June 12, 2008 Issue

Last week saw the passing of one of the fathers of the music I love – and occasional visitor to our area, for those lucky enough to have seen him - Bo Diddley.

Nora Wixted-Hogue writes: “The first timeI met Bo,I was the lead singer in the house bandat Storyville in New Orleans. We were opening the show for him. My musical director, Charlie Brent,was an old personal friend of Bo's and introduced us before sound check. Bo thought Charlie was setting him up with a date for the night.

“After we did our set, Bo came up to me and apologized foracting like a‘dirty old man,’ told me I could sing for him anytime, and kissed my hand. That was about 20 years ago, but having been a big Bo Diddley fan since I first heard his music, it remains one of the highest points in my life.

“Lew and I met him againa few years ago when he played at Blues, that wonderful music club in Destin that sadly is no longer there. Tom Ford introduced us andI was once again thrilled to shake his hand. Of course, he didn't remember me, but who would expect him to?It was shortly after that show that Lew and I began writing ‘Jammin' on the One,’ a song about Bo - the only man I've ever known who could play one chord for a whole song and make it so musically exciting. He signed a picture for us that night, and it's hanging up in our living room. He also signed a t-shirt that I never wore because I didn't want to fade his signature. GuessI'll frame that now, too. I will miss Bo and his great personality, but his music will continue to elate and inspire us forever.”

Keith Caton and the Accelerators gushed about their experiences playing and recording with the rock legend. I wrote about the band when they performed at Gulf Place a few years back. Caton recently told me via email, “Beyond creating rock and roll music, Bo was my good friend, mentor, and hero. I can't begin to explain the loss I feel, and how blessed I am to have been considered ‘family’ by him. I learned musically from him—timing, feel, showmanship, when not to play, and to mean every note you did play.

“I learned more about life from him—following dreams, dignity, and tolerating ignorance from others. I have been amazed and saddened by the nonstop calls and emails I have received in the last three days. Grateful for heartfelt concern about the loss of my friend, how I was doing, being there to just listen. Unable to grasp the thinking behind ‘You need to get me on the guest list for the funeral,’ ‘Let's get some of your Bo stuff on eBay,’ ‘You should raise your price for gigs now.’ The main thing I'm struggling with is knowing I will never be able to stand next to him on a stage again, as those moments were among the most important I will ever experience.”

I always hoped Bo would make it back here for one more gig. When I joined the Beachcomber as a contributing writer, the editor showed me an interview published in one of the earliest issues to coincide with Bo’s concert at Blues. Now I’ll just have to make do with my well-worn copy of Bo Diddley Is a Gunslinger. That, and the fact that Bo’s influence lives on in every rock and roll band that’s worth a damn.

- C.M.

More editorials from Christopher Manson