Blues rock titan Bo Diddley is in hospital recovering from a stroke.
The man who many would argue invented rock n' roll as we know it, succumbed to a stroke last Sunday. He was rushed to intensive care at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.The 78-year old has a history of diabetes and hypertension and was said to be "disoriented" at a performance that day in Iowa. He was admitted to hospital with elevated blood pressure and glucose levels.
His longtime manager and friend Margo Lewis told Reuters yesterday that Diddley is up and communicating, but the stroke has affected his left side and his speech and speech recognition has been affected.
Regardless, Lewis said, "I'm truly encouraged by the way he is responding." She continued, "He is having a hard time understanding us ... We're hopeful he can come back." Doctors plan to move Diddley out of intensive care within a couple of days.
Bo Diddley has been recording and performing for almost five decades, has entered the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and regularly appears in Greatest Rock Artists Of All Time lists.
