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"The Story Of BO DIDDLEY...":
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Enquiries:
Margo Lewis or Faith Fusillo
Co-Managing Partners, The Estate of Bo Diddley
Talent Source Management
105 Shad Row - Second Floor
Piermont, NY 10968
USA
T: 212-730-2701
F: 845-359-4609
E: info@talentsourcemanagement.com
www.talentsourcemanagement.com
You may also contact:
Talent Consultants International (TCI)
email@tciartists.com
www.tciartists.com
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BO DIDDLEY - The Originator
A Celebration of his unique contribution to Popular Music.
"Goin' Home To McComb..."
We are indebted to the following more than 70 musicians and friends of BO DIDDLEY for their contributions to these 3 special 70th birthday tribute pages.
"Happy Birthday Bo. I'll play the harp behind you any
time!" Johnny Hoy of Johnny Hoy and The
Bluefish
"Bo, Congratulations and Happy Birthday. All the roads
in the Rock & Roll Roadmap lead back to you...Keep
Rockin'", Tommy
James
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY! from a nearly-anonymous sideperson who
you had a great affect on. I played with you for a
weekend in NYC in the early 1980s, as a saxophonist,
and was really impressed with your belief in your music
and steadfastness with the groove. That conviction is
tangible and contagious. Your musicianship reaches out
to people and we connect because of your vibration.
Thank you for your years of dedication and for your
good time vibe", Jessica
(Fuchs) Jones
"To The Great Bo Diddley: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A WONDERFUL
GREAT LEGEND - BO DIDDLEY!!! You taught everyone the
"groove", and grooved on to please many, many millions
of people, and taught us musicians that it's all in the
groove. We all love you, and it's not easy getting a
few white hairs, but you've done it in style!! Happy
70th you Funky Dude! Love", Carol Kaye, (bass
player)
"A few years ago my band had the honor of backing up
the legendary Bo Diddley for two shows at Rock Island
Brewing Company. That evening he paid us the highest
compliment in our 10 years together as a group. Halfway
through the first set, with things cooking pretty good
between us, Bo looked out at the crowd, turned around
and pointed towards us and said, "Now ladies and
gentlemen....this is a band!" He is a very gracious
host, a world-class ambassador of blues and rock &
roll, a socially-conscientious humanitarian, and a
killer performer. Accept no substitutes, 'cause there's
only one "Originator". Happy 70th Birthday, Mr. Bo
Diddley, from The Ellis Kell Band", Ellis Kell, The Ellis Kell
Band, Rock Island,
Illinois
"Hey, Bo Diddley!!
Here's a happy birthday wish
For the king of the beat
My "uncle",
My hero,
My teacher,
The Mighty Bo Diddley!!
Here's to many more, my friend,
Love", Cub Koda
"On behalf of Sha Na Na, I'd like to extend our best
wishes to Bo Diddley on his 70th birthday. Here's
hoping he keeps on rockin' & rollin' well into the 21st
Century!", Bill Kurtz, Sha Na
Na
"Happy Birthday, Bo! You were Ritchie Valens' greatest
inspiration. Here's to another 70 years! Good health
and good luck", Bob
Keane, President, DEL-FI
Records
"Hey Mr. Bo - It's a great pleasure to wish you a Happy
Birthday. You have been an inspiration to many, and
it's great to be able to say "I Know Bo". Really enjoy
the times we have spent together in the UK", Ken
Keene
"Not only is Bo Diddley a Rock 'n Roll legend and a
Rhythm & Blues pioneer, Bo is one of the originators of
Funk! The man can still outplay and outsing musicians
half his age. Happy 70th Bo!" Jack
de Keyzer (Toronto,
Canada)
"Hey there Big Bad Bo! I hear you're going to be 70,
and I just couldn't resist to send you a big HAPPY
BIRTHDAY greeting from Australia. I been playing my Bo
Diddley CDs recently, and then I get an e-mail from
David Blakey who put 2 and 2 together about The Mean Machine that I built for you in
1978, and now I realise why, all the planets were
lining up...for your birthday. Well, congratulations on
being a continuing success and a living legend. They
say old legends never die, their strings just go rusty.
But I never believed yours would, well not on my CD
player anyway. Your strings will always be sounding
real good on it. I hope this finds you in good health,
happy and still rockin' the way you always do. I hope
to be sending another greeting when you turn 80. The
world wouldn't be the same without you, so look after
yourself. All the best in great sound", Chris Kinman, Kinman
Guitar Electrix, Brisbane,
Australia
"Hey Bo!!!! Happy Birthday - "I Love You More Than
You'll Ever Know" - that's the song I wrote that you
recorded - remember??? Have a great birthday and keep
on rockin'!!!!!!" Al
Kooper
Read LADY BO's birthday message to BO DIDDLEY here.
"Happy Birthday, Bo! Thank you for all the years of
great music - the rhythm and the grooves - that gave us
so much inspiration to play music for a lifetime, just
as you have. We're so lucky that you're still with us
and still doing it, and hope you will keep on for many
years to come - you GO, Bo!!!! We love you - Happy
Birthday", Keri Leigh & The
Blue Devils, Austin, Texas. Keri Leigh, Mark Lyon,
Greg Jackson, John Teames
"Our blessings and best wishes to Bo Diddley, one of
the founding fathers of Rock n' Roll. Your beauty will
endure forever. You are a national treasure, and 70
years is not enough. Little Isidore Loves you so!"
Little
Isidore & The
Inquisitors
"Hi Bo! This is to wish you a very happy 70th birthday.
I had the pleasure of meeting you about 5 years ago in
a hotel restaurant somewhere on the road, which was an
unforgettable experience. I was a bit overawed at the
time and didn't get to thank you for all the great
music you have made. You were a major influence on me.
I bought your "Go Bo Diddley" album in 1959 or '60 and
listened to it over and over! Songs like "You Don't
Love Me (You Don't Care)", "Little Girl" and "Crackin'
Up" still move me. You were my introduction to the
world of blues, opening the door to such great artists
as John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf etc.
etc. I'm glad you're still rockin' the house and hope
you continue for years to come. Maybe we'll run into
each other on the road somewhere. All the best",
Lonesome Dave of Foghat
"BO, Ain't no doctor, lawyer, Indian chief that heard
that crazy beat and wasn't affected by it. I was...to
the core. Keep on shakin', BO. HAPPY, HAPPY
BIRTHDAY", James Lowe, The
Electric Prunes
"Happy Birthday to Bo!", Roger
McGuinn
"Happy 70th birthday Bo Diddley. The years have flown, but you are forever young in my thoughts. A picture comes to mind of you playing many, many years ago in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco: You came, you saw, you conquered. Every musician who has ever played rock'n'roll owes an everlasting debt to you, Bo Diddley. Rock on for at least another 70 years!", Barry Melton a/k/a The Fish (Country Joe & The Fish)
"Our heartiest congratulations to you, Bo, on the
occasion of your 70th birthday. Your contributions to
the world of music are well documented. Donald enjoyed
sharing the dais with you at The NARAS Lifetime
Achievement Award banquet in February. May you have
many more birthday celebrations", John and Donald
Mills of The Mills Brothers and the members of The
Mills Brothers Society, Dan Clemson,
President
"Hey Bo Diddley. Happy Birthday from some Diddley-ites
from Maine! May you enjoy many more! (Mine is one day
before yours.) Hope your back injury feels better. We
worked for you for some sold out shows at Morganfield's
(now defunct), on the Muddy Waters Front Porch Stage in
'95 and '96. I played guitar, and went pawn shopping
with you. Larry Peterson, our drummer, says to tell you
that he finally got good tires on his van! Tommy
Thompson, our keyboard player, is now ill with cancer,
so those gigs were probably his curtain call, and our
bass player, Jeff McIllwain, is now an ordained
Reverend in the AME Zion Church, so he can't play in
clubs anymore either. We all agree that working as your
band was an honor. I especially liked it when you
spotted my crate of percussion toys as you were exiting
the stage. You grabbed an African shaker, and we got
down! Also, the first-hand stories about Chuck Berry,
Little Richard, and others were priceless. Thank you.
This summer we went to Lithuania to headline some
festivals as the featured foreign guest performers. We
did some radio and print interviews, and each time when
we were asked about our influences, we made sure to
tell them at length about Bo Diddley. We even made them
spell it right! One more thing. I have a confession to
make. I tuned your guitar between shows one night. No
disrespect intended. Sincerely, a devout and influenced
guitar player", Randall Morabito, The Good Rockin'
Daddies
"Dear Bo, my band "ILLUSION" was your back-up band when
you toured with Darryl Starbird's Rod and Custom Car
Show. It was between 1981 and 1983. We played all over
the place! It was a great experience playing your songs
and trading guitar licks with you. I'll always cherish
those times. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BO! You're the
greatest!" Dave
Morgan
"Dear Bo, You've been going strong forever and I know
you always will. I still remember seeing you driving
that stretch Checker limo all over Chicago. That was
quite a sight thirty five years ago, and now I run into
you tearing it up all over the world. You are one of
the most unique individuals the world has ever seen; as
a musician and a person. On stage and off you got a rap
that is unbelievable and a total delight. I hope I get
to see and hear you forever. YOU MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY!
Thank you Bo, I love you", Charlie
Musselwhite, Kosclusko,
Mississippi
"Thank you for the E about one of my favorite
people....BO DIDDLEY! Add my BEST BIRTHDAY WISHES to
that legendary guitar man. I first heard "Bo Diddley"
and "Hey, Bo Diddley" on the Porgy Chadwick radio show
on WAMO in Pittsburgh in the 1950s. I first met Bo
Diddley when he played the first Rock & Roll Revival
tour in the Northeast in late December 1969. First
impression was that he was imposing, mean and nasty.
Nothing could be further from the truth. We became
friends and expressed a great respect for each other's
contribution to Rock & Roll and for the artists who
share their hearts with us. In the mid-eighties I put
Bo on a multi-city tour in the UK with Rick Nelson, Del
Shannon, Bobby Vee and Frankie Ford. Bo's performances
were so awesome that Rick Nelson's manager demanded an
intermission immediately aftr Bo's set....There was no
way that Rick could follow him...no way! Bo, if you
read this little piece of music history, just know that
I love you....always will", Richard Nader,
Richard Nader Presents
Inc.
"I remember working with Bo in 1985 on his special for
HBO. The show was one of the highlights of my career.
Bo had created such a family atmosphere by cooking ribs
and foods for everyone involved in the show. He made me
feel very welcomed and a part of the extended family. I
also remember fondly that Carl Wilson was there, he was
a friend of mine, and of course now, sadly, he is gone.
Carmen Appice was there too. When Carmen was with
Vanilla Fudge, my band at the time, Three Dog Night,
opened for them on our first tour.So it was great to
see him again. Happy Birthday, Bo. I have been, and
remain, a big fan", Chuck
Negron, former lead singer of Three
Dog Night
"I would like to say, as a member of Graham Central
Station and Sly & The Family Stone, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY BO
DIDDLEY" and thank you so much for the inspiration you
have given all of us", Papa J (Jerry Martini), Graham Central
Station, Sly
& The Family Stone
"We want to wish the great rhythm and blues master Bo
Diddley a very happy Birthday. You have been an
inspiration to all of us throughout the years. Keep on
Rocking, and bring it to Jerome!", Adalfo de la
Parra, The
Canned Heat Band
"Have a BIRTHDAY BLAST
A cool yule,
And a frantic first!
HAPPY 70th to
BO DIDDLEY"
From Ernie Pinata & The Delta Wires,
Thanks for sharing a great gig! PLAYDATE: 1974,
Oakland, California
"Happy Birthday Mr. Bo Diddley! I'm pleased to express
my very best wishes to you on this milestone birthday.
The world has been enriched because of your unique
contributions! I had the privilege of performing with
you at the 1984 Seattle Bumbershoot Festival and it has
remained a highlight of my career. Thank you so much
for your creativity, your energy, and some of the best
music of all time. Happy 70th Birthday! Sincerely",
Dick
Powell, Seattle, WA
"Hi Bo. My very best wishes to you on your 70th
birthday; may you celebrate many, many more! You have
always been one of the greatest of the guitar legends,
giving so much to all us "younger" guitar players,
(well, maybe not that much younger!). When I started
playing back in '56 you were already "the man"....I
thank you with all my heart for paving such a fine path
for us to follow. You sir, ARE rock n' roll. It has
always been a pleasure and honor to be in your company,
and I look forward to our next experience. Very warm
regards", Elliott
Randall
"Give Bo my best on his 70th birthday. He is an
original and a dear friend, and we are all better off
as entertainers and musicians because of Bo's
contributions to Rock'n'Roll", Tommy
Roe
"Dear Bo, you were a huge influence on us during the
early 60s....As a freshman in college I used to trek to
other towns every weekend to hear you play. You are at
the very least, part of the reason that we experienced
success in rock and roll. Only one word comes to mind
when I think about your music....Timeless....Happy
Birthday and God bless", Mike Rabon, The Five
Americans
"We had the extreme pleasure to play on the same bill with Mr. Bo Diddley himself at The Ventura Concert Theater in Ventura, California on July 16, 1994 - which seems like only yesterday. What a great show - and showman! We were so dazzled and impressed by his timeless, captivating appeal that after this experience we wrote, recorded and released an instrumental tribute to this legend, titled "So Bo!" To this day, it is still a standard on the playlist at our live performances. He is one of a kind and truly an inspiration to all musicians. So, Bo....HAPPY BIRTHDAY - and many, many more! Keep on rockin' until our paths cross again! Love and best wishes", Micky Rae, Tony & Jerome, Cadillac Angels, Santa Barbara, California, USA
"Happy Birthday Bo", Herb Reed, The
Platters
"Hey, Bo Diddley! Congratulations on your 70th
birthday! As a drummer, your influence on my playing is
tremendous (Bo Diddley Beat). One of the highlights of
my musical career was back around 1966-67, the band I
was in (The Electric Prunes, using another name at the
time), was playing on the same bill with you at The
Troubadour in West Hollywood. You paid me a compliment
about my playing that I will forever remember and
cherish. God Bless, and thanks for 50 years of great
music. You definitely deserve more recognition for your
contributions to music!", Preston Ritter (drummer
for The
Electric Prunes and many
others)
"Happy Birthday Bo. You may not remember me, but I
played guitar with The Hesitation Blues Band in
Chicago. We were your band for several gigs at Biddy
Mulligan's, a club where we played a lot of gigs. This
would have been about 1985. Playing as your band was
one of the high points in my long and checkered career
in music. You are the finest performer, and the baddest
guitar-slinger, and always a gentleman. I'm really glad
I got the chance to meet you, and play music with you.
You are the greatest, Bo. Happy Birthday and many, many
more. P.S. Call me if you need a guitar player",
Mark Robinson, guitarist, The Groove Brothers, Bloomington,
Indiana
"Happy 70th birthday Mr. Bo Diddley from Duke Shanahan
of "The Bobby Comstock Band". You gave me some great
memories when doing those Richard Nader Rock n' Roll
Shows. I wish you health and happiness. Sincerely",
Duke Shanahan,
The Bobby Comstock Band
"One of the true characters of Rock & Roll, Jerry and I
have known and toured with Bo many times, and man....do
I have stories. Happy Birthday Bo", Mark Stevens of
The
Dovells
"Dear Bo, your show was the first great show I ever
saw, with just a drummer and Jerome, at St. Anthony's
Hall in Westport, CT in the late 1950s. You were
traveling in the hearse at that time. I must have been
12 years old, and kept asking you how you tuned your
guitar, what kind of strings you used, etc. I think I
bugged you too much. Sorry. Later, I got to play on
some shows with you at the U of Mass. and around New
England with my band, The Remains. We cut Diddy Wah
Diddy on Epic Records. I want to send you Best Wishes
for your 70th Birthday!! I will be thinking of you on
the day. Best wishes also for continued success and the
best of health! You are loved by a lot of people. You
have given a lot of joy to a lot of people!! Thank you
Bo, safe travels. Sincerely", Barry
Tashian
"Hi, Claude and Skip Trenier and the rest of the group
would like to tell Bo: Have a VERY HAPPY 70th Birthday.
We hope you have 70 more!!! KEEP ROCKIN!!! Cuz Rockin
is our Bizness and Rockin is what you do Baby!! Have a
Great one!" The Treniers
"Dear Mr. McDaniel: Man, am I glad YOU were
born!!!!!!!!! I hope you have a wonderful birthday with
many, many happy returns. I also want to thank you for
the untold hours and hours and hours of complete
happiness, wonderment, and delight that I have spent
listening to your music. I couldn't even BEGIN to
explain what your music has meant to me! I was being
interviewed about a year ago and one question was "What
makes you believe there's a God?" My answer was "Bo
Diddley". Love and Kisses", Moe
Tucker
"Happy Birthday Bo! You are one of a kind. In the six
or seven times over the years that we have done shows,
(mostly at The Iron Horse in Northampton), it has
always been a fun time....You've been great for the
first 70 years, now let's see where you are going to
take us in the next 70....Best wishes and many happy
returns of the day!" Ed Vadas & The
Fabulous Heavyweights
"Bo Diddley is one of the great founding fathers of
both Rock & Roll and R&B and too often overlooked as
such. Although often remembered as a player of strange
shaped guitars, he has one of the greatest voices ever,
and forged his own style of Rock and R&B combining
elements of African, Spanish and American music to
create his own individual and hugely influential form
of music. Happy Birthday, Bo - have a great day! Best
wishes" from Steve
Winwood
BO DIDDLEY shared his birthday with the following musicians: Paul Stookey (1937), Michael Nesmith (1942), Davy Jones (1945), Patti Smith (1946), Jeff Lynne (1947) and Suzy Bogguss (1956).
"Bo Diddley, may you continue to inspire, influence and teach future generations of musicians who fall under the spell of the Bo Diddley Beat.
May you continue to entertain audiences with your unique talent, professionalism and charm,
and may you continue to fully enjoy all the recognition that you so richly deserve. Bo Diddley, for 50 years the Light-Heavyweight Champion of The Rhythm and Blues World....We Salute You!"
David Blakey, Webmaster
70th birthday tributes page 3
(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.
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