Square in Fla. town named to honor musician Diddley on anniversary of death

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Officials in Gainesville have renamed the city’s downtown plaza after rock ’n’ roll legend and former Florida resident Bo Diddley.

Diddley died in June 2008. Officials honored him Friday by unveiling a mural and renaming the downtown space the Bo Diddley Community Plaza. Diddley lived in Archer, Fla., a few miles southwest of Gainesville, and played at the plaza in 2006.

Diddley’s grandson Garry Mitchell thanked the city at the ceremony, and he and other family members gave city officials one of Diddley’s guitars.

“Gainesville’s been really good to my granddad,” Mitchell said. “Thank you for your encouragement and your prayers. Long live rock and roll!”

Diddley’s family planned to unveil his tombstone in Bronson, also southwest of Gainesville, at 10 a.m. Sunday.