Bo Diddley

Former boxer Bo Diddley released his first hit song in 1955. Given its title, "Bo Diddley", it served as a very effective calling card. With his trademark rectangular guitar and swaggering R&B rhythms, the artist known as Elias McDaniel notched up an impressive collection of hits, many of which included his name in the title! A couple of examples give the flavour: "Bo Diddley’s a gunslinger" and "Diddley Daddy". One of his most famous (and most recorded) songs is the wonderfully theatrical and totally infectious "Who do you love?", first released in 1956.

Although Bo’s recorded output was not large, the unmistakeable Bo Diddley beat will last as long as rock and roll.