Rock Pioneer Bo Diddley Sidelined by Stroke
The Originator is on bed rest.
Pioneering rock-and-roller Bo Diddley suffered a stroke Sunday and is currently in intensive care at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, according to a publicist for his management team.
Tests showed that the stroke affected the left side of the "Who Do You Love" singer's brain and has impaired his speech and speech recognition, rep Susan Clary said. She had no other information regarding his condition, which is listed as "guarded," or how long his stay in the hospital is likely to be.
The 78-year-old Diddley, who has a history of hypertension and diabetes, was said to be acting disoriented during a concert in Council Bluffs, Iowa, earlier in the day.
Despite being known as one of the great musical minds who helped put the rhythm in rhythm 'n blues, Diddley's star was eclipsed over the years by artists such as Elvis Presley and the Rolling Stones, who borrowed from Diddley's signature beats.
Recognition for Diddley as one of the founding fathers of rock and roll started pouring in with his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, however, and his name hasn't been far from the top of the most-influential lists since.
The singer-songwriter, who is also famous for his uniquely shaped rectangular guitar, received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998. Rolling Stone ranked him number 20 on its 2004 list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. The following year, Uncut magazine ranked the release of Diddley's self-titled debut album in 1958 as one of the "100 Music, Movie & TV Moments that Have Changed the World."
Diddley, who was born Ellas Bates in McComb, Mississippi, toured Australia, Europe and North America in 2005 to help celebrate his 50 years in the music biz, and he continues to tour the U.S., headlining a fundraising concert last year to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims from Ocean Springs, Miss.
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