If you were busy with work or other tasks this week, you might have missed the news of Bo Diddley’s passing on Monday, at the age of 79. And if you did see a mention, some of you probably wondered, “Who?”

Born in Mississippi, but raised in Chicago, Bo Diddley made his name as a musician at Chess Records. With many a hit on the R&B chart, but just a single Top 40 entry (1959’s “Say Man”), Diddley helped shape the sound of early rock ‘n’ roll. (I remember bringing in a 45-rpm of Diddley’s “You Can’t Judge A Book By Its Cover” for my third-grade teacher, Mrs. Czapla, to play. She had explained the phrase in class the day before, and that was my young-record-collector response. I can’t recall if she cared.)

The pioneering Diddley was eclipsed by his younger peers, though he would keep plugging away in the intervening years. His signature “hambone” beat became the basis for many a pop classic, stretching from Buddy Holly & The Crickets’ “Not Fade Away” (the b-side of “Oh Boy”) in 1957 to George Michael’s “Faith,” a #1 hit some 30 years later.

But not even 12 months would pass before the Bo Diddley beat was back on the radio once again. U2 rode his familiar rhythm to #3 in 1998 with “Desire,” from Rattle & Hum. I’ve always enjoyed the “Hollywood Mix” of the song, which Chicago station Z95 preferred to play. Hear here:

(Couldn’t share the original video here, as ‘Embedding is disabled by request.’)

For an informative (but brief) piece about Bo Diddley, check out this New York Times article, which includes a list of songs featuring his famous beat. You might be surprised to see the range of rock and pop artists who’ve used it, including The Smiths (“How Soon Is Now”).

There are many, many others, and the tally grows a little every year. Bo Diddley may have reaped little monetary reward for his creation (artists and producers outright sell beats today), but Diddley left this mortal coil with his name inextricably linked to a singular sound that I bet will outlast all of us.