Early Life
Born May 24, 1941 in Duluth Minnesota, Robert Allen Zimmerman started his music career at a young age. Young Dylan could often be found listening to artists like Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard. These early ¨wild¨ artists influenced many, and took an especially strong grip on Dylan as he listened to them on his radio. Their incredible way piano and guitar skills baffled the young man and led him to pursue his own musicianship. After honing his artistic craft, Dylan brought his music to his local high school in Hibbing. During a performance for his school, all of the amplification from Dylan´s microphones were cut due to his loud and new sound. The principal simply could not be promoting that kind of music in his school.
After graduating high school in 1959, Dylan moved to Minneapolis to attend the University of Minnesota, and with this change came a switch from rock´n´roll to American folk, in which Dylan found a greater way to convey a message. During the nights while many were studying, Dylan would play at coffee houses under the name ¨Bob Dylan¨ after his favorite poet Dylan Thomas. This name came to stick with him. Dylan´s academic life did not last long though.
Born May 24, 1941 in Duluth Minnesota, Robert Allen Zimmerman started his music career at a young age. Young Dylan could often be found listening to artists like Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard. These early ¨wild¨ artists influenced many, and took an especially strong grip on Dylan as he listened to them on his radio. Their incredible way piano and guitar skills baffled the young man and led him to pursue his own musicianship. After honing his artistic craft, Dylan brought his music to his local high school in Hibbing. During a performance for his school, all of the amplification from Dylan´s microphones were cut due to his loud and new sound. The principal simply could not be promoting that kind of music in his school.
After graduating high school in 1959, Dylan moved to Minneapolis to attend the University of Minnesota, and with this change came a switch from rock´n´roll to American folk, in which Dylan found a greater way to convey a message. During the nights while many were studying, Dylan would play at coffee houses under the name ¨Bob Dylan¨ after his favorite poet Dylan Thomas. This name came to stick with him. Dylan´s academic life did not last long though.
Dylan and the 60s
After dropping out of University of Minnesota, Dylan traveled to New York to follow his idol Woody Guthrie. This rash decision on Dylan's part is because Guthrie had been suffering from serious Huntington's disease. Dylan became Guthrie's disciple and continued his folk music in Greenwich Village. Here he met many fellow musicians of the same craft. Eventually he was signed by Columbia Records. By August 1961, Dylan legally changed his name to 1961. On Dylan's first album, Bob Dylan, there were only two original compositions, the rest were standards of the folk, blues, and gospel community. His first album barely made enough, selling only 5000 copies in 1962.
After Bob Dylan's slow first album, he started to gain speed in 1963 with his album The Freewhelin' Bob Dylan. People were beginning to take notice to Dylan. During a short tour in Britain, Dylan was asked to preform for the BBC. He happily agreed. This would be Dylan's first time on television, and he chose "Blowin' in the Wind" as his song to do it. Dylan was beginning to become a pop icon. He even was gaining the attention of other pop icons, such as George Harrison of the Beatles. Later in '63, Dylan was asked to preform on the esteemed Ed Sullivan show. He declined this offer though because he did not want to comply with their censorship rules. In the height of Dylan's fame, he did something radical: go electric.
Bob Dylan's fans at the time were mostly young people who listened to his message and older people who were interested in the young kid's folk music. When Dylan went electric though, people on both sides left, vowing not to listen to Dylan again. Yet his music continued to dominate on billboards, often behind only the Beatles. Dylan began recording with electric instruments in 1965, including songs such as "Like a Rolling Stone." But the criticism was getting to Dylan despite all his accomplishments. In 1966, Dylan was in a horrible motorcycle accident, severely breaking his neck, yet he did not call an ambulance or go to the hospital. Dylan called this period of time a way "to get out of the ratrace."
Throughout the rest of the 60s, Dylan toured without writing many thought-provoking songs. The height of his protest had ceased, but he continued to tour and Influence others.
After the 60s
To this day Dylan continues to tour and write music, but his heyday of protest is long gone. He still doesn't care about his reviews or what people think of him though. He continues to do things that often shock people. Recently, he made headlines for both turning 75 and singing Frank Sinatra and other jazz tunes. This is vastly different from his roots, and likely doesn't sound the greatest, but Dylan still does what he feels is right. His legacy will live on long after him as a man who does not back down, does not quiver at authority, and does not let injustices go unnoticed.
After dropping out of University of Minnesota, Dylan traveled to New York to follow his idol Woody Guthrie. This rash decision on Dylan's part is because Guthrie had been suffering from serious Huntington's disease. Dylan became Guthrie's disciple and continued his folk music in Greenwich Village. Here he met many fellow musicians of the same craft. Eventually he was signed by Columbia Records. By August 1961, Dylan legally changed his name to 1961. On Dylan's first album, Bob Dylan, there were only two original compositions, the rest were standards of the folk, blues, and gospel community. His first album barely made enough, selling only 5000 copies in 1962.
After Bob Dylan's slow first album, he started to gain speed in 1963 with his album The Freewhelin' Bob Dylan. People were beginning to take notice to Dylan. During a short tour in Britain, Dylan was asked to preform for the BBC. He happily agreed. This would be Dylan's first time on television, and he chose "Blowin' in the Wind" as his song to do it. Dylan was beginning to become a pop icon. He even was gaining the attention of other pop icons, such as George Harrison of the Beatles. Later in '63, Dylan was asked to preform on the esteemed Ed Sullivan show. He declined this offer though because he did not want to comply with their censorship rules. In the height of Dylan's fame, he did something radical: go electric.
Bob Dylan's fans at the time were mostly young people who listened to his message and older people who were interested in the young kid's folk music. When Dylan went electric though, people on both sides left, vowing not to listen to Dylan again. Yet his music continued to dominate on billboards, often behind only the Beatles. Dylan began recording with electric instruments in 1965, including songs such as "Like a Rolling Stone." But the criticism was getting to Dylan despite all his accomplishments. In 1966, Dylan was in a horrible motorcycle accident, severely breaking his neck, yet he did not call an ambulance or go to the hospital. Dylan called this period of time a way "to get out of the ratrace."
Throughout the rest of the 60s, Dylan toured without writing many thought-provoking songs. The height of his protest had ceased, but he continued to tour and Influence others.
After the 60s
To this day Dylan continues to tour and write music, but his heyday of protest is long gone. He still doesn't care about his reviews or what people think of him though. He continues to do things that often shock people. Recently, he made headlines for both turning 75 and singing Frank Sinatra and other jazz tunes. This is vastly different from his roots, and likely doesn't sound the greatest, but Dylan still does what he feels is right. His legacy will live on long after him as a man who does not back down, does not quiver at authority, and does not let injustices go unnoticed.