"I'm Back Up In To The Future..."

HOT NEWS! HOT NEWS! HOT NEWS!

BO DIDDLEY's debut record "Bo Diddley"/"I'm A Man" (Checker 814), widely regarded as being the most influential debut single of all-time, is to be inducted into the Library of Congress National Recording Registry. Recorded at the Universal Recording Studio in Chicago, IL on Wednesday March 2nd 1955, the Library notes that: "His first 45 rpm from Chess captures his insouciant vocals and gospel-inflected rhythms - and produced a #1 R&B hit." The National Recording Registry was established in 2000 with the mission to select 25 recordings each year - music of all genres as well as spoken word, spanning the years 1888-1984 - that are "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" to preserve for future generations. The recordings will be housed in the Library's Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation in Culpeper, VA. The National Recording Preservation Board, comprised of music industry leaders, made recommendations in part based on on-line submissions from the public.

BO DIDDLEY's classic "I'm A Man" is the opening track on the soundtrack album of the new TV drama series "Magic City". Check in for the new STARZ Network original series, which centers on the comings and goings at a lavish Miami, FL hotel circa 1959, has been brisk. Through its April 2012 premiere weekend, the Mitch Glazer-created drama has been by more than 2.5 million viewers, according to officials at the premium programmer.

BO DIDDLEY's final Chess album, the blues/funk classic "Big Bad Bo", is set for re-release on the boutique label Get On Down Records. Recorded in late 1973 in studios in New York and Toronto, Canada and originally released in 1974, this repackaged digipak CD re-release contains digitally enhanced audio, remastered from the original Chess Records master tapes. "Big Bad Bo" (Get On Down GET 54047) will be released Monday March 5th 2012. More info at GetOnDown.com.

BO DIDDLEY's acclaimed funky greasy soul album "The Black Gladiator", originally recorded and released on Chess/Checker Records in 1970, is set for re-release by Seattle, WA-based indie Light In The Attic Records. Replete with extensive liner notes by Scott Schinder and remastering from the original tapes by engineer Dave Cooley (Elysian Masters), this re-release makes "The Black Gladiator" finally ready for battle again. "The Black Gladiator" (Light In The Attic/Future Days Recordings FDR 600) will be released Tuesday March 13th 2012. More details/sound samples are available here.

Real Gone Music continues its Grateful Dead "Dick's Picks" reissues with the 4-CD set "Dick's Picks Vol. 30". Taped at New York's Academy of Music in March 1972, it kicks off with 5 tracks featuring BO DIDDLEY and taken from a March 25th 1972 "Jerry Garcia & Friends" benefit for the Hells Angels: "Hey Bo Diddley", "I'm A Man", "I've Seen Them All", "Jam" and "Mona". Available in stores Tuesday May 1st 2012 and originally released on Grateful Dead Records in October 2003, "Dick's Picks Vol. 30" comes from the band's own extensive tape vault. The series was named for Grateful Dead tape archivist Dick Latvala.

Catch "Road Runner" in the new Mazda ad campaign. BO DIDDLEY's recording of his classic song "Road Runner" graces the new 2012 Mazda USA's "Revolution" commercial. View the new 2012 Mazda USA's "Revolution" commercial here (Standard Version) and view the new 2012 Mazda USA's "Revolution" commercial here (Extended Version - includes a brief excerpt from BO DIDDLEY's August 1972 performance of "Road Runner" in "The London Rock 'n' Roll Show" movie).

Now available from Bo Diddley's Official Online Store: Bo Diddley "You Don't Know Diddley" Nike Dri-FIT Tee Shirts. Super breathable - athletic style shirt, available in Black, White or Red. Also available from Bo Diddley's Official Online Store: Bo Diddley "I Know Diddley" Black Tank Tops + Bo Diddley "You Don't Know Diddley" White Tee Shirts. More info at BoDiddley.com and Bo Diddley Official Facebook.

With endorsements from guitarists including Keith Richards and Johnny Marr, BO DIDDLEY has been included in "Rolling Stone" magazine's new listing of its "100 Greatest Guitarists Of All-Time". The publication assembled a panel of top guitarists and other experts to rank their favorites and explain what separates the legends from everyone else.

Since 1986, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has paid tribute to nearly 300 rock legends as part of the annual Hall of Fame Induction festivities. Each year brings a series of exciting signature events celebrating the rock and roll artists who have helped define the genre, culminating in an Induction ceremony that invites the biggest names in rock and roll to share the stage for once-in-a-lifetime performances. In 2005, BO DIDDLEY celebrated his 50th anniversary in music with a special performance of his song "Bo Diddley" with Eric Clapton and Robbie Robertson at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 20th annual induction ceremony. Time Life and the Rock Hall have partnered together to issue rare and exclusive music culled from over a quarter-century of induction ceremony performances - including BO DIDDLEY's landmark 2005 performance of "Bo Diddley" - now available on iTunes. "Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Live" is a 10-volume digital-only collection featuring nearly 200 performances recorded at induction ceremonies held between 1986 and 2009. The songs are now available on iTunes and include memorable jam sessions and collaborations featuring the full breadth of Rock Hall inductees. BO DIDDLEY's 2005 performance of "Bo Diddley" with Eric Clapton and Robbie Robertson is available on Volume 8: 2004-2005. BO DIDDLEY was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

A previously unreleased live version of BO DIDDLEY performing his classic song "Road Runner" is available on-line and on a new Dutch compilation CD release. Backed by UK blues/rock band Mainsqueeze, the track was recorded in May 1984 at the Openluchttheater in Lochem, The Netherlands and is available on the 4-CD + book various artists compilation album "Terug Naar Lochem Popfestival 1968-1986" (Catch A Fire 0807297180220). It is also available to hear on-line via the SoundCloud audio platform. The Lochem Festival, which featured the best in country, folk, blues, rock, roots and pop music, ran for almost 20 years, between 1968 and 1986. This multi-CD release celebrates many of the international performers who graced the Lochem stage over those years, including Chuck Berry, Boomtown Rats, Dr. Feelgood, Joan Jett, Los Lobos, John Mayall, Nine Below Zero, Stray Cats and many more.

On George Thorogood & The Destroyers' new studio album, "2120 South Michigan Avenue", George salutes his Chess Records heroes, including BO DIDDLEY, Chuck Berry, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and more. On their 17th studio album, George Thorogood & The Destroyers pay tribute to their Chess Records heroes, including many of George's legendary mentors who helped to launch his career in rock & roll. Named for the address of Chess Records' Chicago headquarters at 2120 South Michigan Avenue, the 13-track album is released by Capitol/EMI on CD, vinyl LP and digital download. "2120'" features George's raw, rocking turn on classics by a who's who of the blues, including BO DIDDLEY (the classic "Bo Diddley"), Chuck Berry, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson and other Chess greats, as well as new original songs written by George, the album's producer, Tom Hambridge, and Richard Fleming.

BO DIDDLEY's classic recording of his song "Road Runner" joins tracks by artists including Mary J. Blige, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Lloyd Price and Mavis Staples on the original soundtrack album of "The Help", the popular drama movie directed by Tate Taylor and starring Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard and Octavia Spencer. Set in 1960s-era Mississippi, "The Help" chronicles the journey of three very different women who come together and embark on a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. Based on the #1 "New York Times" best-selling phenomenon, “The Help” is a provocative and inspiring look at what happens when a southern town’s unspoken code of rules is shattered by three courageous women who strike up an unlikely friendship.

The acclaimed "Bo Diddley's Beach Party" album is now available in MP3 and CD formats, via Hip-O Select. Recorded in concert in July 1963 at the Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, SC, the album is one of rock music's earliest live remote recordings. Boasting a classic line-up that includes Duchess on guitar and Jerome Green on maracas, tracks include "Gunslinger", "Hey Bo Diddley", "I'm Alright" and "Road Runner". Writing on the Allmusic.com website, journalist and critic Bruce Eder describes "Bo Diddley's Beach Party" as "quite simply the finest live rock & roll album of its era". Hip-O Select is an Internet-only retail site specializing in reissues of hard to find and out of print titles from the Universal Music Group.

We are proud to announce that the Smithsonian Institution is to feature many items of BO DIDDLEY memorabilia and music, including his iconic hat, in a permanent collection to be located in a new wing of the Smithsonian devoted to African-American heritage and culture. The National Museum of African-American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is to be located on the National Mall near the Washington Monument in Washington, DC. Construction of the NMAAHC is scheduled to begin in 2012 and completed in 2015. The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the US Government and by funds from its endowment, contributions and profits from its shops and magazines. It currently has over 136 million items in its collections.

BO DIDDLEY is included in a new book titled "Top 100 Rock Bands, Acts, Artists", published in the UK by Flame Tree Publishing. Editor Michael Heatley, the author of over 50 music biographies, looks back over 60 years or so of popular music and identifies the 100 acts that tower above the rest.

BO DIDDLEY has been posthumously inducted into the on-line Hit Parade Hall of Fame. The voting of fans and the decision of the nominating committee of music industry professionals inducted 15 recording stars of various genres into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame for the year 2010. ABBA, Eric Clapton, Jackie DeShannon, The Diamonds, BO DIDDLEY, Dan Fogelberg, Anne Murray, Willie Nelson, Pink Floyd, The Rascals, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Righteous Brothers, Dusty Springfield, James Taylor and Roger Williams were selected from 53 nominees to join 124 inductees of past years. Recognizing all kinds of popular music, The Hit Parade Hall of Fame pays tribute to a variety of recorded music from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

BO DIDDLEY was remembered and celebrated in simultaneous tribute events in three States on Thursday December 30th 2010. Music, awards and charity marked what would have been his 82nd birthday and auctions of celebrity items benefitted The Bo Diddley Foundation. BO DIDDLEY was born in McComb, MS, grew up on the streets of Chicago, IL and lived in Archer, FL for many years prior to his passing in June 2008. The Bo Diddley Foundation is a charitable organization that was founded in 2008 to continue the charitable works that were a large, yet unspoken, part of his life. Among the causes that were near to his heart are those programs and other opportunities that enrich the lives of children and lift them up to reach their highest potential. The money raised through The Bo Diddley Foundation will help to benefit children and the next generation of "Originators". For further information, please visit BoDiddley.com and The Official Bo Diddley Facebook Page.

BO DIDDLEY and his 1958 iconic rectangular Gretsch guitar feature in a new book titled "Legendary Guitarists & Their Guitars", published by Apple Press. Written by Dom Kiris, the book takes a detailed look at the greatest guitars and basses ever made. Each spread includes a photo of the guitar featured, its history, trade secrets, recommended listening, original album artwork and information about the legendary guitarists who played it. Guitarists featured in the book include BO DIDDLEY, Chet Atkins, Maybelle Carter, George Harrison, Jimi Hendrix, BB King, Jimmy Page, Les Paul, Pete Townshend and Jack White. Author Dom Kiris hosts a daily radio show in France on which he interviews guitarists and invites them to play acoustic live sessions. He is also a songwriter who regularly records with his own band.

The BO DIDDLEY beat features in a new British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) TV/on-line education facility for UK high schools and colleges. "BBC Class Clips: Travels With Music" is an engaging showcase of the musical sounds, styles and rhythms of the world. This new BBC facility enables UK teachers to find the best clips to fit their lesson and to stream it straight into the classroom to stimulate, engage or to deliver a specific learning point. In the new video clip, Ronnie Stewart, the Executive Director of the Oakland, CA-based Bay Area Blues Society, gives a practical demonstration of call and response in blues music. Based on the use of the BO DIDDLEY beat, he considers call and response as used in early blues playing to be the basis for much of today's music. He demonstrates by performing BO DIDDLEY's classic song "Bo Diddley" on electric guitar and engaging in a vocal call and response with the studio engineers. View the video clip here. The Bay Area Blues Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the perpetuation of blues, jazz and gospel music as an indigenous American art form.

BO DIDDLEY's classic recordings of his songs "Bo Diddley" and "Who Do You Love" are featured in the new "Mafia II" action adventure video game. Published by 2K Games, "Mafia II" is the sequel to the popular "Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven" and is released on PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360. Set from 1945 to 1957 in Empire Bay, a fictional city based on San Francisco and New York City, with influences from Chicago and Detroit, other music from the era featured in the game includes tracks by artists such as Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly & The Crickets, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, Little Richard and Muddy Waters.

"Inspiring Lives - Bo Diddley: Rock & Roll All-Star" (ISBN 13: 978-1-4339-3622-7) is the title of a new Grade 1 reading level book by Greg Roza, published by Gareth Stevens Publishing. The 32-page book has full-color photographs and tells the story of BO DIDDLEY's inspiring life and career. Key features include: Fact Boxes, Glossary, Index, Timelines and Web Sites. Other stars featuring in the Gareth Stevens "Inspiring Lives" series include soprano Kathleen Battle, blues musicians John Lee Hooker and Robert Johnson, ragtime composer Scott Joplin and opera singer Leontyne Price. Gareth Stevens Publishing is one of the world's most respected library publishers. The company focuses on non-fiction titles aligned to meet curriculum objectives. Greg Roza is a published author of children's books and young adult books.

Nominated by writer/musician Ted Drozdowski, BO DIDDLEY was included in the recent Gibson.com listing of the "Top 50 Guitarists of All-Time". Votes were included from a Gibson.com Readers' Poll, music writers plus guitarists Martin Belmont (Graham Parker & The Rumour), Jeff Cease (Black Crowes), Steve Mazur (Our Lady Peace) and James Williamson (Iggy & The Stooges). Gibson.com is the Official Website of the Gibson Guitar Corporation of Nashville, TN.

BO DIDDLEY was posthumously inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame on Wednesday March 24th 2010, following recommendation by the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. BO DIDDLEY had lived in north-central Florida since the late 1970s. "BO DIDDLEY was a founding legend of popular music as we know it," said Secretary of State of Florida Kurt S. Browning. "He also deserves recognition for his commitment to at-risk youth, often through support of charity events and music education programs". Established by the Florida Legislature in 1986, the Florida Artists Hall of Fame recognizes persons, living or deceased, who have made significant contributions to the arts in Florida either as performing or practicing artists in their disciplines. These individuals contribute to Florida's national or international reputation as a state with a sustained commitment to the development of cultural excellence. The Florida Artists Hall of Fame currently consists of over 30 inductees, including musician and performer Ray Charles, actor and director Burt Reynolds, writers Zora Neale Hurston, Tennessee Williams and Ernest Hemingway, film-maker Victor Nunez and visual artists Duane Hanson, Robert Rauschenberg and James Rosenquist. Inductees receive a commemorative bronze sculpture commissioned by the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. The sculpture, La Florida, was created by Enzo Torcoletti, an artist residing in St. Augustine. The Florida Artists Hall of Fame is located on the Plaza Level in the rotunda of the Capitol building in Tallahassee. There is also an image and biographical sketch of the newest inductee in the Capitol Gallery, on the 22nd floor of the Capitol.

The Official Bo Diddley Merchandise Store is now open for business at BoDiddley.com. Official Bo Diddley tank tops and T-shirts are now available to purchase on-line at The Official Bo Diddley Merchandise Store. BoDiddley.com, the Official Bo Diddley Web Site, is now on-line and offering: Official Bo Diddley News, History, Social Network Links, Discography, Lyrics, Events, Links, Merchandise Store, Music Store, Photos, Videos, Mailing List Sign-Up and much more!

"Bo Diddley Is A... Songwriter" (Ace Records) is the title of a major new UK various artists compilation album. The 24 tracks on the CD, by artists including The Animals, Downliners Sect, Everly Brothers, Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks, Buddy Holly, Los Lobos, New York Dolls and The Pretty Things, span the 1950s to the 1990s. Copious track-by-track annotation and the inevitable wealth of illustrations make this a must for everyone remotely interested in the work of one of the true legends of the rock & roll era.

Four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks' new movie "Who Do You Love" opened in theaters in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago in April 2010. The film, written by Peter Wortmann and Bob Conte, presents an intimate look into the lives of Leonard and Phil Chess, the founders of Chess Records. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2008. "Who Do You Love" features musician Robert Randolph in the role of BO DIDDLEY plus Jon Abrahams, Marika Dominczyk, Megalyn Ann Echikunwoke, Keb' Mo', Chi McBride, Alessandro Nivola and David Oyelowo and features a score steeped in hits from the Chess Records canon, including BO DIDDLEY's "Who Do You Love", Etta James' "At Last" and Muddy Waters' "Stuff You Gotta Watch". Originally titled "Chess", the movie was retitled "Who Do You Love" in tribute to BO DIDDLEY, who passed away when the film was in its final editing stages.

We are delighted to announce the launch of BoDiddley.com, The Official Bo Diddley Web Site. BoDiddley.com will offer: *Bo Diddley merchandise, *Digital downloads of your favorite Bo Diddley songs as well as never released material, *DVD release of Bo Diddley's last recorded performance. BoDiddley.com, The Official Bo Diddley Web Site.

We are delighted to announce the launch of The Official Bo Diddley Facebook Page, providing up to date news, photos, audio, video and links.

The Official BO DIDDLEY MySpace Page has been launched. MySpace is a social networking service which allows users to sign up free to the site and build their own on-line microsite where users can upload their own photos, videos and music and express their own identity and interests and attract like-minded people to join their site or vice versa. Once you have invited another MySpace user to be your friend and they accept, their site link will add itself to your site. Any MySpace users with their own MySpace account will be able to add The Official BO DIDDLEY MySpace Page to their site.

During his more than half-century career, BO DIDDLEY was actively involved with and committed to a great number of charities and non-profit groups across the US. He was a spokesperson for the American Health Care Association, he worked with Hopefest for the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and the Say No to Drugs campaign, where he participated as a major influence in reaching youth about the dangers of drug and alcohol use. He held benefit concerts for cancer, hurricane victims, law enforcement, the Achua County, Florida Homeless Night Out program, the blind and for the mentally and physically challenged at the Tacachale Institution in Gainesville, Florida. The BO DIDDLEY Legacy MySpace Page has recently been launched to reflect and give further information about a number of the national and local organisations and charitable causes for which BO DIDDLEY worked so tirelessly. MySpace is a social networking service which allows users to sign up free to the site and build their own on-line microsite where users can upload their own photos, videos and music and express their own identity and interests and attract like-minded people to join their site or vice versa. Once you have invited another MySpace user to be your friend and they accept, their site link will add itself to your site. Any MySpace users with their own MySpace account will be able to add The BO DIDDLEY Legacy MySpace Page to their site.

BO DIDDLEY's 1956 recording of his song "Who Do You Love" has recently been inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame. Twenty-five recordings, including songs by the Beach Boys, James Brown, The Doors, Judy Garland, Mahalia Jackson, Harry James & His Orchestra, Gene Kelly and Jelly Roll Morton, were among the 2009 inductees into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame. "This year's GRAMMY Hall Of Fame inductees highlight a diverse array of masterpiece recordings that have had a profound impact on our musical history," said Neil Portnow, President and CEO of the Recording Academy. "The selections are timeless staples that span six decades and represent a wide range of genres from comedy to rock, reggae, jazz and R&B. They all greatly deserve to be memorialized." The Recording Academy's National Trustees established the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame in 1973 to honor "recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance" that are at least 25 years old. Hall Of Fame recordings are reviewed annually by a special member committee from all branches of the recording arts and final approval is made by the Recording Academy Trustees. The new additions bring the total number of GRAMMY Hall of Fame inductees to 851 titles. BO DIDDLEY's 1955 recording of his song "Bo Diddley" was inducted in 1998 and Mickey & Sylvia's 1957 hit recording of his song "Love Is Strange" inducted in 2004.

BO DIDDLEY is one of the inaugural inductees into "The People's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame", an on-line blog created by Ted Cogswell. The votes were cast by visitors to Ted's blog during January 2010. In order to be eligible for this first election, an artist or group had to have released their first single or album no later than 1960. The other inaugural inductees are: Chuck Berry, James Brown, Buddy Holly & The Crickets, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and Elvis Presley.

Though he died in 2008, BO DIDDLEY still rules the rhythms of the world, says computer scientist Godfried Toussaint in the article "Hunting for rhythm's DNA", published on the Harvard Gazette Online website recently. In the article, Toussaint claims that so compelling is the BO DIDDLEY beat that in the past 50 or 60 years it "has captured the entire planet". Harvard University is the oldest US institution of higher learning, devoted to teaching and research excellence. The Harvard Gazette is the University's official newspaper, highlighting faculty research, administrative staff, students and events.

BO DIDDLEY's artful metaphor for an accountant: "I've never got paid. A dude with a pencil is worse than a cat with a machine gun", joins recent quotes from President Barack Obama, Paris Hilton and Sarah Palin into the newly published seventh edition of the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations. Edited by Elizabeth Knowles, the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations is an 1,184-page book listing notable quotations from the English language and culture. The book is published by Oxford University Press (OUP) (ISBN 978-0-19-923717-3). The OUP is now one of the largest publishers in the UK and the largest university press in the world.

BO DIDDLEY's original July 1965 recording of his track "Let Me Pass" is now available to purchase as an MP3 download album from the Bo Diddley iTunes Store and at other major on-line retail outlets.

"Ride On: The Chess Masters 1960-1961" (Hip-O Select CD 001294602) is the title of the third major BO DIDDLEY 2-CD compilation set to be released by Hip-O Select. Limited to 5,000 non-numbered limited edition copies, by the time of these recordings, BO DIDDLEY was a recording star with a string of hits and classic tracks and was living in Washington, D.C. with a fairly basic recording studio in the basement of his Rhode Island Avenue home. There, he self-produced demos, finished recordings and sent them to Chess Records in Chicago. This was, at the time, simply revolutionary; recording artists didn’t own their own studios and produce their own recordings. Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and James Brown were soon to change that, but these recordings and BO DIDDLEY were there first. All 54 tracks on these two CDs were recorded over a 13-month period in BO DIDDLEY’s basement studio and delivered to Chess. Many went on to be the crux of such classic BO DIDDLEY LPs as "In The Spotlight", "Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger" and "Bo Diddley Is A Lover" and included such key BO DIDDLEY tracks as "Ride On Josephine", "Live My Life" and the title track to "Gunslinger". 17 others are previously unreleased, while many others are simply rare. Some of the recordings are demo raw, while others as polished as any BO DIDDLEY track. The music is also as lively and as diverse as you'd expect from BO DIDDLEY: rockers, novelties, instrumentals, blues, doo wop ballads et al. His band at the time is present more often than not: Jerome Green on maracas; Peggy Jones on guitar; Clifton James on drums; with a rotating piano seat including Otis Spann, Lafayette Leake and more. Like the previous two Hip-O Select collections of BO DIDDLEY’s historic Chess recordings, this double CD comes with great period photos, in-depth liner notes and track-by-track research courtesy of George R. White, BO DIDDLEY's biographer and discographer. Hip-O Select is an Internet-only retail site specializing in reissues of hard to find and out of print titles from the Universal Music Group. Selling directly to customers through its website, the label has released close to 200 projects featuring such diverse artists as The Animals, James Brown, Jimmy Cliff, Etta James, Peggy Lee, The Supremes, DJ Shadow, Suzanne Vega and Joe Walsh.

"Bo Diddley Collector's Pack", a new 4-track EP featuring an exclusive unreleased track from Bo's vault, is now available to download from the Apple iTunes Bo Diddley Store. Also available at the Store are a wide selection of BO DIDDLEY albums, ringtones and music videos.

The new "Rock Band 2" music video game pays homage to BO DIDDLEY by featuring his Gretsch G6138 "Bo Diddley" and Gretsch G6199 "Billy-Bo" Jupiter Thunderbird artist signature model guitars. The Gretsch G6138 "Bo Diddley" is a faithful reproduction of the iconic rectangle-shaped guitar Gretsch built for BO DIDDLEY in 1958. The Gretsch G6199 "Billy-Bo" Jupiter Thunderbird is a 21st Century version of the guitar originally designed by BO DIDDLEY in 1959 and adapted by ZZ Top guitarist Billy F Gibbons. "Rock Band 2" is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by MTV Games as the sequel to the popular "Rock Band" video game. The "Rock Band" games allow players to perform in virtual bands by providing up to four players with the ability to play three different peripherals modeled after musical instruments. These peripherals are used to simulate the playing of rock music by hitting scrolling notes on-screen. The game offers single-player and multiplayer gameplay for lead guitar, bass guitar, drums and vocals, allowing for any combination of parts to play as a band.

Gainesville, FL's Downtown Community Plaza has been renamed in honor of BO DIDDLEY. The Plaza is located at 111 E. University Avenue on the corner of SE 1st Street and E. University Avenue in the heart of historic Gainesville. In April 1976, as part of the bicentennial observance, the square was designed by University of Florida (UF) architect Harry Merritt and dedicated as the Community Plaza. Many of the materials used came from buildings that had stood on that site in an effort to tie the site to early Gainesville. The Plaza was remodeled in the 1990s to make it appropriate for activities. BO DIDDLEY appeared for free in concert at the Plaza on numerous occasions, the last being in 2006.

Tributes to BO DIDDLEY from stars including Elvis Costello, Ronnie Hawkins, Sir Mick Jagger, BB King, Robert Plant, Bonnie Raitt and George Thorogood, along with video tributes including ones from the Voice of America, Mississippi Public Broadcasting and the Experience Music Project, are available to view in this BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website's Forum and then by clicking on the "Enter My Forum" button.

Two new songbooks of BO DIDDLEY's music have recently been published. "Bo Diddley Memorial Songbook 1928-2008" (ISBN 978-1847727596) is published by Omnibus Press in the UK. The 80 pages include photographs and a biography, plus a total of 14 songs with song notes arranged for piano, voice and guitar. The song titles are: "Before You Accuse Me", "Bo Diddley", "Crackin' Up", "Hey, Good Lookin'", "I Can Tell", "I'm A Man", "Mona" (aka "I Need You Baby"), "Pills", "Pretty Thing", "Ride On Josephine", "Road Runner", "Say Man", "Who Do You Love" and "You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover". "Bo Diddley Guitar Solos" by Fred Sokolow (ISBN 978-1423464136) is published by the Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation. The 96 pages include note-for-note transcriptions with tabs for 18 of his best-known songs, along with detailed information about his unique style. The song titles are: "Bo Diddley", "Bo's Guitar", "Bring It To Jerome", "Crackin' Up", "Diddley Daddy", "Diddy Wah Diddy" "Gunslinger", "Hey Bo Diddley", "I'm A Man", "Mona" (aka "I Need You Baby"), "Mumblin' Guitar", "Oh Yea", "Road Runner", "Sad Sack", "Say Man", "She's Fine, She's Mine", "Who Do You Love" and "You Don't Love Me (You Don't Care)".

The Sunday August 17th 2008 edition of the Voice of America's (VOA) "People in America" radio program explored BO DIDDLEY's life and music. Calling him "one of America's greatest rock and roll guitarists", the program described how "his influence was so widespread that it is hard to imagine what rock and roll would have sounded like without him". MP3 and RealAudio downloads, plus a transcript of the broadcast, are available by visiting the "People in America" webpage. Broadcast in VOA Special English, "People in America" is a 15-minute weekly program about influential people in American history. These VOA Special English broadcasts communicate with people around the world who are not fluent in English. Special English broadcasters read at a slower pace, about two-thirds the speed of standard English. This helps people learning English hear each word clearly. It also helps people who are fluent English speakers understand complex subjects.

BO DIDDLEY was awarded a posthumous Doctor of Fine Arts degree by the University of Florida (UF) for his influence on American popular music. When he died on Monday June 2nd 2008, the process of honoring him was already in the works. He was nominated last fall for the honor, but a lengthy approval process pushed a vote on the recognition past his demise. The Faculty Senate approved awarding the degree Thursday March 20th 2008 and it was endorsed by the College of Fine Arts. The honorary degree was presented to his daughter Evelyn Kelly on behalf of her father at August 2008 commencement ceremonies. BO DIDDLEY joined a distinguished list of Gator honorary degree recipients that includes poet Robert Frost and composer Aaron Copland. We have posted a video clip of the presentation, plus interviews with Evelyn Kelly and UF President J. Bernard Machen. The video is now available in this BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website's Forum and then by clicking on the "Enter My Forum" button. BO DIDDLEY's nomination for an honorary degree received letters of support from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame officials and Philadelphia International Records chairman Kenneth Gamble. A resume was submitted that included a list of hits "that rivaled those of Chuck Berry in quality" and accomplishments such as influencing the Rolling Stones and other musicians. The UF trustees' document supporting the honor states: "BO DIDDLEY ... has had a vast influence on the popular music world... BO DIDDLEY's work paved the way for an entire generation of artists, many of whom achieved notoriety by imitating and developing his work... BO DIDDLEY is not only a musician, but also an innovative composer who created a new guitar sound that was quickly absorbed by other players".

The September/October 2008 issue of "Garden & Gun" magazine included a fine tribute feature titled "Goodbye, BO DIDDLEY" written by Matt Hendrickson. Also included in the magazine is the article "BO DIDDLEY Saved My Life" written by the popular singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. In it he describes a visit he paid in February 2007 to Mali in West Africa and a performance he gave there of BO DIDDLEY's song "Who Do You Love" with the internationally acclaimed Malian musician Oumou Sangare. As a tribute to BO DIDDLEY, Jimmy Buffett has also posted a brief video clip of his performance of "Who Do You Love" on his Margaritaville.com website. The video clip, titled "JB Jammin in Africa", is located here. "Garden & Gun" magazine publishes highly visual stories and essays about special places and landscapes in 21st Century Southern America.

The August 2008 issue of the "Smithsonian" magazine included a BO DIDDLEY tribute article written by Ned Sublette. The "Smithsonian" magazine is a monthly magazine which chronicles the arts, history, sciences and popular culture of the times. Each subscription includes a complimentary membership to the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the US Government and by funds from its endowment and contributions and from profits from its shops and the magazine.

US President George W. Bush paid tribute to BO DIDDLEY during an event in honor of Black History Month held in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. The President's remarks are now available to view in this BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website's Forum and then by clicking on the "Enter My Forum" button.

Tribute was paid to BO DIDDLEY in the US House of Representatives on Monday June 9th 2008 "for his invaluable contributions to American culture" and condolences paid to his family "on the death of this remarkable and talented man". A full transcript of the proceedings for "Saluting The Life And Music Of The Late BO DIDDLEY" is available in this BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website Forum and then by clicking on the "Enter My Forum" button.

Tribute was paid to BO DIDDLEY in the UK Parliament's House of Commons on Tuesday June 10th 2008, noting that "British rock music... owes a great deal to this outstanding American genius of down-to-earth songs and rhythms". A full transcript of the Early Day Motion "Legacy of BO DIDDLEY" is available in this BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website Forum and then by clicking on the "Enter My Forum" button.

Mark Diamond of the Miami, FL-based Diamond Images, Inc. imaging services company has created an on-line BO DIDDLEY Memorial of photographs taken at the recent "BO DIDDLEY Day" in Gainesville.

We have posted several tribute videos of previously unseen footage of BO DIDDLEY, taped in 1981 in a small club in Washington, DC, performing mesmerizing versions of his classic songs including "Diddley Daddy" and "Hey Bo Diddley". These and other tribute videos and comments are available in this BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website Forum and then by clicking on the "Enter My Forum" button.

BO DIDDLEY's entry on the Simple English Wikipedia website is now on-line. We were delighted to be able to provide the creators of the Simple English Wikipedia website with much of the content for their BO DIDDLEY article. The Simple English Wikipedia is an easy to read on-line encyclopedia for people who are learning English. The Simple English Wikipedia's articles can be used to help with homework or just for the fun of learning about new ideas. Articles in the Simple English Wikipedia use fewer words and easier grammar than the Ordinary English Wikipedia. The Simple English Wikipedia is also for people with different needs, such as students, children, adults with learning difficulties and people who are trying to learn English.

A new documentary movie "Electrified: The Story of The Maxwell Street Urban Blues" examines the history of electrified urban Chicago blues and how it gave birth to rock & roll. Written and directed by independent TV writer/producer Phil Ranstrom, the movie is an offshoot project from his 2006 documentary film "Cheat You Fair: The Story of Maxwell Street", which pays tribute to Chicago's world-famous Maxwell Street open-air market, from its beginnings in the late 19th century to its turbulent end in the mid-1990s when the property was sold to the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) to expand their South Campus. Both movies feature interviews with BO DIDDLEY. For more than a century, Maxwell Street was a port of entry into Chicago for immigrants arriving from Europe, Latin America and the Southern States. Operating in the style of the European street markets, in the 1930s and 1940s the area became famous for its blues music and street musicians and the electrified urban Chicago blues popularized by artists including BO DIDDLEY, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter and Muddy Waters that gradually evolved into rock & roll. A new Maxwell Street Documentary Channel at YouTube.com now has a number of authorised video clip extracts from the two movies available to view on-line. Both movies are Big Shoulders Digital Video productions in conjunction with the Chicago Historical Society.

BO DIDDLEY, Chuck Leavell, Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards, John Sebastian and Bob Weir are amongst the musicians slated to appear in a feature length documentary tribute to the late rock & roll piano legend Johnnie Johnson, currently in production. Titled "Johnnie Be Good" and directed, produced and written by Art Holliday, the movie has a projected completion date of 2018.