Bob Dylan is the pre-eminent poet, lyricist, and songwriter of his time. He re-energized the folk music genre; brought new lyrical depth to rock and roll and when he went electric he combined the worlds of rock and roll and country. His lyrics captured and defined the mood of a generation.
Bob Dylan was born Robert Zimmerman on May 24th, 1941, in Minnesota. He learned to play the harmonica and piano by the age of ten and taught himself to play the guitar. Influenced by rock and roll Dylan form bands with other youths. When only 19 Dylan moved to New York City and started off in village coffeehouses. After playing harmonica on a session for folk singer Carolyn Hester, Dylan impresses the producer at Columbia records he is signed to a 5-year contract. His first album, which featured only two originals and an assortment of blues and traditional songs, sold very poorly. At the beginning of his career Dylan was heavily booed. Fortunately his second album, which was almost entirely self-composed, sold quite well. Over all Bob Dylan has wrote hundreds of songs, more than 500 and counting, forty three albums, and more than 57 million copies sold.
Bob Dylan has also made it through hardships as a devastating motorcycle accident, which made him drop out of sight for a year and a half. However during that time he continued to make music at his home studio. Also in 1997 Dylan is diagnosed with Histoplasmosis, a potentially fatal fungal infection. Only one month out of the hospital he continued to tour North America. Two months out of the hospital Dylan performed at the World Eucharist Congress and meets Pope John Paul II face to face.
Rock Music Style Roll Essay
In this essay, I'm going to introduce to the reader a topic not touched a lot because of its complexity and its avoidance by conservative adults. This topic is, of course, Rock Music. During one week, I looked for information in the library and at my house, and from the information I gathered and my one knowledge about the topic, I'm going to lead the reader to a better understanding of Rock n' ...
He has contributed his talent and music to many causes including anti-war songs, civil rights rallies, memorial for Woody Guthrie, who was a folk singer that Dylan considered his mentor, a benefit for Bangla Desh, a benefit for the Friends of Chile, he visited Hurricane Carter who inspired Dylan to write the song Hurricane and to perform 2 benefits for Carter’s defense fund, an AIDs benefit, a Martin Luther king birthday celebration, a benefit for handicapped children, Bill Clinton’s first inauguration, Frank Sinatra’s birthday tribute, a tribute to Frank Sinatra, a crossroads benefit, and recorded the children song, this old man, for children with aids.
Dylan has received numerous awards for his music and contributions. Before he was 30 he received an honorary Doctorate of Music from Princeton University. In 1982 he was admitted to the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. In 1986 he received the Founder’s Award of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. In 1988 Dylan was admitted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1990 Life magazine included Dylan into it’s list of the top 100 most influential people of the 20th century. In 1991 Dylan is awarded a lifetime Achievement Award at the 20th Grammy Awards. In 1995 Dylan won a Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album. He is awarded 3 more Grammy Awards in 1996 for “best male rock vocal”, “best rock song”, and “best contemporary folk album”. He was also nominated 5 years in a row for the 1996 to 2000 Noble Prizes in Literature. In 1997 at a ceremony at the White House, Bill Clinton presented Dylan with The Kennedy Center Homour Life-Time Achievement Award, which is the United States’ highest award for artistic achievement. And in 1998 He received the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Award.
Hopefully it is obvious to you as it is to me why I chose Bob Dylan as my personal hero. If not it is because of how his music has touched and had a impact so many people and the music industry. And how for almost 40 years he has kept making great music. I will consider myself lucky if I positively influence 100 people in my life.
