Saturday, May 19, 2007

Bo Diddley Hospitalized After Suffering Stroke

Legendary blues singer Bo Diddley is in intensive care after suffering a stroke in western Iowa following a concert in Council Bluffs. Diddley was scheduled to perform in Toronto at the Phoenix Concert Theatre on Tuesday, May 22 and in Calgary on Saturday, May 26th in Calgary at the Silver Dollar Casino. Both concerts have been canceled.

Diddley, 78, was listed in guarded condition a Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Susan Clary, a publicist for the musician’s management team, said Wednesday doctors discovered he had suffered a stroke, which has impaired his speech and speech recognition. The artist is now walking around the hospital, and doctor’s are feeling optimistic he will once again perform. Diddley, whose home is in Florida, has a history of hypertension and diabetes. It is not known how long he will be in intensive care.

Considered one of the founding fathers of Rock & Roll, Diddley is known for his “hambone rhythm” style of playing guitar, influencing a new generation of artists such as Buddy Holly, The Who and Bruce Springsteen. He topped R&B charts with Bo Diddley in 1955, and was ranked No. 20 on Rolling Stone’s 2004 list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. He has produced a string of hits, including Who Do You Love, Before You Accuse Me, Mona and I’m a Man. Many of his original songs have been covered by other artists.

He received a lifetime achievement Grammy in 1998 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Born Ellas Bates in McComb Mississippi, in 2005, Bo Diddley celebrated his 50th anniversary in music with successful tours of Australia and Europe and with shows from coast to coast across North America.

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