Happy Birthday, Bo Diddley!

Bo Diddley (December 30, 1928-June 2, 2008), born Ellas Otha Bates) was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In this interview recorded in the early 1990’s he talks about the Bo Diddley beat -one of the most recognizable music signatures in rock , pop, and hip hop found countless songs including Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away,” Steppenwolf’s “Magic Carpet Ride,” The Who’s “Magic Bus,” Bruce Springsteen’s “She’s the One” and U2’s “Desire,”. Bo speaks of the difficulty of getting airplay for his music; how being a pop musician to like being a boxer. He offers one tip from the Bo Diddley guide to survival, describes the ‘diddleybobbles’ on his signature rectangular guitars, what it was like to always work with pickup bands on tour, and the royal welcome he got from the Rolling Stones before they were famous when he toured England in 1962.