Legendary musician Bo Diddley has died at the aged of 79 at his home in Florida, a spokeswoman for the star has confirmed.

Susan Clary said that the influential musician had been suffering from ill health for some time and added that he was surrounded by family and loved ones.

Diddley is often cited as one of the key pioneers behind blues music's transition into rock’n’roll. He was noted for adding reverb and tremelo effects to traditional electric guitar. The musician hadn’t performed since suffering a heart attack in August 2007, three months after he suffered a stroke while on tour in Iowa.

Diddley, whose real name is Ellas Bates, was an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he also had a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame and received a lifetime achievement Grammy award in 1998.

The singer-guitarist famed for his black glasses and low-slung square guitar, has been an icon in the music industry since he topped the R&B charts with ‘Bo Diddley’ in 1955. His other hits include ‘Who Do You Love’, ‘Before You Accuse Me’, ‘Mona’ and ‘I'm a Man.’ Signed to the iconic Chess Records (see the current issue of Clash for a feature on this blues imprint) Bo Diddley pioneered a tough new sound that emphasized the rhythm in the blues. An important artist in the British blues boom, The Rolling Stones covered many of his songs. An exhilarating live performer until the end, his respect amongst fellow musicians went undimmed with The Clash tempting him onto the bill for a nationwide US tour in the early 80s.

Bo Diddley will be sadly missed.

By Katie Weatherall

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