Peggy Jones
Peggy Jones was born on 19/07/1940 in Harlem, New York. Jones grew up in Sugar Hill, Manhattan. She attended the High School of Performing Arts, where she studied tap and ballet dance and received training in opera. At the age of 15, she bought her first guitar. Jones joined a doo-wop group, the Bop Chords briefly. The Bop Chords disbanded in 1957.In 1956, Jones met Bo Diddley backstage after playing at the Apollo Theater, Harlem. Diddley was impressed to see a girl with a guitar case and invited her to join his band as guitarist and singer.
From 1957 to 1961 or 1963, Jones recorded with Diddley. She appeared on singles such as "Hey! Bo Diddley", "Road Runner", "Bo Diddley's A Gunslinger", and the instrumental "Aztec" which she composed and played all the guitar parts on.
Jones also pursued a career as an independent artist.
In 1961, Jones left the Bo Diddley band to pursue her own band. Diddley recruited Norma-Jean Wofford (known as The Duchess) to replace her in Diddley's band. She formed her own band the R&B group the Jewels, also known as the Fabulous Jewels and Lady Bo and the Family Jewels. They became a top R&B band in New York and Boston during the 1960s and 1970s.
In 1962, Jones played the guitar on Les Cooper's instrumental "Wiggle Wobble".
In 1967, Jones played the percussion on Eric Burdon's and The Animal's hit "San Francisco Nights".
In 1968, Jones recruited Bo Diddley's bass player Wally Malone. The two of them would marry. They moved to San Jose, California and Jones played a show with Bo Diddley. At the show, she was given her nickname Lady Bo.
In 1970, Jones rejoined Bo Diddley's band and brought The Jewels with her.
In 1979, Jones and Malone moved to Boulder Creek.
Jones would also back James Brown and Sam & Dave.
On 16/09/2015, Jones passed away.