Archive for June, 2008

This week Harlem pays respect to the true originator of rock n’ roll, Bo Diddley. When Ellas McDaniel burst on the scene as Bo Diddley in 1955, he took the entire world by surprise. No one looked or sounded like that in the mid 1950s. Matt The Cat tells Bo’s story and plays some Diddley classics you’ve never heard before, such as the original “Love Is Strange”, which was written and originally recorded by Bo (a year before Mickey & Sylvia would have a #1 hit with it). Let’s remember Bo for what he was; a creator, a trailblazer and a man who wasn’t afraid to be himself and sound different. We get behind the beat, this week on Harlem.

Harlem Airs on The 50s on 5:
Monday, 6/9 @ 1pm ET
Tuesday, 6/10 @ 9pm PT – Midnight ET
Friday, 6/13 @ 6pm ET
Sunday 6/15 @ 11am ET

-Matt The Cat

The Night Prowl Show’s

Best Summer Song Of All-Time POLL!

Help us choose the Official Night Prowl Summer Song!

Thanks to all the Night Prowlers who nominated summer songs over the past week. Now it’s time to vote for the Night Prowl’s Summer Song of 2008! Go to The Plattah Chattah Forum (click the link) and voice your choice for best summer song. The songs were nominated by you and now the winner will be chosen by you. The poll will be open until Saturday, June 7th at 23:59 ET.

…and the nominees are:

“One Summer Night” – The Danleers

“Now That Summer Is Here” – The Videls

VOTE NOW!

There will always be only ONE Bo Diddley. He didn’t look or sound like anyone else in 1955 when his debut single on Checker Records (Checker 814) was dropped on an unsuspecting world and in 2008, he was still as unique as ever. The glasses, the jacket, the square guitar and that beat. Oh, that beat. I think Bo’s legacy will be that infectious “Bo Diddley Beat” that has crossed generational lines and is as catchy today as ever. The beat was largely based on the African “hambone” rhythm, but Bo really made it his trademark right from the start.

Ellas Otha Bates McDaniel was 79 years old when he passed away in the wee hours of Monday, June 2, 2008. He died of heart failure. In recent years, Bo had survived a stroke and a heart attack. He was a survivor, who endured long after the hit records stopped coming. He continued to tour and musically innovate. His recent work involved new sounds, beats and even hip hop influences. Bo never settled on playing his breakthrough hit “Bo Diddley” over and over on the oldies circuit. He was always striving for the next “thing”. Maybe now, he’s finally found it? Music lovers everywhere will miss this father of rock n’ roll, this one of a kind. Our music needs more unique individuals like Mr. Diddley.

Tonight on the Night Prowl Show, Matt The Cat will honor the music and legacy of the GREAT Bo Diddley. Don’t miss a single “beat”.

Rest in peace, Bo. You may be silenced, but the “beat” goes on….forever!

-Matt The Cat