Ellas Bates McDaniel (December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known professionally as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter who played an important role in the transition from blues to rock and roll. He influenced a wide range of artists, including Buddy Holly, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Animals, George Thorogood, Syd Barrett, Tom Petty, and the Clash. Diddley was known for incorporating African-inspired rhythms into his music, particularly a distinctive five-accent hambone rhythm often referred to as the "Bo Diddley beat". This rhythmic pattern later became influential in genres such as rock, pop, and hip hop. He was also recognized for technical innovations in guitar sound, including the use of tremolo and reverb effects, and for his use of custom rectangular guitars. In recognition of his contributions to music, Diddley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, the Blues Hall of Fame in 2003, and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2017. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Studio albums Bo Diddley (1958) Go Bo Diddley (1959) Have Guitar Will Travel (1960) Bo Diddley in the Spotlight (1960) Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger (1960) Bo Diddley Is a Lover (1961) Bo Diddley's a Twister (1962) Bo Diddley (1962) Bo Diddley & Company (1963) Surfin' with Bo Diddley (1963) Hey! Good Lookin' (1965) 500% More Man (1965) The Originator (1966) The Black Gladiator (1970) Another Dimension (1971) Where It All Began (1972) The London Bo Diddley Sessions (1973) Big Bad Bo (1974) 20th Anniversary of Rock 'n' Roll (1976) Ain't It Good to Be Free (1983) Living Legend (1989) Breakin' Through the B.S. (1989) This Should Not Be (1992) A Man Amongst Men (1996)
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