Buzz Pirates is normally about taking the latest media buzz and making fun of it. Today, however, we are going to remove our humor hat and take a serious moment to pay homage to a rock n’ roll great that has influenced decades of musicians. Bo Diddley passed away today from heart complications after a long illness. He was 79. Rest in peace Bo.

Having a great number of hits dating back to the 1950′s with songs like “You Can’t Judge a Book By the Cover,” “Road Runner” and “Who Do You Love?”, Bo was perhaps even more famous as a guitarist. He forever changed the shape of Rock ‘n Roll music when he discovered what would later become known as the “Bo Diddley Beat” – a musical style whose influence can be heard in songs from Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, U2, The Rolling Stones, Guns N’ Roses, David Bowie, The White Stripes, and many others.

Bo was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Unfortunately it is not possible to copyright a beat, so Bo never got compensated for the creation of his musical style. However, his contribution to decades of Rock n’ Roll is priceless and will remain a cornerstone to rock music for decades to come.

Thank you for your gift, Bo. Rest in peace.