BO DIDDLEY tribute: Alachua County, FL community remembers
From The Gainesville Sun newspaper, Gainesville, FL:
Bo Diddley will be remembered in the annals of American music. But it was his unassuming nature and willingness to lend his time and talent to local causes, including homelessness and raising drug abuse awareness, that endeared him to his adopted home of Alachua County.
Whether is was riding a float for the University of Florida Homecoming Parade or sharing his love of music with children, he has left his mark in the community. Here is a sample of some of those memories:
"One of our teachers ... set up a little performance for Bo to come and play for the (pre-school) kids one afternoon ... He brought his guitar, amp and a little drum machine and played for almost three hours.
"He had all the kids on their feet, dancing, clapping their hands and singing along.
"He loved the kids and didn't want to leave. It was time for them to eat lunch and then take a nap, and (Diddley) had to practically be dragged out of there. He knew the kids didn't even know who he was but he didn't care. He just did his thing."
- Cathy Kramer, director of KidWorks Preschool
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"I remember an event in February 2003 ... (in which) Bobby McFerrin asked each presenter to surprise him with a local performing artist with whom he could improvise. So the third performing artist secretly arranged by (Performing Arts Center assistant director) Elizabeth Auer, was Bo Diddley... (McFerrin) was so surprised ... They played together for about half an hour during McFerrin's show.
- Matthew Cox, director of operations for University of Florida Performing Arts
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"Diddley's been a customer for 40 years. He was a great friend and one of funniest and warmest people you would ever know. He was ready to help anyone at any time. He was very community-oriented, always doing free concerts to help young people to stay off drugs and things like that, and just to get people inspired to play music. He was a people person all the way ... He was a customer, but he would just come by to be a friend and to visit with us."
- Buster Lipham, owner of Lipham Music Co.
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"He was the headliner for the Let's Go Downtown Black Music Month 2006. He was a real showman. Everyone came to see him and he wouldn't disappoint. He was generous to a fault. It's great to see someone who could be famous and the inventor of rock 'n' roll and still be sweet."
- Bill Hutchinson former entertainment producer for the city of Gainesville Cultural Affairs Department
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"I invited him to numerous events - Homeless Night Out, Say No to Drugs - and he would come free of charge and provide the entertainment to raise awareness and funds on many causes.
"He never told me 'no' of all the times I called him."
- Rodney Long, Alachua County commissioner
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"Sometime in the 1980s, we closed off all the streets downtown and had a party as publicity to get people downtown. (Bo Diddley) came and played for about an hour. He did it for free. There's a picture taken from our balcony where you can see the streets packed with people."
- Mary Hausch, Hippodrome State Theatre producing director
