Bo Diddley gets a rocking sendoff at Fla. funeral
By BRENDAN FARRINGTON, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 14 minutes ago
Bo Diddley's funeral rocked and rolled Saturday with as much energy as his music.

For four hours, friends and relatives sang, danced and celebrated the life of the man who helped give birth to rock and roll with a signature beat that influenced Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones and many others.

As family members passed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's casket, a gospel band played his namesake song. Within moments, the crowd of several hundred began clapping in time and shouting, "Hey, Bo Diddley!"

Diddley, 79, died of heart failure Monday at his home in nearby Archer.

"In 1955 he used to keep the crowds rocking and rolling way before Elvis Presley," Diddley's grandson, Garry Mitchell, said before kicking his legs sideways, high up in the air, the way Diddley did onstage. Mourners cheered.

"I'm just telling it the way it is," Mitchell said.

Diddley, who was born Ellas Bates and became Ellas McDaniel when he took the last name of a cousin who raised him, was remembered for much more than his songs. Friends recounted his generosity, manifested in concerts for the homeless and work with youth groups and other charities; and the way he loved to talk to just about anybody he met.

Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan referred to one of his most famous hits as she told the crowd, "When the question is asked, 'Who do you love?', it's you, Bo."

The funeral was followed by a tribute concert featuring his touring band and other musicians.

Eric Burdon, leader of the rock group The Animals, attended the service, and flowers were sent from musicians including Jerry Lee Lewis, Tom Petty, George Thorogood and others.

Burdon, also a member of the Rock Hall, called Diddley a big influence.

"I've been a fan of his since 16, 17 years of age. Probably one of the first records I ever owned," Burdon said, recalling that his attention was immediately grabbed when he saw an album cover with Diddley sitting on a scooter with a square guitar.

Burdon said he saw Diddley play last year at a concert in Australia, and even though he could tell his health wasn't great, Diddley put tremendous energy into the show. He was known for his stage moves, which some presume influenced Presley.

"He's always been jumping around and very aggressive; if he was onstage with the Stones, he was obviously putting Keith Richards in his place," Burdon said. In describing the "shave and a haircut, two bits" rhythm Diddley made famous, Burdon said, "I call it bone music, because it goes to your bone."

But stories of another side of Diddley were told repeatedly at the funeral. A man who loved God and his family, who would always stop to talk in the grocery store and was always smiling.

His brother, the Rev. Kenneth Haynes of Biloxi, Miss., said Diddley always asked how he could help and what he could give.

"There was one thing he wouldn't give me. That's his hat," Haynes said, referring to the black hat the musician was also known for.

But Haynes said his brother grew weary of life on the road.

"'But this is what God gave me to feed my family,'" Haynes recalled Diddley saying. "'I have to keep doing it until God says it's enough.'"

Diddley was born in McComb, Miss. He moved to rural Archer in the early 1980s and had a recording studio on his 76 acres. Mitchell joked that Diddley got up so early, he would tap the roosters on the shoulder to wake them up. And he always sang at breakfast.

Diddley's friend Roosevelt Hutchinson described how the musician would wrap meat in several layers of tin foil, bury it and light a fire on top to cook it. Once the fire was lit, he would grab his guitar.

"He just enjoyed playing that thing under those trees," Hutchinson said.

But he enjoyed his family even more, friends said. He had four children, 15 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

"Please know this, because I know Diddley," the guitarist's business manager, Faith Fusillo, told his family. "As much as you loved him, he loved you more."

(This version CORRECTS the quotation from Hutchinson to read "those trees," not "the trees.")

I think of Bo Diddly more as a sound and not so much for his specific songs.

But he really hit on something with that rhythm, it's like a whole genre in and of itself!

theAudience said:

Much appreciated.

From an album perspective, I'll take Bo Diddley.

From a song and Box Set perspective, I'll take Chuck Berry.

And from an energy perspective, I'll eat a Georgia peach.

They almost certainly are the 3 greatest artists that emerged during this period where the blues met with Rock & Roll and R&B.
[Edited 6/8/08 13:30pm]

Brendan said:

Amen. And I will say this:

Chuck provided the words, Richard provided the energy and Bo provided the beat.

That's why they're the undisputed kings of rock & roll.

I was so bummed when I heard Bo died. Even worse, when I mentioned it to my friends, only one knew who he was.

Yet another underappreciated genius....

meow85 said:

You can say that again.

Timmy84 said:

Without a doubt the real triumvirate, the undisputed kings of rock & roll (although there were hundreds and thousands of others, but these were probably the three best).

Racism unfortunately hoisted that crown on someone else much less deserving.

Racism also unfortunately created a backlash out of a guy who really is a rather great singer and performer, just not the king of rock & roll.

But I understand, it's very hard to hear that when you're absolutely sickened by the amount of praise and reverence this one man gets while others continue to die mere paupers with collections that still aren't treated with remastering.

But it'd be hard to argue against Bo Diddley dieing a much happier person without any of the mega-million trappings and unneeded symbolism of ruling the musical planet.

Fame isn't everything. And the music that these 3 geniuses created will last long after people even remember how or when rock & roll was started.

== Crap! ==
[Edited 6/8/08 17:29pm]

He was a true giant of rock and roll.

I dont' mean to take anything away from Bo, but he didn't invent the "Bo Diddley beat." It's actually a traditional African clave rhythm that's been around for hundreds of years. Still, Bo WAS the first to apply it to rock n roll.

RIP Bo!

guitarslinger44 said:

That is true.

carlcranshaw said:

that's so badass!

Definitely one to be remembered...
Thanks for all the music Bo....

I got to see him at Bumbershoot 2 years ago in Seattle. The old fart had more energy then me that day, lol. Rest in peace, Diddley

I loved his song "Ooh Baby" which featured the coolest violin I ever heard.

He was truly a great bluesman. May he rest in peace.