In the mid 1950's, Bo Diddley, along with a number of other artists, helped reshape the sound of pop music worldwide, building it on the templates of blues, southern gospel and rhythm and blues. His "Bo Diddley" syncopated beat — three strokes/rest/two strokes — became a stock rhythm of rock ’n’ roll, paving the way for generations of musicians to continue reinventing the new sound. Mr. Diddley died today at his home in Archer, Florida. He was 79.
