Norma-Jean Wofford (c. 1942 – April 30, 2005) was an American guitarist who played with Bo Diddley and his band from 1962 to 1966. During the late 1950's, rock 'n' roll legend Bo Diddley
had befriended the Wofford family of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and in
the course of their contact, he taught their daughter Norma-Jean the
guitar and, later, how to emulate his sound on electric guitar. Since
1957, Bo Diddley's band had included one female member, singer and guitarist Peggy Jones. When she left in 1961, he
replaced her with Norma-Jean Wofford.
Wofford first appeared on Bo Diddley & Company (1962), and played in his touring band until 1966. The Duchess cut an amazing figure on stage with the band, as preserved permanently in the movie The Big T.N.T. Show (1966) -working alongside singers Gloria Morgan and Lily "Bee Bee" Jamieson, i.e. the "Bo-ettes," she sang on the choruses, but her main function was providing the lead fills on various songs or doubling with Bo Diddley's own rhythm guitar. She was the embodiment of tough-yet-graceful rock'n'roll cool. She dominated the stage churning primal chords and rhythms out of her Gretsch guitar that gave even Diddley a run for his money.
She appeared on several of Bo Diddley's record releases during her time in his band. These include the albums Bo Diddley & Company, Bo Diddley's Beach Party, Hey! Good Lookin', 500% More Man and The Originator. She also toured England in 1962. Eric Burdon later immortalised her in the Animals' "Story
Of Bo Diddley".
She died in Fontana, California in 2005.
