Bo Diddley "Bo Diddley" on The Ed Sullivan Show

[@elisampley7598]

I was his part time grounds keeper the last two years of his life. I went to school with almost all of his great granddaughters and was a friend of the family. He was pretty bad at toward the end. He'd had a stroke or two. And was hard to understand, but when he got his guitar he could sing and play so clearly is was stunning. He completely changed. I only saw it once or twice but it left an impression on me. It was like the stroke symptoms and his arthritis disappeared. Great man. RIP ✌

[@G0K3001]

Awesome story! Yes from what I've read many stroke victims retain their musicality. That side of the brain still is undisturbed. I don't understand how the paralysis allows the body to function. In MR. BO'S case he could still play his music he created: ROCK AND ROLL- GLAD YOU WITNESSED IT!

[@bradentonguy50]

Yeah. I saw Glenn Campbell’s farewell tour. He was TOTALLY disoriented. Had no idea where he was and I wonder if he even knew if he was there at all! BUT, his singing and playing were incredible! I read somewhere that musical ability in humans is deep, deep inside the brain. From what I read, terribly brain-injured people still retain a substantial amount of appreciation and recognition of music. I guess that this might explain what was reported about Bo. I witnessed it myself with Glen. Really re-affirmed my belief in God to see him do what he did.

[@G0K3001]

@@bradentonguy50 Glen Cambell was awesome! I believe he was the only one of the Wrecking Crew who could not read music. I would have liked to see him live.

[@elisampley7598]

@@bradentonguy50 just proof music is connected to the soul and not the brain. ✌

[@bradentonguy50]

@@elisampley7598 MUST be. No other way to explain what I saw that night. Glenn was TOTALLY out of it except when he was singing and playing. To tell you the truth, I was actually concerned about his safety on stage.

[@Odin029]

For those who don't know just how rock n roll this video is... Ed Sullivan, one of the most powerful people in TV back then, wanted Bo and his band to play the song Sixteen Tons which was a hit at the time for Tennessee Ernie Ford, that's why there's straw all over the stage. Bo agreed and then of course went out and played his own song. If you notice how they all kept looking to the sides of the stage because they all expected to be dragged off for defying the powerful Ed Sullivan, but the song Bo Diddley ended up being a hit.

[@wanaraz]

Great story but I don't believe it. Everybody who went on Ed's show had some sort of talent or hit song. That's why they are on the show. That song topped the charts for TWO weeks in 1955.

[@drgeff1]

This is absolutely a true story. Even worse it got into a very aggressive verbal altercation with Ed Sullivan calling bo a pejorative racial term that nearly led to a fist fight. Bo Diddley was banned from The Ed Sullivan show for 7 years and wasn't able to even into any of Alan freed's films It was a dumb misunderstanding what happened. Bo thought he was going to get to play both songs. There was a cue card miscommunication. You can hear the whole story on the wonderful podcast The history of rock in 500 songs episode 30 Bo Diddley

[@bonehead1170]

I have read that it was a mistake and not an act of defiance by Bo Diddley. Bo supposedly agreed to play 16 Tons. The story is Bo read the set list, seen "Bo Diddley. 16 Tons" and because his name was also the name of his hit, thought that he was to perform the two songs back to back. The confusion was caused by the artist and song having the same name.

[@alanoneill3065]

@@bonehead1170 fascinating...thank you that event may have reshaped history...Buddy Holly and the Stones stole the riffs and Bo was osatracised??? nice guy Ed eh?

[@alanoneill3065]

@@bonehead1170 that event may have reshaped history...Buddy Holly and the Stones stole the riffs and Bo was osatracised??? nice guy Ed eh?

[@steveweiss2081]

Never seen anybody make playing maracas look so cool

[@pausetapemedia7942]

You ain't Lying

[@wkg55]

That is Jerome Green on maracas.

[@rogerlabbett9584]

Saw bo in London in 63 top of the bill with The Rolling Stones

[@picdubois4620]

@@rogerlabbett9584 That guy is Jerome _ HE is cool - He ate my scotch and water, ice cubes, plastic cup, stir straw and all - in the early 60's

[@davidbelmont674]

@@wkg55 do not forget the song "Bring it to Jerome"

[@Poppa_Bob]

Utterly fantastic. Who says the 1950s were boring?

[@sethieboy12]

Umm.. no one

[@ZOOTSUITBEATNICK1]

I was there, aside from some fine music and the Beats, the 50s were largely boring...imo

[@Poppa_Bob]

@ZOOTSUITBEATNICK1 thanks. James Mahaffey, in his book “Atomic Accidents”, rates the Castle Bravo H-bomb test at Bikini Attoll on 1 March 1954 on of the least boring events in the generally not uninteresting history of nuclear weapons development. The scientists miscalculated the strength of the explosion by a factor of about 20. It was about 1000 times the power of Hiroshima. He rates the prevalent culture of reckless indifference to physical danger as one of the things that made the 1950s an interesting decade.

[@ZOOTSUITBEATNICK1]

@@Poppa_Bob Maybe you had to be there to get the borings.

[@Poppa_Bob]

@@ZOOTSUITBEATNICK1 missed it by 10 months, dagnabbit

[@seanhoward2576]

How many people are blown away by the RHYTHM!!!!

[@friendofbeaver6636]

I heard an NPR interview with Bo saying he based it on Native American drums. Listen...

[@IsaacAsimov1992]

+Sean Howard Unbelievable rhythm. I thought I heard a harmonica start up and then realized it was Bo dampening his guitar chords.

[@chairman76]

@@friendofbeaver6636 it's a typical West African beat. The Afro-Cubans retained it and influenced Bo Diddley. Bear in mind that African Americans were banned from playing their traditional drums in the plantations.

[@timothytietz9194]

Get some of the early 45's or 78's if you can play them. Mindblowing!

[@jordanposnik6663]

It was actually drummer Clifton James’s idea.

[@deweypug]

Wild. Raw. Captivating. Groundbreaking. Simple. This is rock and roll.

[@MeJulAn]

Magic!!!

[@nigellangridge1975]

His guitar tone is extraordinary. That tremolo effect IS rock’n’roll! Like “Funky Drummer” I could listen to this all day

[@michaelshore2609]

exactly! that holy-ghostly TREMOLO! it's....primordial!

[@archangelvvv]

SAME HERE!

[@latouselatrec]

I was wondering where that was coming from. Then I saw it matched up with his guitar playing but I still didn't know how he was doing it

[@MiSambra]

Bo was the bridge that took us from rythm and blues to the dawn of rock 'n roll.

[@ThatGuy-y2c]

Alex Bird I would argue that the honor belongs to Sister Rosetta Tharpe.

[@Hibbs4Prez]

@@ThatGuy-y2c Hell no.

[@ThatGuy-y2c]

@@Hibbs4PrezYour overly strong feelings about Sister Rosetta Thorpe and Bo Diddley are a little off-putting.

[@alanwallace7924]

Bo Diddley, Ike Turner, Chuck Berry - the great innovators in R&B. We no longer have innovators!

[@vinnygi]

He was one of them. There were many.

[@JODIMAR45]

Rock 'n' Roll don't get any better than this 😏

[@mathmusic1490]

Mr. Elias McDaniel, AKA Bo Diddley, is buried about 1/2 hour from me, in his last home town, Bronson, FL. I visit his grave as much as I can. Without Bo, no real rock n' roll.............and his distinctive BEAT!!!!!!!!!!

[@elisampley7598]

@@mathmusic1490 I worked for him there in Bronson as his grounds keeper. He was a great man. RIP

[@ehcatsfaneric2211]

Upper east tennessee loves him please tell him when you visit

[@bradentonguy50]

I took my wife and 2 young kids to see him in the 80’s. I also took them to see Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, James Brown, Johnny Otis, Leon Russell and Aretha Franklin. I wanted them to see and hear the Mount Rushmore of the greatest musicians ever. The girls are now 36 and 40 years old. I bet that nobody their age saw these people live. I’m proud of that.

[@zoriamm5064]

That nice.👍👍👍

[@duane356]

Funny you mentioned Mt Rushmore. I've thought for a long time that these bedrock USA musicians should be on it. Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, Howlin' Wolfe...better make it a big mountain

[@izzyn9000]

You succeeded as a father!!!🙌🏾

[@lisaellis2593]

Wow! Now thats what I called good parenting!

[@steveclancy6474]

Job done

[@rossriver75]

Jeez...that guitar sound....in 1955? I was 9 years old then. If I’d a heard that then, I woulda done a back flip!

[@29Fiorello]

HA= I was about 11 or 12. I watched on TV at my grandpa's house. He and Grandma thought the youth were going to Hell in a handbasket. Well ,here it is 2024...they may have been right. sad....

[@randytaylor6931]

This is rock and roll. The core the origin .

[@rsimeroth]

One of the coolest drum beats ever!

[@catherinecrow5662]

So recognizable! Signature Sound

[@G8GT364CI]

It's called The Bo Diddley beat, seriously.

[@keithb4077]

@@G8GT364CI I was told it's called "clave" (clah-vay)

[@G8GT364CI]

@@keithb4077 It comes from the Clave beat but it's been synonymous with Bo Diddley since about 1955. I've been a bassist for 55 years and no one ever says play the clave beat, it's " play the Bo Diddley beat" but thank you, I've learned something today.

[@keithb4077]

@@G8GT364CI Thanks for the clarification. Besides 'Not Fade Away' and 'Who do you love", what other hits are known to have the Bo Diddley?

[@Ani-y8w]

And hell yes. I HAVE saved this legend on my play list. He will be blasting in my car every day. Because is fabulous. And Legends Never Die. Their music stays with us. My momma used to sing this song to me. Bo rules!

[@ibidesign]

Bo looks here like even HE cannot comprehend just how cool he is. What ground-breaking talent!

[@opposingshore9322]

The musical genius of the 20th century. Nothing would ever be the same.

[@kaymuldoon3575]

I saw Bo Diddley at a private concert back in 1990. Best live performance of any concert or show I have ever seen, even to this day.

[@devidmoore6141]

Hello Kay

[@tonyjones1560]

Bo Diddley. Chuck Berry. The Original Guitar Heroes of Rock And Roll! RIP

[@patpat571]

Back In 60’s on Military Bases such as Fort Ord, Ca , Drill SGT would sing this song to help the recruit march in step - Bo Diddley march on

[@JonParis]

The Mighty Bo Diddley with Jerome Green (maracas), Clifton James (drums), and Bobby Parker (guitar) !

[@Ani-y8w]

Legends Never Die. Mr Bo Diddley..thank you so much for your music you graced this earth with.

[@tudormiller887]

The true godfather of Rock 'n' Roll. ❤

[@lukehauser1182]

Best maraca player in the history of rock n roll!

[@klausrain111]

It JUST DOESN'T GET any more primal than this. African tribal music piped straight into American living rooms on Sunday evening. Historical performance!

[@jamesm.3967]

It’s Roots music from Amurika USA. African…well yeah the musicians are black but this is basic USA Apple Pie stuff, white folk just don’t know it.

[@chairman76]

"Tribal" Africans?? Wasn't Bo Diddley an American?

[@kidkique]

​@@chairman76weren't you just saying that this was a Congolese rhythm ??

[@johnricci294]

They always got to play the Africa Card...He was from Mississippi@@kidkique

[@damiancazares7994]

Happy Heavenly 95th Birthday Bo Diddley December 30 1928 - June 2 2008

[@unitedunitedunited_]

Bo Diddley by Bo Diddley off the album Bo Diddley performed live by Bo Diddley

[@Devilsblood]

A riff that stood the test of time. Thank you Bo for Rock N' Roll.

[@dougtull4594]

The roots of everything in modern popular music.

[@justinmcneal3095]

Just under two minutes of Rock n Roll perfection

[@MostlyBrenda]

Listen to Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away" to understand the vast influence of this song and Bo Diddley.

[@hellbent6344]

Oh yeah , bo diddley had rhythm for days on end . But at lease they didn’t copy him completely like that hand jive song .

[@MostlyBrenda]

@@hellbent6344 Agree, copy note for note is bad unless you give songwriting credit, but modifying, expanding on it is good.

[@jsburns89]

also Iko Iko / Woman Smarter -the Grateful Dead

[@normanbuffett4642]

I want candy!

[@bholaoates1542]

Also "Mona" by the Rolling Stones.

[@briteboy6131]

Punk Rock never would have happened without Bo Diddley. I'm not sure if he would of cared that much, but I'm sure he'd appreciate the recognition.

[@dungteller367]

Thank you for this.This is my all time favorite song from that era. I am 72 years old and I have this song on a play list that I listen to several times a week when I am trying to keep this aging body moving. Bo Diddley totally awesome I do mean the entire group yet this guitar music just incredible. Thanks again.

[@BillBraskyy]

Love the drumming big time

[@olddave4833]

no song without them

[@0patience4flz]

Primal beat.... cant be denied....good stuff.....

[@0patience4flz]

Notice it leads the song... let's you know what's driving the song

[@johnireneframe]

Troggs, Bow Wow Wow, Kinks, The Who to name only a few. Imitation is the highest flattery. Thank you Ellas. Quite incredible.

[@mikeschager3267]

Instead of Bow Wow Wow, perhaps you meant to name the 60s group who sang the original "I Want Candy", The Strangeloves. BWW's 80s cover was good too.

[@alanoneill3065]

lol THE STONES

[@bartleywalton1888]

One of the original& one of foremost guitarists& also one of the original true pioneers of rock & roll

[@chrismaddock5790]

Ya gotta love how suave he looks in this video, as if he knew he was changing history and he was just thinking "Yep, changing music, making history, just another typical monday for me" XD

[@seanhoward2576]

Bo Diddley he had a sound in particularly a rhythm that most people had never heard.

[@geoffreyharris5931]

He was right up there with Elvis, and Chuck Berry.

[@Dmichel123]

Bruh this was a Sunday

[@kirklandau2826]

​@@geoffreyharris5931 Elvis is not on par

[@frankpaturzo2352]

My two all-time favorites are Bo Diddley and Buddy Holly. Rock and Roll began for me with them all the way back in the 50's.

[@austinstratman1809]

They are the gods of rock and roll!

[@ginohernandez7860]

This is by far the birth of what was to come, which was ‘Rock N’ Roll’ music as an entire genre. Bo Diddley was so far ahead of his time with his music and what he was doing rhythmically. Simple, original, and groundbreaking all together.

[@estebanb7166]

Sister Tharpe might have something to say about that

[@diegos.loayza3706]

@@estebanb7166 uhhh no!

[@diegos.loayza3706]

He is just blues not rock

[@estebanb7166]

@@diegos.loayza3706 Good comeback.

[@sym667]

@@diegos.loayza3706 Psychedelic blues, I'd say! I'm pretty sure, for example, that Syd Barrett was greatly inspired by his guitar style.

[@Exlaax]

Gotta love the jig as he plays the guitar

[@dermensch2980]

The REAL King of rock n roll!!!!!!!

[@chairman76]

That's a heavy Congolese beat. Bo Diddley never forgot his roots ♥

[@jasminepearls1047]

The drum was actually banned during slavery in the U.S. because it was used as a form of communication in a slave rebellion so black Americans had to readapt the drum. They (technically we but I wasn't born back then) were being influenced by music from Cuba which has a heavy african influence.

[@davidanitamoody9875]

@@jasminepearls1047 And thank God for it, MY Lady....I'm so glad it survived!...What a loss it would be otherwise!...

[@TheHeater90]

Bo actually said he stumbled upon that rhythm one day by accident when he was trying to learn the song "I Got Spurs that Jingle, Jangle, Jingle" by Gene Autry. I'm not kidding, that's what he said.

[@clh2192]

The shave and a haircut lick.

[@valentino1000]

Bo Diddley was not from Congo. He was born in Mississippi.

[@korywid9542]

This is pure class...

[@jasonloader8149]

The Godfather of every tune we hold dear today - rock, pop, dance or otherwise. God Bless you Ellas xxxx

[@Forty3Snakes]

This is the most badass thing I’ve ever seen

[@Forty3Snakes]

And the backstory even makes it better. Bo Diddley was a true badass.

[@ronsmac]

Ever? I’m just messing with you, they killed it.

[@Forty3Snakes]

@@ronsmac haha maybe not the most badass but yea pretty cool

[@Clownhole420]

Bo knows Rock N Roll!!!

[@TakahashiRyosuke13137]

This song is SO good

[@johndcornell6341]

I know nothing about music...this seems to be ahead of it's time...the band the sound...pretty wicked

[@Luxsound67]

❤ Once you heard it, it'll never let you go...-to me simply the PERFECT rockabilly-song - Bo's masterpiece for all eternity ...😎🙏❤

[@peterpetts9289]

Very nostalgic. Soundtrack of my youth.

[@5hineepropertyofleetaemin]

Excellent!

[@nigelroxbury]

One of my favorite live performances ever

[@ryanhell921]

I'm just so glad Bo chose rock & roll🙂

[@JoseGarcia-md9lv]

GENIOS MAETROS .....MUSICA DEL ALMA .. TREMENDOS MUSICOS ESTOS GENIOS ...TODA UNA LEYENDA ESTE GIGANTE MUSICO ... EN LO PERSONAL TENGO 50 AÑOS DE EDAD Y SIEMPRE E ESTADO EN SINTONIA CON ESTA MARAVILLOSA MUSICA. ..DESDE SANTIAGO DE CHILE UN FRATERNO ABRAZO A LOS QUE COMPARTEN ESTAS MAGICAS LEYENDAS DEL BLUES Y EL VIEJO Y QUERIDO ROCK

[@jjharris8341]

a true original. Giant.

[@kathleengleason9805]

The King of rock Bo Diddly

[@sr80bassguy]

I got to play bass for him one time before he died. Such a great guy all the til the end.

[@FKMDC]

That's epic

[@sr80bassguy]

@THE AVERAGE BEAR of notoriety, Thee Midniters, Tierra, Multiple Elvis Tribute artists, multiple Filipino music stars, a few good tribute bands in Los Angeles. Do a lot of sound work too especially in the 80s genre.

[@sr80bassguy]

@THE AVERAGE BEAR I was also on Wheel of Fortune in January and was on the news regarding Alex Trebek’s passing as well

[@jefflatten9321]

First time I saw Bo was probably the late 50's, at one of Allan Freed's holiday spectaculars at the NY Paramount or The Roxy. He was the first guitarist I ever saw with a wall of amplifiers, stage left to stage right. Just him, the drummer and the guy on maracas. He lit the place up. There's never been and likely won't be another Bo Diddley.

[@tompepper2050]

In one word....Class !!

[@jackjohnson7396]

Ed Sullivan let all acts on his show. This is 1955, really conservative out there then. He was a ground breaker, treated the entertainers good too.

[@goldsmithstudent]

This should have 10 million views

[@blueasblueis]

You misspelled billion

[@rafito66]

Raw man...pure raw rock. rhythm and blues

[@bassreeves2410]

the king of rock n roll

[@braissanchez9832]

These guy did It...legend

[@samdill36]

i saw bo in pittsburgh in '63....great variety show of black artists, including jackie wilson

[@gwine9087]

I'm very jealous!

[@j7cc]

Birth of Rock&Roll !

[@curtismccoy7443]

im almost 67 and grew up in so california with the beach boys, this is better and kicks ass

[@vincentbuccieri9305]

Before I Was Born , The Music I Would Grow Up Too and Love Was Being Created!

[@jamesnash6101]

Man... Listen to that back beat.

[@chairman76]

It's typical Congolese.

[@billyballard1842]

innovative new tunes he came up with!!

[@magiccheeseball]

The backstory to this video makes it even better! Cool dude I'm glad I got to hang out with him once

[@annabrown7302]

HEY BO DIDLEY ❤

[@cantsay8894]

I think the Rolling Stones really loved Bo!! We all do!

[@donaldsimms2625]

For the Rolling Stones it was Muddy Waters and Howling Wolf the stones namesake is from Muddy song Rollin Stone

[@christopherjames9843]

They did. Not fade away is Bo 100%. Ronnie Wood and Bo used to jam all the time.

[@wesleycook7687]

Best sound of any rock and roll record . Bo and Chuck Berry were Chess artists..Both were hired in 1955. They were true pioneers of Rock and Roll.

[@crisprtalk6963]

Met the man once. He was personable and just down right a good guy.

[@fuzzybutkus8970]

Man,The chunk of that L-5 rocks. Bo knows guitar.

[@ehcatsfaneric2211]

One of a kind genius

[@StanSwan]

Just fucking amazing, what a magic time for music. Still the foundation of what is the very best music of our time.

[@donupton7374]

Now that is when we had real genuine Talent

[@thefreese1]

Mr rock and roll ...he started the hard rock ..

[@philipconboy6108]

The most badass human to ever live

[@jamesgibas2836]

My father's favorite singer Bo Diddley

[@withgoddess7164]

This song was on my first album as a young teenager.

[@KingRiverVlogs]

With Goddess are you a musician or just the first album you owned by him?

[@anhanh8724]

That's great..! 😀😀😀

[@robertoadams1312]

Beautiful smiles 🌹 🌹

[@robertpietrolungo7853]

l saw him live in a small pub in Melbourne Australia in the late 80's,still cant forget ,l was spellbound to see such a legend and was lucky to shake his hand

[@randolphscott3361]

Such an original sound. Unique really.

[@normanacree6307]

Bo had great stage presence

[@johnc2893]

another artist that has lasted the test of time the great man bo diddley --j--c

[@SunnyIlha]

I like Bo Diddley music. Every time.

[@Nunya900]

Rock history being made right here in this video! 👍🙂

[@acquanellaogbemudia9930]

Yeah ! Go Bo

[@Jerwood1000]

GREAT is understatement !!

[@wuhaninstituteofvirology]

the birth of rhythm & blues

[@chairman76]

Rock & Roll

[@pausetapemedia7942]

The beat on this track is very infectious boy I tell you funky!💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@井桁卓真-b7t]

Bo Diddley was true great pioneer!!!

[@kkroeger5868]

Bo Diddley practically invented modern Rock-n-Roll..

[@canesvenatici4259]

He was just doing his own thing.

[@mike-u5y7t]

This is some foot stomping music right here.

[@ailurophile17]

Didn't even know this existed! GREAT to see Bo back when he was in his 20's and looking lean and mean! He's definitely my all-time rock & roll hero! Well, along with Buddy Holly, Jackie Wilson, & Elvis Costello that is! YOW!

[@dengelking2121]

Bo Diddley was amazing would have loved to have seen him in concert.

[@andrewburgess6417]

The King of Rock RIP to the maestro

[@rolandjohansson2714]

I met Bo in the mid 90's at Hard Rock Cafe, Stockholm. In the restaurant part. Chatted with him for more than an hour. We talked about everything but music. I had a hunch he just didn't feel talking about that part...or maybe I was wrong. My impression of him was that he was a very nice and humble person. A little later he rocked the socks offa the youngsters who were there. They probably had no clue who he was . I cherish this memory. RIP Mr McDaniel aka Bo Diddley.