RIP Bo Diddley

It's a sad day in the Logical Household. One of my favorite jazz/blues/rock musicians died today.

Bo Diddley, who died Monday at age 79 in Florida, was as essential to the creation of rock 'n' roll as Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley and Little Richard, though he seldom got the credit or the accolades that were showered on his better-known peers.

Bo Diddley was probably one of my favorites in part because he was from "my" hometown.

The singer-guitarist was a hard-scrabble visionary from the streets of Chicago's South Side who literally had to fight for everything he got. He created rock 'n' roll's essential rhythm, pioneered an approach to electric-guitar playing that was at least a decade ahead of its time and developed a vocal style and stage persona that influenced everyone from Elvis to Chuck D.

Back when I was in college, my suitemate and I would routinely go down to a blues club in St. Louis called "Muddy Waters". Our two biggest disappointments were that we did not get into the club to see the club's namesake and Bo Diddly perform there. Both times we went down but you could not get within 50 feet of the club it was so crowded. So we stood outside with the everyone else and enjoyed listening to a true musical genius.

There will be one heck of a jam session in heaven tonight.