Bo Diddley Tribute

what kind of family life did he grow up in..??

I met Bo back in the 1970's when he had a place south of Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was a genuinely warm and friendly guy and I ended up going back to his place quite a few times where he showed me his "Mud Studios" with the wonderful old 1950's equipment that sounded great. At that time he was very much into ceramics and loved to show off his latest creations. He was pretty darned good at that too. Not only was he a great artist, composer and musician, but he was a good guy who always had time to share with everyone.

My family moved to Granada Hills, California in 1972 and bought Bo Diddley's old house at 17541 Minnehaha Street. He'd stop by the old neighborhood when he was in town and talk cars and such with all his old friends in the neighborhood, and everyone was his friend. I was a shy, underconfident teenager and he was very nice to me. He complimented my ability on a unicycle, said nice things about my 1931 Model A truck and gave my little sisters rides around the neighborhood in his shiny, tricked-out baby blue Cadillac hearse. He was not just a great performer but a wonderful, generous, friendly person. I will miss him.

I had dinner with Bo some years ago in Toronto before a concert. I had Bo on 1 side of me and Frankie Ford on the other. They started trading jokes and I remember my face was aching from laughing so much. What a great guy.

In my opinion, there were two people who did more to bring R&B, or, the blues, to the masses....largely, white audiences......than Jimmy Reed and Bo Diddley. While their styles were different, they clicked with the young & restless white teenagers, as well as the white musicians who took their styles and ran with them....like Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, The Rolling Stones, and many others. They paved the way for artists like B.B. King, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Little Willie John....and the list goes on. It was fittlng that he was one of the first inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The musicians that followed him owe him a debt of gratitude that will be difficult to repay. As we all know, most of these early "pioneer" artists barely made enough money to go from show-to-show. And, while in demand for our entertainment, were subjected to the harsh (putting it mildly) realities of segregation. Yet, for the love of the music, and the love of entertaining, they persevered. Rest in peace, Bo Diddley. You will be missed.
Sonny Bell
Stafford, VA

I remember when I first found out Bo was going to be our next door neighbor.I had no way of getting my horse across town and he volenteered his trailer.I knew we would be cousins from there on.We would be down at Partin's feed store and I couldn't wait when I saw his truck to see him and talk to him.He always changed your attitude for the better .I will sure miss seeing his alligator foot keychain. I will fondley remember him on his tractor with the dogs behind grating the sand road leading to the house he always had time to stop and talk.I will remember for the rest of my life three weeks before his stroke myself and my 7 and 8 year old just showing up to the house wanting him to tune all three of our guitars.With a smile we talked ,laughed and my dream came true,I sang with Bo Diddley a song that meant alot to me.The kids got to play with him and his beautiful family .All the puppies and animals and the love and joy they always portrayed.We moved to Missouri 8 months ago but our fondest moment of living in Florida for 15 years was our freind Bo.To the kids and grandkids we LOVE YOU and we are sorry for your loss. Thank you for making an impact on our lives Erika Mueggenberg