Ciment, I saw Fats Domino and Bo Diddley many times at the Alan Freed R&R shows at the Brooklyn Paramount in the Fifties.

Fats often was the headliner. He had his own, fair-sized band with him. The stage lights would go out, Freed's big band musicians would leave the stage, and Fats' guys would come out. A piano would roll out for Fats. Then the lights went on and Fats would barrel through his current hits (he had more Top 40 hits than any act but the Beatles). Fats always smiling. Great band, too--his sax player, Herbert Hardesty, was tops.

Bo Diddley played a custom-made, square-shaped Gretsch guitar. Used only one amp, but had a huge, distinctive sound. Snaky dance steps, too. Had two guys behind him--drummer and maracas player.