Bo Diddley - The Rhythm That Shook The World. Over his signature beat Bo recounts his 1st hit record

I Wanna Tell You All A Little Story Here...
With a cracking band Bo spills the beans on his first recording session at Chess Records which produced the self-titled hit 'Bo Diddley'.
Filming took place in August 1975 at Bo's Mud Studio (made of adobe) at his farm in Peralta, New Mexico where he lived for much of the 1970's. You can see the studio sign at 0:33
Bo's performance was featured in Tony Palmer's documentary series All You Need Is Love, broadcast in 1977.
Details of 1,000's of other classic performances at - www.lightscamerabackbeat.com

[@samohtw1]

In the summer of 1958 I went AWOL one night from Army Basic Training at Fort Dix New Jersey to see Bo Diddley who was playing near by. I was 18 years old, I'm retired from 20 years in the Army and now I'm 84 and still love that music.

[@lwbballer1992]

I used to live on Fort Dix. Brownsville area, love it over there. Funny enough I now have property in the town Bo is from. There’s a GIANT guitar for his tombstone

[@wunwuntew]

It's a rhythm that will not fade away.

[@rudytormento9753]

Now that one is nice👍

[@lamper2]

@@rudytormento9753 Actually the Stones added the "Bo beat" to their arrangement-Buddy's ORIGINAL version of Not Fade Away is WAY different! I met Bo when my friend's band played behind him here in maybe mid 80's-he showed me legal papers about suing all the people who added his songs to their LP (mostly teen garage bands) and never paid him, he said he was suing from Germany because his lawyer told him he'd have the best chance of winning. I thought he was deluded......coupla years later HE WON!

[@rudytormento9753]

@@lamper2 I never knew it. Thanks for sharing.👍

[@markjackson5665]

I see what you did there! 😉

[@PaulReed-lj2ym]

Love ❤️ it

[@infoscholar5221]

Bo made a podcast decades before there was such a thing. I'm a middle-aged white guy from Ala-frikin-bama, but I know what I know. This man was gold.

[@seantynan1]

Damn right. And that rhythm was carried in the soul all the way from Africa. History is real; speaking as a middle aged white man in Ireland. 👍

[@jpats6401]

Beautifully said Man .

[@lesbritt6600]

We were fortunate to back up Bo Diddley at a club in Columbia South Carolina ‘89. He was a kind man. After a short rehearsal where he came up with a song on the spot, we sat at the bar and he told us stories. The gig was great, he was an amazing performer and a great, powerful singer. He had a backline twin reverb supplied by the venue and he cranked that thing up. I got to trade fours with him. My pic is from that gig.

[@mikehollingworth2262]

oh, was it purple micro-dot

[@gordonswatson2394]

"how does that grab ya baby?!" asked Bo. Well, it did. And I am still shakin' 60 years later. That beat is part of the soundtrack of our lives

[@NormAppleton]

No Ramones without Bo Diddley

[@davisworth5114]

I saw Bo at the Pipeline Club on Eastlake Ave. in Seattle in 1974 and it was the best band I have ever heard, and I'm a 76 year-old musician, nobody could rock a crowd like Bo Diddley.

[@laloneltner6178]

Hey Davis....Jr. Cadillac backed him at The Backstage in Ballard and Euphoria In Portland. great shows.

[@robkunkel8833]

If I had an opportunity to see Bo Diddley that way or BB King at Tippatino’s in NOLA (which I did), I’d take your experience. Nice comment!

[@johnerule2815]

I saw him at Bumbershoot in Seattle in about 1983. Real good.

[@gandalfshakur8235]

He wrote, played and rapped - this man shaped my musical taste from an elementary connection to pop music. He knew that rhythm made us dance and that we did.

[@Johnkish69]

❤

[@TattooedMisery]

severely underrated & underappreciated. Miss you, Bo. 🎸

[@Jamie-js3qw]

maybe he is

[@MD-lf3gt]

NO HE’S NOT !!!

[@MD-lf3gt]

@@TattooedMisery By whom?

[@Dstrbrdgrnd]

Back in ‘72 I went to a Chuck Berry concert but Chuck couldn’t make it cause he was in London recording his Sessions album. Instead he asked his good friend Bo Diddly to do the concert for him, and I sure was surprised at how Bo just rocked the house!!!! What a musician, entertainer👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@donr2176]

We saw both Chuck and Bo play a live concert together back in the late 1970's!

[@dreammix9430]

I'm so sad I missed all those concerts but I was just a little kid

[@Kizzeyyy]

Brilliant​@@dreammix9430

[@patrickstell1179]

Amen.Was there

[@robertraikes9409]

Gotta love that Bo Diddley beat and that story ❤

[@HTJB60]

Bo sure know's how to tell a story.... That and "his beat" and "He's THE Man".....

[@paulg444]

Friends, he has no formal training, but he has two things, 1) a fantastic ear 2) a creative mind devoted to his craft !

[@dreammix9430]

Can you imagine the amazing stuff he could be recording if he was still around today?

[@bruceb5481]

I'm 82 and bought my first Bo Diddly 45 rpm record when I was in 10th grade. His unique rhythm gets under your skin and doesn't leave. I'm blessed to have been around for some of the best music ever.

[@vernwallen4246]

I saw BO in concert in 1956.He was born full of jive and it had too come out.🗽👍💕

[@chorliapettwa566]

One of the True Kings of Rock!!!

[@jamesrael6357]

I'm 83 years old and I'm Still rocking to it I🎉 really enjoy his music my name is Jim r a e l

[@NormAppleton]

It rocks, period

[@johnduckworth474]

Good to see this. Bo was "the Man" alright. That heavy trem sound he got on those early Chess records was like nothing else heard before, and arguably no one has really come close to it since.

[@seantynan1]

Revolutionary, that rhythm spoke to the soul and the feet! Must have scared the establishment to shit!

[@michaelmulholland9072]

Kt8t74

[@kgilliagorilla2761]

I saw Bo and Bonnie Rait on the same stage in Naperville Il. 1985ish. Magic.

[@joycerichardson1810]

Whoa!!!

[@marions.120]

I played with his female guitarist Lady Bo in Gainesville Florida back in ‘87. My drummer was with me and we sat and talked with her and the band until about 4:30 in the morning, even though we were supposed to be on the road by 6:00 am….but well worth it! ✌️😎🎸🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶

[@tattyshoesshigure5731]

Love Bo Diddley… I had tickets to see him at The Jazz Cafe in Camden, but sadly he died about a fortnight before the gig was scheduled… so I never did get to see him live. Some years later I visited his grave in Bronson FL & noticed Bo had the best spot in the cemetery for his final resting place, in the shade of a huge, beautiful old tree. His enormous, guitar emblazoned tombstone really is something else… entirely fitting for such a R&R legend!

[@spudinho1]

Who do you love? Why, Bo Didley of course! The soundtrack for a generation...

[@donnierittenberry5515]

He definitely had a style nobody could copy ❤

[@chrism415]

Creatively, Bo Diddley was way out there, belting out the most exciting sounds of my young days at school. I'm still driven by that sound.

[@nancynewman1465]

This man is all rhythm ❤

[@bobaldo2339]

This is great. I never saw this one before. It is substantially true too. We were lucky enough to see Bo many times in the 50's in Pittsburgh (thanks to Porky Chedwick).

[@user-ho3kd5sk3u]

I was 15 when i first heard Bo on juke box...i could not get the beat outta my head❤

[@n.a.mcintosh4697]

back in the 90's I was working for Bruce Willis at his bar/club called The Mint and Bruce brought in Bo to open it for the first 2 nights... EPIC!

[@chrism2966]

The man who invented rock and roll. He was the bridge between the great blues and boogy-woogy musicians and turned into rock and roll. My hero.

[@robertmiller3381]

Thank you Mr. Diddley. That was a lot of fun.

[@markfryer9880]

I just like the story telling of this song and the way that the tune just rolls along with a light heart!

[@christopherjames9843]

A real American legend. I remember marching to drill instructors singing Bo Diddley songs in boot camp in 1979. I didn't know he was a real person till I became a civilian in 1983.

[@billywalker9223]

I trained my troops by calling cadence to Bo Diddley lyrics in the late 80s and early 90s. I still sing his songs as cadence on my civilian job.

[@grizzneve]

1975 Basic Training at Ft Polk, La.

[@Dstrbrdgrnd]

@@grizznevein basic at Ft. Knox in 1973, Ft. Polk was known as Little Viet Nam by our DI’s.

[@jdoedoenet]

Parris Island in 1991...my DI was still rockin' that cadence. 💪

[@christopherjames9843]

@@jdoedoenet Parris Island 1979. My dad 1959. Rest in peace dad. I miss you.

[@scotthares]

This is wonderful! Thank you Bo for one of the most time tested rhythms of all time!

[@staxmantim]

I saw him on TV years ago on a show with absolute legends: Ray Charles, James Brown, & Little Richard and I kid you not, Bo stole the show.

[@Guardducks]

How's that grab me you say? Why it grants me just fine, when bo diddley come alive . Dude could play a guitar and drums and was good at both. I once saw a TV special on him where he was trying ti teach the drummer how the breat went and threw dinner couldn't get it down, so good ole Bo done showed him how, by kicking him off the kit and showing the drummer the beat himself and said there now you got it ? Good ole bo Diddley sure do miss that cat. Bo Diddley 🤘🏼

[@kamauthabiti5171]

WOW, Mr. Bo Diddly was super magic. He was indeed the MAN, no doubt. Did a lot of dancing to Mr. Diddly's sound/recording. Thanks loads Mr. Diddly. Miss you.

[@mathetes7759]

I was very fortunate to see Bo live 3 times in my life, the last time was a sheer coincidence, I was working in Albuquerque & I took a guy who worked for me to a casino, they had an outdoor arena, over the loud speaker they said we still have a few tickets left to see Bo Diddley, show starts in a hour, I immediately went in & bought 2 tickets! My worker who is now one of my best friends & is about 15 years younger than me was blown away by the show.

[@redbrave]

That was dope. A whole story and performance.

[@handsomeman-pm9vy]

Dope? Oh I get it; Swell, Hep, Hip, Cool, Boss, Out-of-Sight, Won't Quit, Mellow, In-Like-Flint, Groovy, Far Out, Badd.

[@redbrave]

@@handsomeman-pm9vy Ya Dig?

[@handsomeman-pm9vy]

@@redbrave I'm an OG and I like to let the youngsters now that cool expressions have been around for over 60 years.

[@tomcarl8021]

Only dopes say "that was dope".

[@redbrave]

@@tomcarl8021 You said it twice, 😆

[@jolenestallworth1828]

I love Bo Diddly although he came before my time but even after I was born he was still singing

[@mathetes7759]

Bo Diddley is vastly underrated! he is the one who kicked it off, his beat changed everything! Almost every rock song is based on the Bo Diddley beat, either sped up or slowed down, as is hip hop & even pop music. Someone once said they played Bo's music to a fetus during an ultra sound & the baby started moving his feet to the beat! Its primal!

[@3315nostrand]

your right I hear it in lot of songs........

[@mathetes7759]

@@3315nostrand You have a great ear for music my friend!

[@daryllect6659]

I actually had the privilege to meet Bo at an outdoor concert back in the 60s.

[@mikehollingworth2262]

aw yea ok sure you did boy.....and then supper and slow dancing.....yep!

[@daryllect6659]

@@mikehollingworth2262 Yep, with your mom.

[@stewartandersonjoinery5832]

Fantastic artist, also that riff, unmistakable!

[@AndyMangele]

He had a signature style - that's for sure!

[@harrykuheim6107]

Just a Raw Groove...hypnotic

[@jimscott1717]

Bo Diddely was fantastic, his music works better than a pacemaker

[@vonbogroff]

Amazing rock n roll...

[@jackwalker1822]

Experts say that 4 guys invented rock and roll out of the blues: Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, and Ike Turner. I wouldn't argue with that. And this riff? It is in Not Fade Away, Who Do You Love, and probably a bunch of other songs somewhere. Bo Diddley was a true original.

[@daviderickson8699]

You can find this riff / beat in so many songs. Willie and the Hand Jive. I Want Candy. Don't Let Him Go (REO Speedwagon). There's a Duran Duran song I can't think of immediately. Nobody Left to Run With Anymore (Allman Brothers). A lot of people know George Thorogood's cover of Who Do You Love but check out the one by Cross Canadian Ragweed. It's got the heaviest effects and the drum beat just rattles your rib cage. I think it's pretty amazing how many different artists can find their own use of that concept across a lot of different audiences.

[@douglasfrench6998]

@@daviderickson8699 One of my favorite uses of the Bo Beat is "She's the One" by Bruce Springsteen.

[@daviderickson8699]

@@douglasfrench6998 Oh, good call! I hadn't heard that song in years but always liked it. Pretty clear inspiration for John Cafferty's "On the Dark Side" in there too.

[@terryjross1184]

Yes and not a rolling stone beatle or clapton in sight Nut bush city limits full boar was 50 yrs ahead of its time But Bo definately underrated as was buddy guy

[@mariusvandyk8145]

Jesis😮

[@J-Loe]

Of the originators, Bo was always my favorite. What a king.

[@michaelbauers8800]

I don't consider myself to be an expert, but I was surprised at how hard rock Bo Diddley was, before hard rock was a thing. Who do you love totally rocks. I was not into 50s rock. I liked Aerosmith. The Who. You get the idea. But Bo Diddley seemed different than his contemporaries. Yet, people say Elvis, Chuck Berry, those sorts of guys. But many people seem to overlook Bo.

[@J-Loe]

The dark magic of who do you love sets it aside as a much more sinister and evil imagery that zeppelin and Aerosmith played with It’s also totally inline with early delta blues. Roadrunner is killer.

[@J-Loe]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJ2ymnV3mqiIn9k&pp=ygUXYm8gZGlkZGxleSByb2FkIHJ1bm5lciA%3D

[@J-Loe]

Mr Custer is a jam. m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3KTn3Vpp6qSd7c&pp=iAQB8AUB

[@arlaabrell8658]

Mine too

[@dermensch2980]

The true King of Rock n Roll!!!!!

[@needsaride15126]

I think this is one of the best musical videos out there. It's short, sweet and to the point. Told in a very simple way by the man who lived it. Thank you for sharing this great video.

[@randallkennedy2066]

One of the Giants of rock and roll.

[@peteisaacson816]

That beat moves my feet can’t get that shit out of my head, wow 💥

[@tommydeamon7657]

Still shakes the world

[@epunderground508]

LOVE that Diddly!🥰🥰🥰

[@rudodiaz5686]

Thia video just reminded me why I get sick every time I hear that Elvis is the Kibg of RnR. Bo Diddley eternal

[@Matthew-qk1xi]

They were all kings wake up. What about chuck berry or Buddy Holly or Little Richard or Gene Vincent, I could go on and on, stop being a parrot.

[@agoodlife2]

I knew him in New Mexico, very cool and generous man, he deserves more recognition

[@jamesrael6357]

He sure was come from Tucumcari and that's what he was

[@ralphschneider9283]

Love this video! It just makes me happy! The start of rock and roll. He uses the guitar as a percussion instrument!

[@joannehack7588]

Oh my!!!!!!!!🙏🇺🇦✌🏽❤️🪐✨💥😎

[@joannehack7588]

This would make a blind man cry

[@handsomeman-pm9vy]

There's a video clip of him performing on the Ed Sullivan show in 1955. Wow!

[@lamper2]

Ed was PISSED-He wanted him to play 16 tons instead of that"dirty devil's musical beat"

[@LarzGustafsson]

Excellent!

[@ethanhitchcock5431]

I just like to say his name over & over really fast..." Bo Diddley -Bo Diddley -Bo Diddley "....Love'm !!

[@briangarrison4257]

Great toonsthe ,can't believe I'm over 60? Lord bless us all an Bo Diddly for all the good songs life is just to short.....🤗✌⛪

[@paulwolffart1251]

I recently bought the first Illusion album and really enjoy it. I wish I could find this one.

[@levialston518]

Keep these coming

[@jbudgie]

Saw him a few times -- unforgetable.

[@markfryer9880]

That grabbed me Good, Bo Diddley! Mark from Melbourne Australia 😅

[@immasoxfanbaby]

Didley a legendary music Maker go sho

[@timolexsey341]

The original gangsta rapper? Never really got the recognition he deserved when he was alive. Now everyone is riding on his name to bad.

[@bob4analog]

Gangsta rappa ?!? 😆 He's waay too good to be that!

[@jveebklyn1644]

Muhammad Ali with a guitar.

[@davidmartin1015]

Some of us saw it at the time.

[@MD-lf3gt]

What are you talking about? He got lots of recognition when he was alive. How old you were when he was alive?

[@larryn2682]

Rapper? He could actually play a musical instrument.

[@goranskigoranski5700]

At the age of 14 or 15 i missed his gig in Novi Sad, former Yugoslavia,. My father would not let me go. My mates attended and sometimes still talk about it, the bastards. He started the gig with this intro, lasting some 15 min, apparently. I like the groove, timeless really. I am almost 60 now, crazy.

[@rolfstade968]

All so verry beautiful, thank you all so mutch

[@josemolina959]

As God is my witness and in my mother’s name I tell the truth here: The greatest experience in my musical career, was when our band LEGEND was hired to back-up Bo Diddley when he performed at a club in Revere Beach, MA. in the Summer of 1971 (can’t remember the name of the venue, but I am sure it is in his tour schedule for that year) And it is as Bo Diddley says, it was that rhythm! Driving, driving open chords with a unique beat, it got you immediately! And incredible kind and funny human being, he was so great to our band members, Bo struck an immediate liking to our drummer Carlos “Bozzo” Vazquez Miranda (R.I.P.) because of his groove, it was uncanny how tight they played together, Bo Diddley always had a gigantic grin on his face. As for myself, professional musician for 59 years now retired, I always pride myself for being a great rhythm player, I can attest that most of it came from that glorious weekend working with Mr. Bo Diddley. R.I.P. 🎼🎶🎵🙏🏼🎸🎵🎶🎼

[@jamesfarrell8346]

Great story. Thanx

[@jazzmanchgo]

Great story, and a lot more pleasant than many of the stories we hear from musicians who had to back up Chuck Berry on some of his latter-day gigs.

[@joekelly9555]

Bo Diddley Bo Diddley have you heard. You made the best beat in this world. Yeah Bo Diddley

[@athitayastirling8259]

What a legend.

[@1blastman]

Bo Diddley always will be the King of Rock and Roll. So many have copied his Beat, but there's only one Bo.

[@dmack7328]

dang I miss these guys and this music

[@1ik2tam]

I love his music.....Oh yeah...

[@davidpaul5465]

That Grabs Me Just Fine- Times Nine!

[@ralphschneider9283]

He took the Blues and turned it into rock and roll. I listen to this perfomance every week to keep me humble. He had talent.

[@RussellBell-fh5zt]

Wot an amazing 🎶🎶🎶”where have I been “thankfully discovered dis couple mths bck 👌🏽Rzpct

[@ellew4573]

We miss you, but your music lives on! 🕯

[@DEVOn.A.Skertic]

Senior portrait for the school yearbook, I wore a cobra snake as a neck tie.

[@billhillyer334]

Love this. I'm sharing

[@TheBFN]

Never k ew much about bo... But here recently ive been checking him out.. I dig it 🤘... Want the record with him and wolf and mudd

[@user-sk8nz1kl4u]

That was awesome

[@nigelwilliams9182]

Brilliant

[@martinwall7297]

brings back great memories. where it all started.

[@robertcromeenes4177]

Still grabs us just fine Bo 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

[@Reespeck4all]

If you were to look up"cool" in the dictionary, there would be a picture of Bo Diddley. It would say, no need to go any further, you got it right !

[@user-tz8um6ps4g]

So so cool❤

[@Journey-of-1000-Miles]

I own his signature series guitar manufactured by Gretch. It’s the only guitar I have, where everyone has to comment on it. Everyone always exclaims, “wow! It’s a rectangle!”

[@geoffmitchell2793]

i saw Bo and Chuck Berry either late 77 or early 78 at the Horden Pavillion in Sydney, nearing the end of Bo's set someone in the crowd yelled to send Chuck home, that pretty much summed it up, Chuck was good but Bo was great

[@culinary83]

Love it!! That’s the mother sauce!

[@danrgoodnight9345]

Often Imitated Never Duplicated saw Bo 3 times, have a pick he gave me true Rock n Roll legend !

[@mattzurbo6890]

And STILL the best!

[@margieguilfordwoman]

Bo did not make much music but I dearly love his BEAT!!!!!!!

[@craigwalker7415]

I got to interview Bo for KRCU Cape Girardeau, c' 1979.

[@maxwelledison5366]

Bo Diddly was deeply religious and my short, wide, and white Aunt knew him through his church. She said that he was the kindest, friendliest, and warm man that she had ever had the privilege of knowing.

[@davidjhitztaler-mrrocklight]

Great ❤

[@delanoallen8132]

Bo Diddley the true King of Rock & Roll

[@leighcecil3322]

It grab me baby....Bo your a cool dude 😎🇦🇺👍