This Black History Month we’re going all the way back to the birth of rock ‘n’ roll, celebrating the legendary artist who paved the way for exhibitions like Guitar Gallery, Nirvana and Hendrix Abroad: Bo Diddley.
The 20th century had its share of legendary guitarists, but few can compare to Bo Diddley. For Black History Month 2024, we’re celebrating the extraordinary legacy of this American musical icon, recognized as a core influence on the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Clash, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley and countless others, as well as a key driver of the birth of rock ‘n’ roll.
Our curatorial team has dug into MoPOP’s permanent collection to bring together a vintage Bo Diddley performance poster from Portland’s Crystal Ballroom, a custom Gretsch electric guitar played by Bo Diddley c. 1960 and an exclusive oral history for an intimate look at where modern American music really started and the artist who taught it to rock.
Image sourced from event website.
