Combining R&B and blues with eccentric onstage performances, Bo Diddley is often considered one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. Otha Ellas Bates was born on 30 December 1928. He never knew his father, Eugene Bates; his mother, Ethel Wilson, was only fifteen or sixteen years old when Ellas was born. Ethel’s first cousin, Gussie McDaniel, raised him while the family tried to make a living as sharecroppers.

In 1934, in the midst of the Great Depression, they moved to Chicago, where Bo started to develop an interest in music. His first instrument was a violin, and he took lessons from classical teacher O. W. Frederick. He also taught himself to play the drums and the trombone.

At age twelve Otha received his first guitar, a Christmas present from his stepsister, Lucille McDaniel. John Lee Hooker had already become one of his heroes, and he wanted to play just like him. But he had trouble strumming the guitar: I couldn’t play the guitar like everyone else, Bo later recalled. Other guitarists have skinny fingers, I didn’t, I play drum licks on the guitar. This music style evolved into the distinctive shave and a haircut, two bits rhythm that characterised most of his repertoire.