Hidden Figures: Peggy 'Lady Bo' Jones (Patreon)

Hidden Figures: Peggy 'Lady Bo' Jones

'Peggy Jones or Peggy Malone (married name) (July 19, 1940 – September 16, 2015), known on stage as Lady Bo in recognition of her relationship with Bo Diddley, was an American musician. A pioneer of rock and roll, Jones played rhythm guitar in Bo Diddley's band in the late 1950s and early 1960s, becoming one of the first (perhaps the first) female rock guitarists in a highly visible rock band, and was sometimes called the Queen Mother of Guitar. She was born on July 19th, 1940 in Harlem where she grew up and attended Manhattan’s High School for the Performing Arts. She trained in opera, tap dancing, and ballet. Her life and music took a new direction when she met Bo Diddley for the first time; Diddley was so shocked to see a young woman with a guitar that he initiated conversation, eventually inviting her to play with him in his dressing room after a show. Jones quickly became a session musician in Bo Diddley’s band before officially joining as a full time member. Together they created the sound that would define rhythm and blues guitar in the sixties. During her first stint with Diddley’s band she contributed guitar and vocals to recordings such as “Road Runner” and “Hey Bo Diddley.” In addition to her work with Bo Diddley’s band, Jones had a rich solo career. She formed her own band, The Jewels (also known as The Family Jewel, Lady Bo and the Family Jewel, The Fabulous Jewels, Little Jewel and the Family Jewel, and Lady Bo and the BC Horns). Jones left Diddley’s band in 1961 to focus on her work with the Jewels which went on to become one of the most popular touring bands on the East Coast. At their first show back together the crowd was so excited to see them back on stage together that they chanted “Lady Bo”—thus creating Jones’s famous nickname. Lady Bo is seldom given the recognition she deserves for helping create the sound that would define rhythm and blues for decades, but her sonic influence will remain a significant part of music history.' ~ LADY BO, THE QUEEN MOTHER OF GUITAR #HiddenFigures #LadyBo ****************** Follow me on social media! Twitter: @seren_sensei Instagram: @sensei_aishitemasu Tumblr: http://sensei-aishitemasu.tumblr.com Snapchat: sssseren GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/tc5wh7q Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/seren_sensei ****************** Did you know I wrote a book? ☺️ 'So, About That... A Year of Contemporary Essays on Race and Pop Culture' Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/About-That-Contemporary-Essays-Culture-ebook/dp/B013V0CHK6 Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B013V0CHK6 Digital download (e-book): https://gumroad.com/l/IkUa ****************** Links: Peggy Jones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVoqjKY-Im0 'LADY BO, THE QUEEN MOTHER OF GUITAR:' http://www.afropunk.com/profiles/blogs/lady-bo-the-queen-mother-of 'Lady Bo “Mother of Rock ‘N’ Roll” Dies at 75 Years-Old:' http://sheshredsmag.com/lady-bo-mother-of-rock-n-roll-dies-at-75-years-old/ 'Lady Bo, the ‘Mother of Rock ‘n’ Roll,’ Dies at 75: http://ultimateclassicrock.com/lady-bo-dies/?trackback=tsmclip 'Peggy Jones aka Lady Bo has died aged 75:' https://www.thewire.co.uk/news/38813/peggy-jones-aka-lady-bo-has-died-aged-75 'R.I.P. Peggy Jones aka Lady Bo 1940-2015:' http://www.noise11.com/news/r-i-p-peggy-jones-aka-lady-bo-1940-2015-20150922 Peggy Jones: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/peggy-jones-mn0001764536 http://www.ladybo.com Peggy Jones (Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peggy_Jones_(musician)