forces on-stage with Eric Clapton, Robbie Robertson and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Orchestra led by Paul Shaffer to play a rousing version of "Bo Diddley" at last night's (Monday) 2005 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, NY.
           The 2005 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame "Performer" Inductees were Buddy Guy, the O'Jays, the Pretenders, Percy Sledge and U2. The Inductees in the "Lifetime Achievement in the Non-Performer" category were Frank Barsalona and Seymour Stein.
           The evening was taped by VH1, which will broadcast a 2-hour highlights special this Saturday (19th) beginning at 9.00pm ET/PT.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum website.
VH1 website.


update: March 14, 2005
           To mark both the 50th anniversary of BO DIDDLEY's debut recording session this month plus BO DIDDLEY's good friend Ronnie Hawkins' recent 70th birthday, DJ Al "Cool Daddy" Smith in Brompton, Ontario, Canada has put together a special tribute edition of his popular monthly program for the Rock-it Radio rockin' oldies Internet broadcaster.
           This special tribute program, which includes a number of rarely-broadcast BO DIDDLEY tracks including "Bo's Bounce", "Traveling West", "Signifying Blues" and "Limber", will be available to listeners for approximately the next 10 days only, by visiting the Archives Page of the Rock-it Radio website, located at http://www.palmsradio.com/rockittext.htm
           This program is Rock-it Radio Show #1235, Al "Cool Daddy" Smith's tribute to BO DIDDLEY, Ronnie Hawkins and early Canadian rock & roll, and is available to listeners around the world 24/7 via the RealPlayer audio player available for free download from RealNetworks.com and by clicking on the Rock-it Radio Show #1235 link on the Rock-it Radio Archives Page.
Rock-it Radio rockin' oldies website.
Rock-it Radio website Archives Page.
RealNetworks.com website.


update: March 5, 2005
           As we previously reported, BO DIDDLEY and an all-star band are set to headline the gala opening of the premiere exhibit "That Great Gretsch Sound" being held at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, 200 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Macon, GA next Thursday (March 10th).
           The exhibit, which opened in January, features select historic and current Gretsch models of instruments used by musicians including Chet Atkins, George Harrison, Brian Setzer and Charlie Watts.
           Next week's gala opening night will launch a two-year Founders' Celebration in honor of Gretsch founder Friedrich Gretsch, his son Fred Gretsch Sr. and grandson Fred Gretsch Jr. and includes a ribbon cutting, a reception and concert headlined by BO DIDDLEY, featuring special guest appearances by Randy Bachman on guitar, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums and Chuck Leavell on keyboards.
           Tickets for this gala opening, which begins at 7.00pm next Thursday evening, cost $100 for guests and $75 for Georgia Music Hall of Fame members. For ticket information, call 478-750-8555 ext. 101. Honored guests are set to include the Director of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum and the Head of Fender Guitars.
           In 1955, BO DIDDLEY made his first recordings on a Gretsch Firebird electric guitar. A couple of years later, Gretsch made him a guitar in the shape of an arrow, the first of many custom-built guitars they were to go on to make for him. In 1958 came his famous "Big B" rectangle- shaped guitar, followed by a matching pair of Gretsch rocket-tail shaped guitars in 1962.
           Georgia-based Gretsch Guitars currently manufacture the popular G6138 Bo Diddley Artist Signature Model in their Professional Collection along with the G5810 Bo Diddley and G5850 Mini Diddley Artist Signature Models in their Electromatic Collection.
Georgia Music Hall of Fame website: http://www.gamusichall.com/
Gretsch Musical Instruments website: http://www.gretsch.com/


update: Feb. 23, 2005
           For those of you who were unable to join last week's very successful Soul-Patrol.com website live on-line chat with BO DIDDLEY, we have now edited the transcript of the 90-minute session to give you a brief summary of some of the comments and questions that were put to him by his fans and admirers.
           An edited transcript of the BO DIDDLEY Soul-Patrol on-line chat session is now available within the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website's Forum at http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/guestbook.html and then by clicking on the "Enter My Forum" button.
           Special thanks to Soul-Patrol.com CEO Bob Davis, Soul-Patrol.Net Radio presenter and chat room host Nightrain, Wolfgang Guhl and the many fans across the US and around the world who made last week's chat session such a success.
           Next up in the Soul-Patrol Chat Room will be the popular Chicago soul group the Chi-Lites, coming up this Thursday (February 24th), beginning at 10.00pm EST.


update: Feb. 21, 2005
           As we have previously informed you, a number of broadcast and on-line music programs around the world are planning special shows and features during the months of February and March to mark the 50th anniversary of BO DIDDLEY's debut recording session.
           One of these specials is billed as a 2-hour "BO DIDDLEY Blast-O-Rama: 2 hours of BO DIDDLEY classics and covers in homage to the Originator". In addition to BO DIDDLEY, the playlist includes bands such as the Animals, Beavers, Downliners Sect, Hard Feelings, Jack Horner & The Plums, Juveniles, Pretty Things, Rovin' Flames, Shadows of Knight, Sonics and Thee Milkshakes.
           Originally aired earlier this month, this special is now due to be rebroadcast by popular demand on the "Rock & Roll Radio" program over radio station WUSC 90.5 FM on Wednesday March 2nd between 8.00pm-10.00 pm EST (1.00am-3.00am GMT/UTC Thursday March 3rd).
           WUSC 90.5 FM free-form alternative station is the student-run station of the University of South Carolina, Columbia Campus and is available to listeners around the world via audio stream webcast by visiting the station's website and clicking on the "Listen" link.
WUSC 90.5 FM website: http://wusc.sc.edu
"Rock & Roll Radio" program website: http://rnrradio.com/


update: Feb. 17, 2005
           Our thanks to all the many fans around the world who helped to make BO DIDDLEY's Soul-Patrol on-line chat session yesterday evening such a resounding success. A special note of thanks to his many fans in Europe, for whom it was the early hours of Thursday morning.
           This message from Soul-Patrol.com CEO Bob Davis: It was an AWESOME chat session, providing for us a valuble history lesson! Here are some of the topics that Bo took us to school on ... Culture banditry, origins of rock & roll, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, history of Chess Records, P-Funk/Bernie Worrell, Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters, Ed Sullivan, Bo's new projects, hypocrisy of record companies, Sun Ra, Harvey Fuqua & the Moonglows, Marvin Gaye, Sylvia Robinson, the rock & roll industry, his recent performance at BB King's in NYC and more.
           Bo came about 1/2 hr early and hung out with us in the Soul-Patrol Chat Room for 1.5 hrs answering questions, providing commentary and talking sh*t.
           It was truly one of the best times that I have spent on the Internet. Frank Massini of Danny & the Juniors ("At The Hop") joined in as a special surprise guest! The session was further enhanced by what seems to be developing into a regular crew of about 15 - 20 chatters from across the country and around the world, including a young lady from Munich, Germany who turned us on to her AWESOME Chuck Berry website @ http://www.chuckberry.de.
           Also having Bo Diddley's music being streamed into the Chat Room during the session was helpful for those who either had a limited knowledge about Bo Diddley or had forgotten about his music. It helped to spur questions from chatters and it generated commentary from Bo himself with respect to certain songs.
           "HalfandHalf" (Greer Brooks Muldoon) also joined us for the first time and told us about the weekly series of Black Music History Trivia Chat sessions that she will be hosting starting in March in the Soul-Patrol Chat Room. She will be awarding CD's as prizes for the winners. (Stay tuned for details) For me personally it's wonderful to see such great discussion taking place as a result of the convergence of so many different types of music fans. My view is that these types of conversations/dialogue are a part of what is sorely lacking on the current Internet scene. Too much of the conversation these days is either "one way" or "I only want to talk about one artist/style". This has led to a rather insular, narrow & elitist view of the music and the culture, that needs to have a much wider and accurate perspective. Our concept is to cover ALL of the artists/styles in black music (past, present and future). My objective is to try to utilize chat/Internet radio technology and change this current trend. My view is that black music is far too splintered as it is...
           Anyhow... My thanks to Bo Diddley and his crew (Scott Free and David Blakey) for their assistance.


update: Feb. 14, 2005
           Fans living in the Pacific Northwest region of the US may be interested to know that as part of his special 50th anniversary tour, BO DIDDLEY is to headline the 6th annual one-day American Music At The Mill concert to be held in the town of Packwood, WA on Saturday June 25th.
           It has been announced that all proceeds from ticket sales for the show, which showcases rock & roll, bluegrass and country & western music, will go to gifts and supplies for the families of Stryker Brigade troops currently serving in Iraq. Fort Lewis Garrison, which is situated near the town of Packwood in Washington State, is home to three of the US Army's new rapid deploy Stryker Brigade Combat Teams.
           The show will be preceded by a patriotic opening ceremony that will include the First Corps Command Color Guard from Fort Lewis presenting the Colors and a choir rendition of the National Anthem.
           Further information about the concert can be obtained from the Destination Packwood Association website, located at http://www.destinationpackwood.com/


update: Feb. 7, 2005
           To mark US Black History Month 2005, the popular Soul-Patrol.com website is to host a special on-line chat session with BO DIDDLEY beginning at 10.00pm EST next Wednesday (February 16th), (03.00am GMT/UTC on Thursday February 17th).
           Fans and their families around the world wishing to take up this very special opportunity to chat live and on-line with BO DIDDLEY about music, history, culture and more should visit the Soul-Patrol Chat Room, located at http://www.soul-patrol.com/chat/ shortly before 10.00pm EST next Wednesday February 16th (03.00am GMT/UTC on Thursday February 17th) and submit a valid e-mail address and their Zip code to enter the Chat Room. Soul-Patrol.Net Radio will also be broadcasting the music of BO DIDDLEY directly into the Chat Room for the duration of this chat session.
           In order to enjoy the full Soul-Patrol Chat Room experience you will need to have the Macromedia Flash Player and RealPlayer installed. Both are free downloads and are available from http://www.macromedia.com/ and http://www.real.com/ respectively. Soul-Patrol is a series of Internet resources focused on soul, funk, jazz and blues music and culture of the 1950s thru 1980s.
           Do not miss this special opportunity to chat on-line with BO DIDDLEY on Wednesday February 16th, beginning at 10.00pm EST.
Soul-Patrol website: www.soul-patrol.com/
Soul-Patrol Chat Room: www.soul-patrol.com/chat






Bo's Bio
-David Blakey
           Ever heard "I Want Candy" or "Not Fade Away" or "Willie & The Hand Jive", Shirley & Company's "Shame, Shame, Shame" or U2's "Desire" or George Michael's "Faith"? If you have, then you've heard the "Bo Diddley beat"; the most famous beat in the world!
           One of the founding fathers of rock & roll, Bo Diddley's innovative pounding and hypnotic Latin-tinged beat, his vast array of electric custom-built guitars, his use of reverb, tremelo and distortion to make his guitars talk, mumble and roar, his use of female musicians, his wild stage shows and his on-record and on-stage rapping, pre-date all others.
           Bo Diddley was born Ellas Bates on Sunday December 30th 1928 on a small farm near the town of McComb, Mississippi, USA, in rural Pike County, close to the Louisiana border, the only child of Ethel Wilson and Eugene Bates. He had 3 half-brothers and a half-sister.
           He was adopted by his mother's cousin, Mrs. Gussie McDaniel, along with his cousins Willis, Lucille and Freddie, and adopted the name Ellas McDaniel. In the mid-1930's the family moved to the south side of Chicago. Soon after, he began to take violin lessons from Professor O.W. Frederick at the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church. He studied the violin for twelve years, composing 2 concertos for the instrument.
           For Christmas in 1940, his sister Lucille bought him his first guitar, a cheap Harmony acoustic. It was at this time that he acquired the nickname "Bo Diddley" ("...Bo Diddley is me; to tell ya the truth, I don't know what it (the name) really is...") from his fellow pupils at the Foster Vocational High School in Chicago.
           The newly-named Bo Diddley had long been fascinated by the rhythms that he heard coming from the sanctified churches. A frustrated drummer, he tried to translate the sounds that he heard into his own style. Gradually he began to duplicate what he did with his violin bow by rapidly flicking his pick across his guitar strings. "I play the guitar as if I'm playing the drums....I play drum licks on the guitar." He continued to practice the guitar through his early teens.
           Shortly before leaving school he formed his first group, a trio named The Hipsters, later known as The Langley Avenue Jive Cats, after the Chicago street where he lived. Upon graduation he pursued a variety of low paid occupations including truck driving, building site work and boxing, playing locally with his group to supplement his income. In 1950 maracas player Jerome Green joined the group, followed a year later by harmonica player Billy Boy Arnold.
           After more than a decade of playing on street corners and in clubs around Chicago, Bo Diddley finally got the chance to cut a demo of 2 songs that he had written; "Uncle John" and "I'm A Man". After various rejections from local record labels, (most notably Vee-Jay), in the spring of 1955 he took the recordings to brothers Leonard and Phil Chess, owners of Chess Records, with studios located at 4750-2 South Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago. They suggested that he changed the title and the lyrics of "Uncle John" to more reflect his own unique personality.
           The 2 songs were re-recorded at Bill Putnam's Universal Recording Studio at 111 East Ontario in Chicago on Wednesday March 2nd 1955 and released as a double A-side disc "Bo Diddley"/"I'm A Man" on the Chess Records subsidiary label Checker Records. It went straight to the top of the rhythm 'n' blues charts, establishing Bo Diddley as one of the most exciting and original new talents in American music. It is later hailed as one of the most influential debut singles in history and one of the cornerstones of rock music.
           Inspired by musicians such as Louis Jordan, John Lee Hooker, Nat "King" Cole and Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley was now set to help shape and define the sound and presentation of rock music for all-time. From Elvis Presley to George Thorogood, from The Rolling Stones to ZZ Top, from The Doors to The Clash, from Buddy Holly to Prince and from The Everly Brothers to Run DMC, all acknowledged the unique influences of Bo Diddley upon their different styles of music.
           Now in his mid-70s, Bo Diddley is still very much active in the recording studio and in the clubs and concert halls around the world. He performed a rousing version of his classic song "Who Do You Love" with George Thorogood & The Destroyers in front of a TV audience of millions at the Live Aid Concert in Philadelphia in 1985. A couple of years later he was deservedly an early inductee into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. In 1996 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm 'n' Blues Foundation and in 1999 he received another Lifetime Achievement Award, this time from The Recording Academy at that year's annual Grammy Awards Ceremony. At the turn of the century, his 1955 debut recording of his song "Bo Diddley" was nominated as one of the 365 songs of the century, named as one of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's 500 songs that shaped rock & roll and inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame as a recording of lasting qualitative or historical significance, whilst his 1955 recording of his song "I'm A Man" was included in NPR's list of the 300 most important American musical works of the 20th Century. In recent years, yet further honors have been justifiably awarded to him when he was inducted into The Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame, The North Florida Music Association Hall of Fame, presented with a Pioneer In Entertainment Award by The National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters and in 2002, along with Chuck Berry and Little Richard, received an inaugural BMI Icon Award in recognition of his unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.
           A couple of years later, in 2004, he was inducted into the Blues Foundation's Blues Hall of Fame and Mickey & Sylvia's 1956 recording of his song "Love Is Strange" inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame as a recording of lasting qualitative or historical significance.
           That same year, in special issues marking 50 years of rock & roll, Rolling Stone magazine named him as one of The Immortals - the 50 greatest artists of all-time and named his songs "Bo Diddley", "Who Do You Love" and "I'm A Man" amongst its 500 greatest songs of all-time.
           Currently (2005) on a world-wide tour celebrating his 50th anniversary in music, in the words of one of his many famous eponymous songs, "Bo Diddley Put The Rock in Rock & Roll" and remember ... Bo Knows!


Recommended Listening:
"Bo Diddley - His Best" (MCA/Chess) Released in 1997 as part of the Chess 50th Anniversary Collection, this 20 track CD includes nearly all his classic songs.

Worth Seeking Out:
"Bo Diddley's Beach Party" (Checker) Recorded in Myrtle Beach, SC over the 4th of July holiday weekend in 1963 and not yet widely available on CD, this album is one of the earliest rock music live remote recordings and certainly one of the most exciting and atmospheric.

Fan Club/Website:
http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/index.html The BO DIDDLEY-The Originator authorized website,a Celebration of Bo Diddley's unique contribution to Popular Music and the most detailed and accurate source of information about Bo Diddley on the web. 1955 to 2005 - Celebrating 50 Years In Music!






David Blakey, Webmaster
BO DIDDLEY-The Originator
http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/index.html
A Celebration of his unique contribution to Popular Music,
1955 to 2005 - Celebrating 50 Years In Music!

© 2005 David Blakey




A Rockabilly Hall of Fame® Presentation