Rock pioneer Bo Diddley dead at 79

(CNN) - Rock and roll pioneer Bo Diddley, whose signature beat laid the
foundation for tunes for decades to come, died Monday at age 79 at his home in
Archer, Florida, his family said.

Diddley was a contemporary of Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and Elvis Presley
during the early days of the genre. The rhythm he laid down on tunes like "Who
Do You Love" and "Bo Diddley" is now widely known as the "Bo Diddley" beat.

Born Ellas Otha Bates in McComb, Mississippi, Diddley's family moved to
Chicago when he was 7, according to his Hall of Fame biography. He played
violin as a child, but said he was inspired by pick up the guitar after hearing
John Lee Hooker's 1949 rhythm and blues hit "Boogie Chillen."

He continued to tour well into 2007, but but suffered a stroke that May
and a heart attack the following August.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.