Bo Diddley Image Gallery and Blog Born in 1928, Bo Diddly is an American Blues icon. Not only was he influential, but he created new music styles and theories with his innovative approach. One way is he would play the same chord throughout like in the song Who Do You Love? This made it so the rhythms would create the excitement of the song. He is probably most recognized by his boxy rectangular shaped guitar called The Twang Machine which he built in 58. Bo Diddly once appeared on the Ed Sullivan show and didn't get along with Ed who banned him. Diddly continued to have a colorful career up until he had a stroke in 2007 and later died in 2008. But his music lives on!