ALSO ON MARCH 2ND, MUCH EARLIER IN 1955, BO DIDDLEY ENTERED THE UNIVERSAL RECORDING STUDIOS IN CHICAGO FOR THE FIRST TIME AND RECORDED HIS SELF-TITLED SONG AS THE DEBUT RELEASE TO HIS PHENOMENAL CAREER

Later released in April, the song soared to number one for two weeks, and staying in the charts for a total of eighteen weeks. The B-side, “I’m a Man” was also successful, charting for eleven weeks.

This record in instrumental to rock and roll history being the first recognised entry of African rhythms into rock and roll using a specific beat. The influence of this beat reverberates through popular music history, in early rock songs by bands such as The Beatles and The Animals. Today, both Bo Diddley and his self-titled hit reside in numerous hall of fames throughout the world such as Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll and is recognised for his cultural and musical importance for a number of his hits. This song in particular has been added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registery as a “culturally, historically or aesthetically important” American sound recordings.