As we've been discussing Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitar Songs" list week, a name that remains conspicuously absent is Bo Diddley. (Of course, even if the magazine forgot him, the band of the same name he inspired hasn't.) In 2007, Blenderknew to put him at eight on their "Top 28 Recognizable Guitars" list, and some would say he should've been higher. This is why lists are difficult: Where do you place an innovator in relation to his musical children? Regardless, Diddley died today of heart failure at the age of 79. NPR has a well-written obituary. Instead of words, we decided to celebrate the man with some examples of that Bo Diddley beat and what he did best.
"Hey, Bo Diddley" & "Bo Diddley," 1960's
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"Road Runner, 1972"
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Shredding
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"I'm A Man"
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"Who Do You Love" 45"
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Rest in peace, Bo.
