Bob Dylan Not many people know the name Robert Allen Zimmerman even though the man is one of the predominant figures in American song and poetry. However, perhaps his stage name Bob Dylan sounds a little more familiar. Dylan was born May 24, 1941, in Duluth, Minnesota. Six years later, the family relocated to Hibbing, often hailed as the coldest place in the United States. Stuck in the icy city, Dylan taught himself piano and guitar for amusement. By the time Dylan was in high school, he had already started several rock bands.
In 1959, Dylan attended the University of Minnesota and adopted his famous pseudonym. He began playing in small Minneapolis and St. Paul clubs under the name Dylan (taken from poet Dylan Thomas), and just one year later moved to New York where the music scene was more progressive and receptive. Dylan’s musical bent became an interesting amalgamation of the blues and rock of his youth, fused with his newfound love for Gaelic inspired American folk. When he performed in Greenwich Village he ended up spending much of his time at the hospital with his hero Woody Guthrie. However, Dylan gained enough exposure and a fortuitous positive New York Times review by critic Robert Shelton. Word of mouth spread about this newcomer on the music scene, and influential music figure John Hammond signed Dylan to Colombia Records in 1961.
In 1963, Dylan released his influential album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. With this work and his previous performances, Dylan was beginning to develop his name as a leader in American singing and songwriting. With this album, he also established his music as a new voice in protest. Originally influenced by Guthrie, Dylan quickly found his own voice and his own style. The most famous track off that album, “Blowin’ in the Wind,” ushered Dylan (albeit reluctantly) into his title as the Voice of a Generation. While Dylan gained fame as a songwriter, his gravelly voice and opposition to standard lyrical singing made him less commercial as a performer. Many already established artists clamored to perform Dylan’s songs, including Sonny and Cher, The Birds, and Herman’s Hermits. Most notably, queen of folk music Joan Baez performed many of Dylan’s works, and the two were also romantically involved. Baez helped launch Dylan’s performing career by often inviting him onstage when she was performing. Dylan’s increasing involvement in the civil rights movement couldn’t help but bleed over into his music career. Dylan’s album The Times They Are a-Changin’ in 1963 featured a more politically savvy, aware, and sophisticated if not cynical persona. In 1966, Dylan released his classic album Blonde on Blonde. The record united the distinctive Nashville style with Dylan’s own unique New York sound. The collision of culture and approach was different, innovative and very well-received. The pressures throughout the rest of the 60s became tremendous on the frazzled Dylan. His publisher was demanding the finished manuscript of his novel/poem Tarantula, and his manager scheduled a particularly grueling summer tour schedule. On July 29, 1966, Dylan was driving his motorcycle and was violently thrown to the ground when his brakes locked. The extent of his injuries was never made public, but it is conjectured the songwriter broke his neck. Dylan took almost the entirety of the next three years to recover, recuperate, and generally escape the chaos of superstardom. Dylan returned to music but with a more introspective mindset. His musical success continued to thrive through every decade, and continues to do so through present day. In 1974, Dylan finally achieved that elusive #1 album entitled Planet Waves, released with The Band. A year later, he achieved the same feat with Blood on the Tracks. Shocking the music community, Dylan won his first Grammy for his fundamentalist Christian album Slow Train Coming (1979) after he became a born-again Christian (which he subsequently renounced in 1983). Dylan’s talent however was not exclusive to the music world. Although he has composed the soundtrack for many films, he also has acting, directing, and writing credits to his name. In 1973, Dylan appeared in Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid with Kris Kristofferson and James Coburn. He also wrote and starred in the 2003 comedy-drama Masked and Anonymous with Jeff Bridges, Penélope Cruz, John Goodman, and Jessica Lange. Dylan continues to be a dominant force in music and entertainment and remains one of the best loved and respected artists of all time. Dylan has been married twice, once to Sara Dylan from 1965 to 1977 (four children together) and once to Carolyn Dennis from 1986 to 1992 (one child together). With music in the genes, it is not surprising that Dylan’s son Jakob is the lead singer of the successful contemporary band The Wallflowers. YUDDY |
