{Lady Bo photo}


"The Story Of BO DIDDLEY...":

home
history 1928-1955
career 50s / 60s / 70s / 80s / 90s / 00s
70th birthday tributes page 1 / 2 / 3
hot news
forthcoming appearances
discography 45s / lps / comps / misc
downloads/cds
movies
tv & radio
musicians
lady bo page 1 / 2 / 3
jerome green
chatroom
contest
photo gallery page 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
guestbook & forum
lyrics
mean machine
"originator radio"
rare bo
reading
rocklove review
visitors' comments
dedication
links

For all booking information and any other enquiries regarding LADY BO, please contact:


LADY BO
at LB-BCH Productions
Tel. 831 338-9465
or Fax 831 338-1968

or e-mail ladybo@ladybo.com

or e-mail Webmaster

BO DIDDLEY - The Originator

A Celebration of his unique contribution to Popular Music.

LADY BO - A Tribute

"She Is The Only One Who Knows The Original Ways..."


"I've known LADY BO since she was about 16 or 17 years old. I coached her and taught her to play and helped, too...She was playing a little bit, but she wanted to play like me. I let her hang around, and she picked up what she could, and she knows every move I make...She is the only one that knows the original ways..."

BO DIDDLEY



"I knew him in '56 in New York, and he was playing at the Apollo Theatre, and I ran into him on the outside when he was on a break. I had a guitar with me...I was playing a little, and he wanted to know, did I play, and I said, Yeah...why?!!! Who are you?!!! You know...in the whole of New York City this guy is asking me that...!"

LADY BO



That chance meeting was to begin the transformation of the BO DIDDLEY sound from that of a fairly basic-sounding one-chord bluesman into that of a truly versatile musician, able to create music in any number of different styles. The 2 of them began to work very closely together to develop his ideas for new material and new sounds. Additionally, she taught herself to play the guitar in his unique tunings, so that she could play in unison with him, and thus add yet a further dimension to his already dynamic sound, both on record and on stage.

PEGGY JONES was born in Eden, Somerset County, Maryland, USA on Friday July 19th 1940 and grew up in the Sugar Hill district of New York City, located in uptown Manhattan. She displayed a very early talent for music. At just 3 years of age she was already a tap dancing prodigy, and by the age of 9, studying opera and learning to master her first instrument, the ukelele. She graduated from the New York High School of Performing Arts, studying dance, drama, music theory, and several musical instruments. Influenced by artists such as Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Ruth Brown, Etta James, LaVern Baker, Mahalia Jackson, Linda Hopkins and Sam Cooke, she began to compose and arrange her own music. In 1955 she bought her very first guitar, and it was in this same year that she first heard the music of BO DIDDLEY.

In the following years she recorded 3 local hits, and in 1957 joined The Bop-Chords vocal group as first tenor, and went on to enjoy a further 2 hits with them. That year, after meeting up with BO DIDDLEY, she replaced his guitar player Jody Williams, who had been drafted for military service. The following year she was hired full-time to play on all of his recording sessions and for all of his stage performances. SHE WAS THE FIRST FEMALE LEAD GUITARIST IN HISTORY TO BE HIRED BY A MAJOR ACT. She worked full-time with BO DIDDLEY until 1961, when she formed her own group The Jewels, later to be known as LADY BO & The Family Jewel. In the summer of 1966, The Jewels recorded their classic track "We Got Togetherness" for MGM Records. This monster soul stomper is now a perennial favorite on the UK's northern soul scene. In addition, she worked as a session musician and night club singer and as a vocalist with several big bands. It was as a session percussion player that she enjoyed her biggest international pop chart success when, in 1967, "San Franciscan Nights" by Eric Burdon & The Animals (MGM Records), reached the Top 10 around the world.

Now married to her bass player Wally Malone, LADY BO & The Family Jewel continued to accompany BO DIDDLEY for many of his stage performances upto 1993. In November of that year she was the recipient of The Lifetime Achievement Award in appreciation of her contribution to the Blues, at The Third Annual South Bay Blues Awards Show, held at the San Jose Civic Auditorium. On that same evening she was presented with a plaque from Gibson Guitars USA for her years of loyalty to Gibson, plus a 20" x 26" oil portrait painted by local artist George Milo Buck. Today, LADY BO and her current group The BC Horns continue to perform to appreciative audiences around the US and worldwide. Audiences that are eager to see and to hear at first hand the woman who added so much to the distinctive BO DIDDLEY sound, and who did so much pioneer work to further the cause of women in music. In 2008, LADY BO was included in Venus Zine magazine's "Greatest Female Guitarists of All-Time" listing, in recognition of how she altered the shape of the male-dominated industry.

LADY BO Discography:

  • Continentals, Picture of Love/Soft & Sweet (Whirlin' Disc 105) 1957
  • Bop-Chords, Baby/So Why (Holiday 2608) 1957
  • Greg & Peg, Honey, Bunny, Baby/Why Do I Love You Like I Do (Ro-Nan 1001) 1957
  • Bob & Peggy, Everybody's Talking/I'm Gonna Love My Way (Peacock 1927) 1963
  • Jewels, I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles/We Got Togetherness (MGM K 13577) 1966


LADY BO Session Recordings (Guitars/Percussion) (#=highest US pop chart position):

  • Les Cooper & The Soul Rockers, Wiggle Wobble/Dig Yourself (Everlast 5019) 1962 #22
  • Les Cooper & The Soul Rockers, Wiggle Wobble LP (Everlast ELP-202) 1962
  • Fred Waring Orchestra with The Jewels, The Two Worlds Of LP (Decca) 1966
  • Eric Burdon & The Animals, San Franciscan Nights/- (MGM 13769) 1967 #9
  • Various Artists, Feeling Happy Children's LP (Riekes Music 2921) 1978
  • Various Artists, The Doo Wop Era - Harlem, New York 2-LP (Collectables COL-7001) 1987
  • Various Artists, New York Rhythm & Blues, Vol. 1 - Harlem Holiday LP (Collectables COL-5051) 1988
  • Various Artists, King Curtis & Other Golden Classics - Soul Twist LP (Collectables COL-5119) 1988


LADY BO & The Family Jewel Unissued Recordings For Country Singer Linda Ellas, March/June 1978 (Original Music Arrangements and Studio Production by LADY BO & The Family Jewel):

  • March 1978:

  • We Got It Special (take 4)
  • You Can Dance (take 1)
  • Lazy Good Time Love's Gone By (take 3)
  • I Feel Something Special (take 2)
  • Boy, Boy, Boy (aka I Slipped & Fell In Love) (take 4)

  • June 1978:

  • Looking Back
  • Thank You Love
  • I Can Feel It Coming On (aka Nightlife)
  • Blues Is Here To Stay
  • I'm Confessing


Original BO DIDDLEY Releases 1957-1984 that feature LADY BO as Band Member, Session Musician, Guitarist, Vocalist or Arranger:

  • US Singles (#=highest US R&B chart position):

  • Hey Bo Diddley/Mona (Checker 860) 1957
  • Say, Boss Man/- (Checker 878) 1957
  • Hush Your Mouth/- (Checker 896) 1958
  • Willie & Lillie/Bo Meets The Monster (Checker 907) 1958
  • I'm Sorry/- (Checker 914) 1958 #17
  • Crackin' Up/- (Checker 924) 1959 #14
  • Say Man/- (Checker 931) 1959 #3
  • Say Man, Back Again/She's Alright (Checker 936) 1959 #23
  • Road Runner/My Story (Checker 942) 1960 #20
  • Walkin' & Talkin'/Craw-Dad (Checker 951) 1960
  • Gunslinger/Signifying Blues (Checker 965) 1960
  • Aztec/Not Guilty (Checker 976) 1961 (All guitars & arrangement on "Aztec" are by LADY BO)
  • Pills/Call Me (Checker 985) 1961

  • US Albums:

  • Bo Diddley (Chess 1431) 1958
  • Go Bo Diddley (Checker 1436) 1959
  • Have Guitar, Will Travel (Checker 2974) 1960
  • Bo Diddley In The Spotlight (Checker 2976) 1960
  • Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger (Checker 2977) 1960
  • Bo Diddley Is A Lover (Checker 2980) 1961
  • Bo Diddley's A Twister (Checker 2982) 1962
  • Ain't It Good To Be Free (New Rose 34, France) 1984


Note: Duchess (Norma-Jean Wofford) played guitar on the following original BO DIDDLEY LPs:

  • Bo Diddley (Checker 2984) 1962
  • Bo Diddley & Company (Checker 2985) 1962
  • Surfin' With Bo Diddley (Checker 2987) 1963 (Although credited to BO DIDDLEY, he only appears on 4 of the 12 tracks. The remainder are by Billy Lee Riley & The Megatons)
  • Bo Diddley's Beach Party (Checker 2988) 1963 (Recorded live at Beach Club, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, July 1963)


Repackaged & Reissued BO DIDDLEY Album Releases 1964-to date that feature LADY BO as Band Member, Session Musician, Guitarist, Vocalist or Arranger:

  • Bo Diddley's 16 All-Time Greatest Hits (Checker 2989) 1964
  • Road Runner (Checker 2982) 1967 (Repackage of Bo Diddley's A Twister LP)
  • Go Bo Diddley (Checker 3006) 1967 (Reissue of 1959 LP)
  • Boss Man (Checker 3007) 1967 (Repackage of Bo Diddley 1958 debut LP)
  • Got My Own Bag of Tricks (Chess 60005, 2 LP set) 1972
  • The Chess Box (Chess 19502, 2 CD Box Set) 1990
  • Rare & Well Done (Chess 9331) 1991
  • The EP Collection (See For Miles 321, UK) 1991 (Credited)
  • Bo's Blues (Ace 396) 1993 (Credited)
  • Bo Diddley-The Chess Years (Charly R&B Red Box 8, UK, 12 CD Box Set) 1993 (Credited)
  • The Mighty Bo Diddley (Triple X Records) 1995 (Repackage of Ain't It Good To Be Free LP)
  • Bo Knows Bo (MCA 20872) 1995 (LADY BO is pictured with BO DIDDLEY on the cover of this CD. She is playing a Gibson L6S guitar, whilst he is pictured playing LADY BO's spare Les Paul. His guitar was misplaced at the airport.)
  • Bo Diddley-His Best (Chess CHD-9373) 1997 (Credited)
  • 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection - The Best of Bo Diddley (Universal/MCA 112163) 2000
  • Universal Masters Collection (Universal CD 1122442) 2000
  • Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger (Chess 000176102) 2004 (includes previously unreleased bonus tracks) (Credited)
  • Best 1200 limited edition "Best Of" collection (Universal CD UICY 9954) 2005
  • The Story of Bo Diddley-The Very Best of Bo Diddley (Chess 9832296) 2006
  • Bo Diddley - Definitive Collection (Geffen 000878602) 2007 (Credited)
  • I'm A Man/The Chess Masters, 1955-1958 (Hip-O Select CD 923102) 2007 (limited edition, includes previously unreleased tracks, alternate takes etc) (Credited)
  • Rock 'N' Roll Legends: Bo Diddley (Universal CD 5305167) 2008
  • Road Runner/The Chess Masters, 1959-1960 (Hip-O Select CD) 2008 (limited edition, includes previously unreleased tracks, alternate takes etc) (Credited)
  • The Chess Box (Universal SHM-CD UICY-91042) 2008 (Credited)
  • Bo Diddley (Universal SHM-CD UICY-93722) 2008 (Credited)
  • Have Guitar, Will Travel (Universal SHM-CD UICY-93723) 2008 (Credited)
  • Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger (Universal SHM-CD UICY-93724) 2008 (includes bonus tracks) (Credited)
  • Bo Diddley Is A Lover (Universal SHM-CD UICY-93725) 2008 (Credited)
  • Bo Diddley & Company (Universal SHM-CD UICY-93726) 2008 (Credited)
  • Bo Diddley - Gold (Geffen 001178102) 2008 (Credited)
  • Bo Diddley - iTunes Esssentials download album (iTunes) 2008 (Credited)
  • Ride On/The Chess Masters, 1960-1961 (Hip-O Select) 2009 (limited edition, includes previously unreleased tracks, alternate takes etc) (Credited)


LADY BO & The Family Jewel BO DIDDLEY Sessions January & March 1978. (Original Music Arrangements & Studio Production by LADY BO & The Family Jewel):

  • I Don't Know Where I've Been (aka Back There, Going Back There, and I'm Going Back There Again)
  • I Ain't Gonna Force It On You
  • Evil Woman
  • Let The Fox Talk
  • (The above 4 titles were released on Side 2 of the Ain't It Good To Be Free LP (New Rose Records) in 1984, and reissued as The Mighty Bo Diddley CD (Triple X Records) in 1995.)


Unissued titles recorded at the same sessions:

  • Visions of You
  • You're All I Got
  • Come On And Get Me Baby
  • (Bo Diddley) Can You Handle It
  • (Bo Diddley Is A) Hell Of A Man
  • Noxema
  • Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (Instrumental written by LADY BO & Wally Malone)
  • Get On Up, Get Down (Instrumental written by LADY BO)


Notable TV, Movie & Video Appearances:

  • The Cheetah: A Mod Mecca (San Isidro Production/WABC-TV Color Special) (with The Jewels) 1966
  • Rollin' On The River (The Kenny Rogers Show) (CTV, Canada) (BO DIDDLEY with LADY BO & The Family Jewel) 1972
  • Donny & Marie (ABC) (BO DIDDLEY with LADY BO & The Family Jewel) 1976
  • Maximum Louie Louie Marathon on KFJC Radio (USA Video) (with Richard Berry and Jack Ely of The Kingsmen) 1983
  • The Bammies, Bay Area Music Awards (KQED-TV, San Francisco, CA) (BO DIDDLEY with LADY BO & The Family Jewel) 1986
  • I Don't Sound Like Nobody (Channel 1, Sweden) (BO DIDDLEY with LADY BO & The Family Jewel, live concert from Club Karlssons, Stockholm, Sweden) 1987, and A&E Network 1990, and Castle Hendring UK video 1990
  • The Lost Boys (Warner Bros. Movie) (Plays a guitarist in the band scene on Boardwalk Beach) 1987
  • Third Annual South Bay Blues Awards Show (KNTV-11, San Jose, CA) (BO DIDDLEY with LADY BO & The Family Jewel) 1993
  • Flashbacks: Soul Sensations (USA Video) (BO DIDDLEY with LADY BO & The Family Jewel, Kenny Rogers TV Show 1972) 1994
  • Live In Concert (USA Video) (LADY BO & The BC Horns, live concert from the Monterey Bay Blues Festival) 1995
  • Eyewitness News: 5 Reports (KPIX Channel 5 TV, San Francisco, CA) 2000
  • National Geographic's True Originals: American Voices: Blues & Doo Wop Music (National Geographic Channel) 2001
  • Chic-a-Go-Go: Lil' Ratso in New Orleans (Chicago Cable Access, Channel 19 TV, Chicago, IL) 2005
  • Chic-a-Go-Go: Clifton James Memorial (Chicago Cable Access, Channel 19 TV, Chicago, IL) (with Jody Williams) 2006


Recommended Reading:

  • "She's A Rebel: The History of Women in Rock & Roll" by Gillian G. Gaar (Seal Press Feminist Publications, 1992) ISBN 1878067087
  • "The Complete Bo Diddley Sessions" by George R. White (Music Mentor Books, 1993) ISBN 0951988808
  • "Bo Diddley: Living Legend" by George R. White (Music Sales Corp., 1997) ISBN 1860741304
  • "Doo-Wop: The Chicago Scene" by Robert Pruter (University of Illinois Press, 1997) ISBN 0252065069
  • "The Rolling Stone Book of Women in Rock: Trouble Girls" by Barbara O'Dair (Editor) (Random House, 1997) ISBN 0679768742
  • "International Who's Who in Music: 1998, 2000" (Melrose Press, 1998, 2000) ISBN 0948875380

  • The Spectacular Jewels: New York's Greatest R&B Band 1961-1968 (Jersey Journal)
  • Monterey Jazz - A Gas (Philip Elwood, San Francisco Examiner) September 1973
  • Rock & Roll Revival (Pat Henna, Denver Post) August 1973
  • Just Call Her Lady Bo (Leonard Ferris, Guitar Player Magazine) September 1974
  • Lady Bo Steps Out of The Shadows (Tom Honig, Santa Cruz Sentinel) December 1980
  • The Lady & The Legend (Tom Honig, Santa Cruz Sentinel interview) May 1981
  • Top South Bay Performers (Steve Stolder, South Bay Accent Magazine) October/November 1986
  • Photo Gallery (20 Best) (20th Anniversary issue of Guitar Player Magazine) January 1987
  • A Tribute to The Originator (Cub Koda, Goldmine Magazine #261) July 1990
  • Lady Bo: Rock Guitar Pioneer (Jon Sievert, Guitar Player Magazine) August 1990
  • The Great Guitars of The Fred Gretsch Company (Hall of Fame section) 1992
  • Bo Diddley - The Doo-Wopper (Robert Pruter, Goldmine Magazine #332) April 1993
  • Third South Bay Blues Awards (Linda Cunningham, Blues Life Journal Vol. 16 #64) 1993
  • Women Are Instrumental in Jazz & Blues (Elizabeth Munoz Orr, San Jose Mercury News) July 1995
  • Cover Feature (Lou Holscher, Blue Suede News #37) March 1997
  • Lady Bo: Guitarist Extraordinaire (Renee Westbrook, ROCKRGRL Magazine #57) Fall 2005
  • Lady Bo: First Lady Of The Blues (Marie Keating, Guitar & Bass Magazine) April 2006

  • Bo Diddley-The EP Collection (See For Miles SEE 321, album sleeve-notes) 1991
  • Bo Diddley-The Chess Years (Charly R&B Red Box 8, 12 CD Box Set, booklet listings) 1993


For information on upcoming live appearances by LADY BO, please check here or at her Official website here. We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of LADY BO in providing us with information for this page.

(c) Copyright David Blakey 1998-2018. All Rights Reserved. No images on this website may be stored or reproduced in any way without the written permission of the copyright holder. Extracts from this publication may be copied for educational purposes only. No extracts may be copied and used for commercial purposes without the written permission of the copyright holder.