Norma-Jean Wofford (c. 1942 – April 30, 2005)
- accessed February 2011 was an American guitarist 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, inc ...

and his band from 1962 to 1966. Born in

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...

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, 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'', ''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 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's a Twister'' (Checker, 1962) *'' Bo Diddley & Company'' (Checker, 1962) *'' Bo Diddley's Beach Party'' (Checker, 1964) *'' Hey! Good Lookin''' (Checker, 1965)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wofford, Norma-Jean American women guitarists American blues guitarists Musicians from Pittsburgh 1940s births 2005 deaths Year of birth uncertain Bo Diddley Guitarists from Pennsylvania African American female guitarists