BIOGRAPHY
Bo Diddley, born Ellas Otha Bates on December 30, 1928, and raised in Chicago by an adoptive family whose surname McDaniel he took, became one of the foundational figures of early rock and roll. Recording for Chess Records, he took the stage name Bo Diddley, likely drawn from the diddley bow, a one-stringed instrument rooted in Mississippi Delta blues tradition. His debut single, "Bo Diddley" backed with "I'm a Man," hit No. 1 on the rhythm and blues charts and introduced the syncopated, African-rooted rhythm that became known as the Bo Diddley beat. Known as "The Originator" for his role in moving blues toward rock and roll, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and later received a posthumous Doctor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Florida for his influence on American popular music.