Hang up the cobra snake necktie

[gvdub]

I see this morning that Elias McDaniel, aka Bo Diddly, has passed away (hence the oblique reference to his song "Who Do You Love?" in the subject line). We were fortunate enough to see Bo play at the Long Beach Blues Festival a few years ago (and I had seen him maybe 35 or so years ago at an outdoor show at SUNY New Paltz), and he was still a dynamic performer and still experimenting with musical form. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Bo never became an 'oldies' act. He was constantly writing new material and incorporating new influences and musical styles into his work. Modern music owes him a large debt, and for far more than just the beat that was named after him (you know the one – dum dum dum...dum dum).

He was a man, and when the clock struck twelve, he wouldn't judge a book by looking at the cover.