Wiki Spotlight: Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan (born Robert
Allen Zimmerman on May 24,
1941) is an American singer-songwriter,
musician and poet whose
enduring contributions to
American song are often
compared, in fame and influence,
to those of Stephen Foster,
Irving Berlin, Woody Guthrie,
and Hank Williams. His place
in American and European
culture in the 1960s through
to the present is unique.
Much of Dylan's best known
work is from the 1960s,
when he became an informal
documentarian and reluctant
figurehead of American unrest.
Some of his songs, such
as "Blowin' in the
Wind" and "The
Times They Are A-Changin'"[1],
became anthems of the anti-war
and civil rights movements.
He remains an influential
and popular artist; his
most recent album of new
songs, 2001's "Love
and Theft", reached
#5 on the charts in the
US and #3 in Britain.
Dylan's early lyrics incorporated
politics, social commentary,
philosophy and literary
influences, defying existing
pop music conventions and
appealing widely to the
counterculture of the time.
While expanding and personalizing
musical styles, Dylan has
shown steadfast devotion
to traditions of American
song, from folk and country/blues
to rock 'n' roll and rockabilly,
to Gaelic balladry, even
jazz, swing and Broadway.
Dylan performs with the
guitar, keyboard and harmonica.
Backed by a changing lineup
of musicians, he has toured
steadily since the late
1980s. He has also recently
performed alongside other
iconic or near-iconic artists,
such as Paul Simon, Joni
Mitchell, Tom Petty and
Eric Clapton. Although his
contributions as performer
and recording artist have
been central to his career,
his songwriting is generally
held as his highest accomplishment.
More: Wikipedia about Bob
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