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From The Desk Of Marshall Crenshaw: Bo Diddley

Acclaimed power-pop master Marshall Crenshaw certainly knows how the music business works—or, in the case of many artists, doesn’t work. But Crenshaw is now waving goodbye to the traditional system, as the platinum-selling Grammy and Golden Globe nominee has decided to ditch the middle man and put out an EP subscription vinyl/download series. Thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign, Crenshaw will be releasing six 10-inch, three-track 45s within the next two years. The first one, I Don’t See You Laughing Now, was issued last month. Crenshaw will also be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week.

Crenshaw: If I absolutely had to pick one all-time favorite recording artist, it would be Bo Diddley. Somebody lent me a “greatest hits” album when I was 15, and I got hooked immediately on the sound of the guitars, his style, the vibe of the recordings—everything. Any time that I hear something of his from 1955-1970, it makes me feel great.

One of the dumbest things I ever did was spend most of an evening in the same room backstage with Bo (among many other people) at the La Bamba premiere party in 1987 and never work up the nerve to go over and say hello. I learned from that mistake, and now, I always engage with people in those situations (and usually enjoy doing it).

5 replies on “From The Desk Of Marshall Crenshaw: Bo Diddley”

Yes Marshall, it is great that you like anything from Bo from 1955-1970 but why be shut off to Bo eliminating the middleman? He produced music non-stop until he suffered a stroke. Some of his most lucrative recordings were the ones he recorded at home. Albums like ‘Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger’ ‘Breakin’ Thru The B.S.’ and ‘This Should Not Be’ have Bo Diddley at his best as well. The guitar played like steel drums of Bo-Pop Shake is awesome. The gospel song ‘My Jesus Ain’t Prejudice’ is Bo Diddley church. ‘Mind Yo’ Business’ is future blues. I could elaborate more but find those albums also Marshall.

I have the original bo diddley album’s autographed by bo when he was in Binghamton,N.Y.at Magic city and he died some time after that show.C ool 100 radio station promoted him and he played seated ,I guess he had diabetes real bad where he lost toes or whatever.My albums are for sale,checker and chess labels ,o. k. condition,but I played them daily during the 50’s and now I am letting them all go for $75.00.r.s.v.p.

It’s such a shame that the Estate has been handled by some unseemly characters and can remain nameless. (You know who you are) These folks reacquired Bo’s Publishing and then sold it to Fuji for a few Million dollars and to date some of his children have seen a pittance of the money and basically live day to day and dollar to dollar. These folks also had Bo sign a contract after his stroke and he was not in right mind and signed away 30% for life to these folks !

After my friend Ellas McDaniel (publicly known as Bo Diddley) passed away in 2008, I began to jot down any thoughts of Ellas that came to mind. My first morning in Hawthorne, Florida began on March 22, 1981 at 4AM as Ellas, the “anti-celebrity” would take early rising to a whole new level. As a kid from Hartford, Connecticut, my first day living in Florida was the fulfillment of a childhood dream after first visiting the state in 1966, but I knew there was something different about “this.” “This” was life with the dude who was on Don Kirchner’s Rock Concert with Prince… icing on the cake… with sprinkles… and pudding in the middle… and ice cream on the side. That first day consisted of many of the “practices” that would come to make up my life with a world-renowned, musical icon…who at this time, did not act as if he knew that he was. Also, what Mark Bell said above, is sad AND true.

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