BO DIDDLEY: UF Doctor of Fine Arts degree recipient
BO DIDDLEY will be awarded a posthumous Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) degree from the University of Florida (UF) at a ceremony to be held 10.00am on Saturday August 9th 2008. The degree will be presented to his daughter Evelyn Kelly on behalf of her father.
The doctorate, to be presented at the UF's Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainesville, is awarded to BO DIDDLEY for his influence on American popular music.
When he died on Monday June 2nd 2008, the process of honoring him was already in the works. He was nominated last fall for the honor, but a lengthy approval process pushed a vote on the recognition past his demise.
BO DIDDLEY's nomination for an honorary degree received letters of support from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame officials and Philadelphia International Records chairman Kenneth Gamble. A resume was submitted that included a list of hits "that rivaled those of Chuck Berry in quality" and accomplishments such as influencing the Rolling Stones and other musicians. The UF trustees' document supporting the honor states: "BO DIDDLEY ... has had a vast influence on the popular music world... BO DIDDLEY's work paved the way for an entire generation of artists, many of whom achieved notoriety by imitating and developing his work... BO DIDDLEY is not only a musician, but also an innovative composer who created a new guitar sound that was quickly absorbed by other players".
