Rock 'n' Roller Bo Diddley Dies

Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer Bo Diddley passed away Monday, surrounded by family and loved ones at his home in Archer, Florida, a family spokeswoman said.

Diddley died of heart failure, his family said.

The world-renowned guitarist and vocalist, who was known for his hybrid hits that melded rock and blues, was 79.

His signature beat laid the foundation for rock 'n' roll for decades. The rhythm on tracks such as "Who Do You Love?" and "Bo Diddley" became known as the "Bo Diddley" beat.

"This distinctive, African-based 5/4 rhythm pattern (which goes bomp-bomp-bomp bomp-bomp) was picked up from Diddley by other artists and has been a distinctive and recurring element in rock 'n' roll through the decades," according to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

Diddley was a contemporary of Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and Elvis Presley, reported CNN.com.

Diddley was born Ellas Bates McDaniel in McComb, Mississippi. He was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in January 1987.



While growing up in Chicago, Diddley was exposed to music and the blues. After studying violin and trombone, he took up the electric guitar.

According to his Who2 profile, Diddley's flamboyance, square guitars and distinctive backbeat (sometimes described as "shave-and-a-hair-cut") earned him a record contract with Chess Records, and in 1955 he had his first hit with the two-sided project, "Bo Diddley/I'm A Man." Although he had numerous hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and appeared on TV with Dick Clark and Ed Sullivan, Diddley's aggressive beat, suggestive lyrics and raw performances ended up making him more influential than rich and famous.