Bo Diddley Releases His Debut Single — The Bo Diddley Beat

Bo Diddley's self-titled debut single, released on Chess Records in March 1955, introduced the 'Bo Diddley beat' — a syncopated shave-and-a-haircut rhythm drawn from African and Afro-Cuban musical traditions — to mainstream American audiences. The rhythm became one of the most widely used in rock music history, influencing artists from Buddy Holly to the Rolling Stones and the Clash. Bo Diddley's innovations in guitar style and showmanship were foundational to rock and roll.