Bo Diddley | 1928-2008
Diddley holds his Grammy for lifetime achievement in 1998. His songs have been covered by the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, the Grateful Dead and the Doors, to name just a few. (Richard Drew / Associated Press)
Diddley acknowledges the crowd at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland in 1998. Diddley never enjoyed the financial success or critical recognition of his two chief contemporaries, Chuck Berry and Little Richard artists who, unlike Diddley, made efforts to appeal to white audiences. (Tony Dejak / Associated Press)
Diddley performs at a blues festival at Doheny State Beach in 1999. His swaggering stage presence influenced artists including
Diddley is flanked by
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Diddley in 2005, playing his custom-made Gretsch guitar at opening-night ceremonies of the 2005 U.S. Open tennis tournament in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. He toured extensively until suffering a stroke on stage in May 2007. (Andrew Gombert / EPA)
At a blues club in New York in August 2006. Diddley was embittered for many years his ill will toward Elvis Presley in particular didn’t diminish over his musical legacy and what he saw as his exploitation by the music industry. (Jeff Christensen-File / AP)
Diddley onstage in Perth, Australia, in April 2007. He suffered a stroke the following month while performing. (Paul Kane / Getty Images)
Diddley performing in Byron Bay, Australia, in April 2007. His distinctive beat has been a cornerstone of rock songs since the 1950s, including the Whos Magic Bus, David Bowie’s Sound and Vision, Bruce Springsteens Shes the One and U2’s Desire. Diddley is also credited with being one of the earliest pioneers of rap music.
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