Bo Diddley (1928-2008) was one of the handful of true originators in rock history. Born in 1928 in McComb, Mississippi, the man born Otha Ellas Bates, later Ellas McDaniel and finally christened Bo Diddley, enjoyed a short career as a boxer-which might be where those short guitar jabs in his songs got their start—before taking to music. Influenced by Louis Jordan, John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters, Diddley recorded his first two classics ("I'm A Man" and "Bo Diddley") in 1954. He later committed "Roadrunner," "Pretty Thing," "Who Do You Love," and many more primal rock nuggets to tape, and to the hall of fame of rock 'n' roll. The Rolling Stones and The Pretty Things took their names from his song titles, and countless bands used his "shave and a haircut, two bits" rhythm as the foundation for their own tunes. Bo didn't quite make it to his 80th birthday. All of us at Crate wish his family the best during this time... They don't come anymore rockin' than Bo!

View the artist's website: members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/