History Music / BoDiddley

* BizarreInstrument: Mild example in his signature box-shaped guitar.

* AnswerSong: Music/MuddyWaters' "Mannish Boy" is a response to "I'm a Man".

Perhaps his most famous and lasting contribution was the "BoDiddleyBeat" that's still used by rock artists the world over. He was also well known for designing and building his own electric guitars, most famously his distinctive rectangular Gretsch "Twang Machine" with its instantly recognizable, almost ukelele-like tone color. ''Magazine/RollingStone'' ranks him twenty-seventh on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

His most famous contribution was the "BoDiddleyBeat" that rock artists the world over still use. He was also well known for designing and building his own, distinctively rectangular electric guitars. They have a distinctive, almost ukelele-like tone color, easily recognizable and closely associated with Bo Diddley-type music. ''Magazine/RollingStone'' ranks him twenty-seventh on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

* BoDiddleyBeat: The TropeCodifier and TropeNamer.

* WhosOnFirst: One of his most well-known songs is named after him, which can lead to much confusion. It even confused Bo Diddley himself: when he appeared on ''Series/TheEdSullivanShow'' in 1955, he was supposed to perform "Sixteen Tons", but he performed "Bo Diddley" instead due to seeing a cue card with his name on it and thinking he was to perform both songs. Sullivan got furious from the perceived double-crossing and banned him from future appearances on his show.

* BadassBoast: "I'm a Man"
** Also "Who do You Love?"

He also served for some time as a deputy sheriff in Valencia County, New Mexico. He lived his last years in Gainesville, Florida, where there is a park/community plaza named after him. [[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/14/occupy-gainsville-bo-diddley-son-arrested His son was arrested while protesting there.]]

Ellas [=McDaniel=] Otha Bates, (born Ellas Otha Bates; December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), better known as [[StageNames Bo Diddley]], was an African-American {{Blues}} and RockAndRoll singer and musician who was mainly prominent in the [[TheFifties 1950s]] and early [[TheSixties '60s]]. He was known as "the Originator" for being one of the first artists to start playing rock and roll. Music/TheBeatles and Music/TheRollingStones cited him as a favorite, and Music/JimiHendrix and Music/EricClapton were directly inspired by him.

His most famous contribution was the "BoDiddleyBeat" that rock artists the world over still use. He was also well known for designing and building his own, distinctively rectangular electric guitars. They have a distinctive, almost ukelele-like tone color, easily recognizable and closely associated with Diddley-type music. ''Magazine/RollingStone'' recognizes him as the twenty-seventh greatest guitarist of all time on their list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

* SelfTitledAlbum: His 1958 debut album ''Bo Diddley'', which naturally enough leads off with his hit TitleTrack.

* WhosOnFirst: One of his most famous songs is named after him, which can lead to much confusion. It even confused Bo Diddley himself: when he appeared on ''Series/TheEdSullivanShow'' in 1955, he was supposed to perform "Sixteen Tons", but he performed "Bo Diddley" instead due to seeing a cue card with his name on it and thinking he was to perform both songs. Sullivan got furious from the perceived double-crossing and banned him from future appearances on his show.

* NerdGlasses: He wore these and managed to make them cool, similarly to Music/BuddyHolly.
* PunBasedTitle: His 1960 album ''Have Guitar Will Travel'' is a pun on the Western TV show ''Series/HaveGunWillTravel''.

Ellas [=McDaniel=] Otha Bates, (born Ellas Otha Bates, December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), better known as Bo Diddley, was an African-American Blues and Rock singer, mainly prominent in the [[TheFifties 1950s]]. He was known as "the Originator" for being one of the first artists to start playing Rock & Roll. Music/TheBeatles cited him as a favorite, and Music/JimiHendrix and Music/EricClapton were directly inspired by him.

His most famous contribution was the "BoDiddleyBeat" that rock bands the world over still use. He famously made his own, distinctively rectangular, electric guitars. They have a distinctive, almost ukelele-like tone color, easily recognizable and closely associated with BoDiddleyBeat-type music. Magazine/RollingStone recognizes him as the twenty-seventh greatest guitarist of all time on their list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

He also served for some time as a deputy Sheriff. He lived his last years in Gainesville, Florida where there is a park/community plaza named after him. [[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/14/occupy-gainsville-bo-diddley-son-arrested His son was arrested while protesting there.]]

His most famous contribution was the "BoDiddleyBeat" that rock bands the world over still use. He famously made his own, distinctively rectangular, electric guitars. They have a distinctive, almost ukelele-like tone color, easily recognizable and closely associated with BoDiddleyBeat-type music. Magazine/RollingStone recognizes him as the twenty-seventh greatest guitarist of all time on their list of [[UsefulNotes/RollingStone100GreatestGuitaristsOfAllTime 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time]].

Ellas [=McDaniel=] Otha Bates, (born Ellas Otha Bates, December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), better known as Bo Diddley, was an African-American Blues and Rock singer, mainly prominent in the [[TheFifties 1950s]].

Copied from "MusicOfNote:"

He was known as "the Originator" for being one of the first artists to start playing Rock & Roll. Music/TheBeatles cited him as a favorite, and Music/JimiHendrix and Music/EricClapton were directly inspired by him.

Ellas McDaniel Otha Bates, (born Ellas Otha Bates, December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), better known as Bo Diddley, was an African-American Blues and Rock singer, mainly prominent in the [[TheFifties 1950s]].

Ellas Otha Bates, (December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), African-American Blues and Rock singer, mainly prominent in the [[TheFifties 1950s]].

He was known as "the Originator" for being one of the first artists to start playing Rock & Roll. Music/TheBeatles cited him as a favorite, and Music/JimiHendrix and Music/EricClapton were directly inspired by him. His most famous contribution was the "BoDiddleyBeat" that rock bands the world over still use.

He famously made his own, distinctively rectangular, electric guitars. They have a distinctive, almost ukelele-like tone color, easily recognizable and closely associated with BoDiddleyBeat-type music.

He also served for some time as a deputy Sheriff.

He lived his last years in Gainesville, Florida where there is a park/community plaza named after him. [[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/14/occupy-gainsville-bo-diddley-son-arrested His son was arrested while protesting there.]]

He was known as "the Originator" for being one of the first artists to start playing Rock & Roll. The Beatles cited him as a favorite, and Hendrix and Clapton were directly inspired by him. His most famous contribution was the "BoDiddleyBeat" that rock bands the world over still use.

Ellas Otha Bates, (December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), African-American Blues and Rock singer, mainly prominent in 1950's.