Bo Diddley : Rolling Stone

Written by: Ellas McDaniel
Produced by: Phil and Leonard Chess
Released: June '55 on Checker
Charts: Did not chart

Diddley's first single went to Number One on the R&B charts and immortalized the bedrock beat that would turn up everywhere from Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away" to the Smiths' "How Soon Is Now." Diddley had studied violin as a child and built his own violins and guitars. His songs were deceptively simple, laden with rhythm play between the bass, drums and his tremolo guitar. But you can't copyright a rhythm, and Diddley never got paid for his greatest rock innovation.

Appears on: His Best: The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection (Chess)

Next: For What It's Worth

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