Bo Diddley Dies

Rock 'n' roll pioneer Bo Diddley whose unique guitar work influenced musicians from Buddy Holly to the Rolling Stones has died aged 79 of heart failure at his home in Florida.

"One of the founding fathers of rock 'n' roll has left the building he helped construct," a statement from his management agency said.

Bo Diddley will forever be known for popularising the Bo Diddley beat, one of the foundational rhythms of rock 'n' roll. This distinctive, African-based 4/4 rhythm pattern was picked up from Diddley by other artists and has been a distinctive and recurring element in rock 'n' roll through the decades.

Despite recording relatively few chart-topping hits, his seminal role in the formative years of rock music was recognized by his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Diddley was scathing though about the direction that modern black music has taken saying "I hate it. I call it rap-crap. I can't seem to get my records played but they'll play all this garbage."