Blues & rock ‘n roll guitar legend Bo Diddley has been hospitalized after suffering a stroke.  He is in intensive care at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. 

Rolling Stone reports that the 78 year old guitarist has a history of hypertension and diabetes, and is said to be experiencing effects of the stroke on the left side of his brain, where our speech centers are located.

Reuters reports that the rock ‘n’ roll pioneer was up and walking around on Thursday, but still struggling to communicate, according to his longtime manager and friend Margo Lewis.  She has said the stroke didn’t disable him physically, but had impaired his speech and speech recognition.

Doctors are hopeful that he will be out of the intensive care unit in a couple of days.  He apparently became disoriented after a concert last Sunday at Harrah’s Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa and was admitted to the hospital with elevated blood pressure and glucose levels.

Get Well Soon, Bo!

Bo Diddley History:
Sometimes known as “The Originator,” Bo Diddley is one of the founding fathers of rock ‘n roll.  He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and received a Lifetime Grammy Award in 1998.  Wikipedia has a complete history

Songs:
“Hey Bo Diddley”
“Who Do You Love?”
“Before You Accuse Me”
“Mona”
“I’m A Man”
“Road Runner”

Movies:
Blues Brothers 2000
Hail! Hail! Rock and Roll!
“Trading Places”

Links:
Bo Diddley webpage www.bo-diddley.com/
American Stroke Association www.strokeassociation.org

Posted by Mike