KingCountryI@aol.com (Noah Tall)
2008-06-03 07:20:28 UTC
Although not a "Classic Country" artist, Bo Diddley's passing
certainly deserves a mention.
One of the founding fathers and innovators of Rock 'N' Roll ,
Diddley's story is an all too familiar one, especially the part about
receiving little or no royalties for his recordings.
He died yesterday at 79, and probably in large part because of the
above mentioned robbery of his royalties. Up until a year ago, when
he suffered a stroke , he was still touring and performing, partly out
of necessity.
Diddley lamented that even though he was an inductee into the Rock and
Roll Hall Of Fame, had a star on Hollywood's "Walk Of Fame", and had
received numerous awards including a "Lifetime Achievement Award" at
the 1999 Grammy Awards, that he appreciated all the honors he
received, "BUT IT DIDN'T PUT NO FIGURES IN MY CHECKBOOK" .
The great thing about Country Music, at least to me, is the universal
truthfullness of it's lyrics. Bo Diddley knew more than a little about
"truthfulness" , thanks to the pioneering path he walked. All
performers in all genres including of course Country Music , who
followed, owe him a debt of gratitude.
His music and influence of course will live on, but to me, so will a
couple of his quotes, like the one above, that I just read from an on-
line report of his death. Like so much of his life, the truthfullness
has already been covered in a Country music song, or I guess songs ,
would be more apprpriate.
The great Harlan Howard wrote in "Sunday Morning Christian" when
talking about a used car salesman
"Mr Jones I'd like you better if you robbed me with a gun"
Diddley knew all to well about dishonest people, especially when it
came to money and echoed Harlan Howard's sentiments that most
robberies go BOTH unreported and unpunished when he said:
"I am owed. I've never got paid," he said. "A dude with a pencil is
worse than a cat with a machine gun."
Additionally, Diddley again echoed the great Harlan Howard when he
wrote the HUGE Buck Owens hit "Above And Beyond" , where Ol' Buck
laments :
"Well a poor boy's chances for pretty girl's glances are sometimes
very few"
Again, Diddley knew all too well the fickleness of women, and they're
attraction to money and whoever has it when he said :
"If you ain't got no money, ain't nobody calls you honey" .
Nobody knows better than someone who's had a taste of Fame, and is
reminded daily how differently people, especially women, treat you if
you have money.
Unlike Bo Jackson in the famous commercials , which gave Diddley's
career a big boost, nobody can ever say "Bo don't know Diddley" when
talking about Bo Diddley himself. However, nothing's free in this
life, and Bo naturally paid a price for all his hard earned wisdom.
Hopefully he's in a better place.
certainly deserves a mention.
One of the founding fathers and innovators of Rock 'N' Roll ,
Diddley's story is an all too familiar one, especially the part about
receiving little or no royalties for his recordings.
He died yesterday at 79, and probably in large part because of the
above mentioned robbery of his royalties. Up until a year ago, when
he suffered a stroke , he was still touring and performing, partly out
of necessity.
Diddley lamented that even though he was an inductee into the Rock and
Roll Hall Of Fame, had a star on Hollywood's "Walk Of Fame", and had
received numerous awards including a "Lifetime Achievement Award" at
the 1999 Grammy Awards, that he appreciated all the honors he
received, "BUT IT DIDN'T PUT NO FIGURES IN MY CHECKBOOK" .
The great thing about Country Music, at least to me, is the universal
truthfullness of it's lyrics. Bo Diddley knew more than a little about
"truthfulness" , thanks to the pioneering path he walked. All
performers in all genres including of course Country Music , who
followed, owe him a debt of gratitude.
His music and influence of course will live on, but to me, so will a
couple of his quotes, like the one above, that I just read from an on-
line report of his death. Like so much of his life, the truthfullness
has already been covered in a Country music song, or I guess songs ,
would be more apprpriate.
The great Harlan Howard wrote in "Sunday Morning Christian" when
talking about a used car salesman
"Mr Jones I'd like you better if you robbed me with a gun"
Diddley knew all to well about dishonest people, especially when it
came to money and echoed Harlan Howard's sentiments that most
robberies go BOTH unreported and unpunished when he said:
"I am owed. I've never got paid," he said. "A dude with a pencil is
worse than a cat with a machine gun."
Additionally, Diddley again echoed the great Harlan Howard when he
wrote the HUGE Buck Owens hit "Above And Beyond" , where Ol' Buck
laments :
"Well a poor boy's chances for pretty girl's glances are sometimes
very few"
Again, Diddley knew all too well the fickleness of women, and they're
attraction to money and whoever has it when he said :
"If you ain't got no money, ain't nobody calls you honey" .
Nobody knows better than someone who's had a taste of Fame, and is
reminded daily how differently people, especially women, treat you if
you have money.
Unlike Bo Jackson in the famous commercials , which gave Diddley's
career a big boost, nobody can ever say "Bo don't know Diddley" when
talking about Bo Diddley himself. However, nothing's free in this
life, and Bo naturally paid a price for all his hard earned wisdom.
Hopefully he's in a better place.