Bo Diddley

Bo Diddley
Photographed by Claude Piscitelli

Bo was born on a little farm in the city of Mc- Comb. As his mother was not able to raise him, he was adopted by her cousin Gussie McDa- niel. At the age of seven they moved to Chica- go. After learning to play the violin, his sister Lucille offered him a Gibson-guitar. This was the start of a career as Blues-& Rock “n” Roll musician. As a teenager he and his friends used to play in clubs in and around Chica- go under the name “The Hispetres”. His ex- traordinary playing style, and the fact that he amplified his guitar with parts of a watch and parts of a car, made his popularity grow. The song “I’m a Man” recorded in 1955 under the label “Chess Records” made him a star over- night. He got introduced to the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” in 1987 and to the “Blues Hall of Fame“ in 2004. In 1983 he also acted in Eddie Murphy’s and Dan Aykroyd’s movie “Trading Places” and appeared as a special guest in an episod of the TV series “According to Jim” with James Belushi.

Written by Ritchie Rischard