Norma-Jean Wofford (c. 1942 – April 30, 2005) - accessed February 2011 was an American
guitarist
A guitarist (or a guitar player) is a person who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of guitar family instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselv ...
who played with
Bo Diddley
Ellas McDaniel (born Ellas Otha Bates; December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known professionally as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, incl ...
and his band from 1962 to 1966.
Born in
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...
,
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
, Wofford was Bo Diddley's second female guitarist, replacing Peggy Jones (a.k.a. Lady Bo). When Jones left the band, disappointed fans asked Bo Diddley what had become of her. In response, he hired Wofford, nicknamed her "The Duchess", taught her to play
rhythm guitar
In music performances, rhythm guitar is a technique and role that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with other instruments from the rhythm section (e.g., drum kit, bass guitar ...
, and told male admirers that she was his sister. In reality, they were not related. Wofford played guitar and sang alongside Gloria Morgan and Lily "Bee Bee" Jamieson as the Bo-ettes.
Wofford was known for skintight stage clothes, and appeared on several of Bo Diddley's album covers, including ''Bo Diddley & Company'', ''
Bo Diddley's Beach Party
''Bo Diddley's Beach Party'' is the eleventh album by rock musician Bo Diddley. Recorded live in concert in July 1963 at the Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, it is one of rock music's earliest live remote recordings. The album was a su ...
'', ''Hey! Good Lookin, ''500% More Man'' and '' The Originator''.
In 1966, Wofford married (becoming Norma-Jean Richardson), and left the band to raise a family in
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
.
Death and remembrance
When Wofford died in
Fontana, California
Fontana is a city in San Bernardino County, California. Founded by Azariel Blanchard Miller in 1913, it remained essentially rural until World War II, when entrepreneur Henry J. Kaiser built a large steel mill in the area. It is now a regional h ...
in 2005, Bo Diddley stated, "Norma-Jean was my first sidekick... We did everything together. She was like family, which was why I told everyone she was my sister. There was no one else like her and I will miss her very much. I hadn't seen Duchess in so many years, but then she surprised me at a show in California last July. I'm so glad we had the chance to spend some time together again before she left this Earth."
Discography
With
Bo Diddley
Ellas McDaniel (born Ellas Otha Bates; December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known professionally as Bo Diddley, was an American guitarist who played a key role in the transition from the blues to rock and roll. He influenced many artists, incl ...
*''
Bo Diddley's a Twister
''Bo Diddley's a Twister'' is the seventh studio album by American musician Bo Diddley released on the Checker label in 1962 .Bo Diddley & Company'' (Checker, 1962)
*''
Bo Diddley's Beach Party
''Bo Diddley's Beach Party'' is the eleventh album by rock musician Bo Diddley. Recorded live in concert in July 1963 at the Beach Club in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, it is one of rock music's earliest live remote recordings. The album was a su ...