Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bo Diddley, who died this week of heart failure, touched the lives of many St. Louis folks, and not just through his music and songs such as “Who Do You Love,” “Say Man,” and “I’m a Man.” 

The McComb, Miss., native’s relationships with musicians and others here ran deep and extended back for decades. He and Chuck Berry toured together in the ‘50s and were label mates at Chess Records.

As services get underway for Diddley today in Gainesville, Fla., before concluding Sunday, St. Louis people who knew him remember the legend. 

– Bassist Jimmy Hinds, 56, toured with Diddley in 2006 as part of Johnnie Johnson’s band, which backed Diddley. He recalls the red-carpet treatment they received on the road because of Diddley’s Hall of Fame status. He says they ate well, drank lots of international beer, and both had heart attacks not long after the tour ended.

Hinds got a kick out of performng with Diddley since he used to perform Diddley songs in other bands.

“He was a very candid guy when it came to what he’d gone through. Sometimes with legends you can’t get a clear picture of what they’d gone through. He was clear about what he’d gone through and what he felt about it,” says Hinds.

Hinds also said Diddley was about more than music. “When Bo Diddley wasn’t being Bo Diddley, he was Bo the inventer. That man could’ve been a scientist.” 

– Guitarist Tony T. toured with Diddley up until Tony T.’s own death last year.

– Bassist Gus Thornton, also of Johnnie Johnson’s band, says he was impressed with Diddley’s tenacity when it came to performing. One night at the Argosy Casino a few years ago stood out.

“They turned the lights up on us and Bo kept going. You’d think at his age and considering how long he had been playing he might be ready to burn out,” says Thornton.

– Frances Johnson, widow of Johnnie Johnson, was on the bus when her husband, as part of Berry’s band, toured with Diddley.

“We loved being on the bus together with him. He loved to tell jokes, and he was a wonderful man, and always the center of attraction. It would be Bo’s show and we would really enjoy it.” 

– Delmar Loop’s Joe Edwards and Diddley hooked up in the ’80s when Edwards slapped Diddley’s mug on his Heroes of Rock and Roll Series for Rock ‘N Roll Beer. He says Diddley enjoyed Blueberry Hill’s burgers; Blueberry Hill’s jukebox has 24 Diddley songs.

“What he did with a guitar was powerful and raw. When I used to listen to his music as a teenager it would just go through my bones.”