Bob Dylan and the Resurgence of Folk Music
Bob Dylan and the Resurgence of Folk Music explores the amazing comeback of one of America’s most iconic genres. Join us as we celebrate the musicians who are keeping folk music alive and well!
The early years
In the early sixties, Bob Dylan emerged as the spokesman of a generation. He captured the zeitgeist of young America with anthems of social protest and songs that celebrated the quest for personal freedom. His influence spread rapidly, and by the end of the decade folk musicians around the world were echo his call for change.
Dylan’s humble beginnings
Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24, 1941, in Duluth, Minnesota. He grew up in Hibbing, a small town in the state’s Iron Range region. His father, Abe, was a merchant, and his mother, Beatty, was a homemaker. The Zimmermans were Jewish and had emigrated from Russia to the United States in 1907. Dylan has a younger brother, David.
Dylan developed an early interest in music and literature. In his teens he began listening to country and folk singers like Woody Guthrie and Hank Williams. He taught himself how to play guitar and harmonica. During this time he also changed his last name from Zimmerman to Dylan, inspired by the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas.
His rise to fame
Dylan’s early songs, many of which were written in the late 1950s and early 1960s, chronicled the socially and economically traumatized American society of that time. By singing straightforwardly about the lives of ordinary people in songs that created their own folk tradition in the United States, Dylan gave voice to a generation. His most famous song from this period is “Blowin’ in the Wind” (1962), which has been described as an “anthem of the civil rights movement”.
The folk years
It was the middle of the twentieth century, and the world was changing. America was reeling from the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the Vietnam War was heating up, and the Civil Rights Movement was in full swing. In the midst of all this turmoil, one man was having a major impact on the world of music. That man was Bob Dylan.
The Newport Folk Festival
In July of 1965, Dylan caused a stir at the Newport Folk Festival when he took the stage with an electric guitar. Fans were expecting an acoustic set, and some booed Dylan when he plugging in. But the folk singer went electric, opening a new chapter in his musical career.
The Newport Folk Festival is an annual event that started in 1959. It’s one of the most important folk music festivals in the United States. The festival is held in Newport, Rhode Island and usually takes place in early to mid-July.
The influence of Woody Guthrie
Bob Dylan is one of the most influential musicians of the twentieth century. Though he began his career as a folk singer, he soon branched out into other genres, such as rock and roll and blues. Dylan’s songs have been covered by countless other artists, and his lyrics have been praised for their poetic nature.
Dylan’s career began in the early 1960s, when he moved to New York City to pursue a career in music. He quickly became involved in the city’s vibrant folk scene, which was greatly influenced by the work of Woody Guthrie. Guthrie was a popular folk singer who championed the working class and was highly critical of government policies that he felt were harmful to ordinary people. Dylan was greatly inspired by Guthrie’s work, and many of his early songs reflect Guthrie’s influence.
The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan
The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on May 27, 1963 by Columbia Records. Whereas his self-titled debut album had contained only two original songs, Freewheelin’ represented the beginning of Dylan’s writing prolificacy, featuring seven original compositions. The album featured songs that would become Dylan standards, including “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall”.
“Freewheelin'” was a runaway success, reaching No. 22 in the Billboard 200 chart and eventually going platinum. The album also garnered much critical acclaim at the time, with many critics labeling Dylan as the voice of his generation. In 2003, the album was ranked at number 97 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
The electric years
When Bob Dylan released his first album in 1962, he sparked a revolution in folk music. Dylan’s use of electric instruments and his unique songwriting style influenced a generation of musicians. Folk music experienced a resurgence in popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s, thanks in part to Dylan’s influence.
Going electric at Newport
In July of 1965, Bob Dylan shocked the folk music world by appearing at the Newport Folk Festival with an electric guitar. It was a move that alienated many of his folkie fans, but it cemented his reputation as a revolutionary artist willing to take risks.
Dylan’s turn to electric music came at a time when folk music was enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Artists like Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie had popularized the genre in the 1940s and 1950s, and by the early 1960s, a new generation of folk singers was carrying on the tradition. These young performers were influenced by both the traditional songs of their predecessors and the topical protest songs of the day.
Dylan’s early work fit squarely into this tradition. His first album, Bob Dylan (1962), featured several traditional songs, as well as original compositions with topical themes, such as “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” But as Dylan’s songwriting progressed, he began to experiment with different styles and genres, incorporating elements of blues, country, and rock ‘n’ roll into his music.
The Newport Folk Festival was an important showcase for Dylan’s evolving sound. His performance there showed that he was not content to simply play it safe and stick to tried-and-true folk songs. Instead, he was determined to push the boundaries of his artistry and create something new. For better or worse, this willingness to take risks would continue to define Dylan’s career in the years to come.
Bringing folk to the masses
Bob Dylan is considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. He started out as a folk singer in the early 1960s and helped to revive interest in the genre. Folk music had been popular in the United States in the 1930s and 1940s, but it had declined in popularity in the 1950s. Dylan’s success helped to bring folk music back into the mainstream.
Dylan’s lyrics spoke to the experiences of ordinary people, and many of his songs became anthems for the civil rights and anti-war movements of the 1960s. He won numerous awards for his music, including Grammy, Golden Globe, and Academy Awards. In 2016, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”.
The Beatles and the British Invasion
The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. With members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they became widely regarded as the foremost and most influential music band in history. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock and roll, the Beatles later experimented with several genres, ranging from pop ballads and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock, often incorporating classical elements in innovative ways. In 1963, their enormous popularity first emerged as “Beatlemania”; as the group’s music grew in sophistication following their initial success, led by primary songwriters Lennon and McCartney, they came to be perceived as an embodiment of the ideals shared by the era’s sociocultural revolutions.
The later years
In the mid-1960s, Dylan’s lyrics incorporated a wide range of political, social, philosophical, and literary influences. They defied existing pop music conventions and appealed to the burgeoning counterculture. Dylan’s writings likewise changed popular music and the course of 20th-century literature.
Dylan’s continued success
Dylan’s success continued into the new millennium with the release of “Love and Theft” in 2001. The album was well-received by critics and fans alike, debuting at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and selling over five million copies worldwide. In 2003, Dylan won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Things Have Changed,” which appeared in the film “Wonder Boys.”
In 2005, Dylan released his first album of new material in five years, “Modern Times.” The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, making Dylan the oldest artist ever to achieve that feat. “Modern Times” was praised by critics as one of Dylan’s best albums in years, and it went on to win Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Long Form Music Video.
In 2007, Dylan embarked on a successful world tour that featured shows in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and North America. That same year, he was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-President George W. Bush. In 2009, Dylan released his 35th studio album, “Together Through Life,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and received positive reviews from critics.
Dylan’s most recent album is 2012’s “Tempest.” The album received mixed reviews from critics but still debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and sold over one million copies worldwide. In 2013, Dylan received the Nobel Prize in Literature “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.”
His impact on music today
Bob Dylan’s impact on music today is undeniable. His influence can be heard in the work of countless artists, from folk singers to rock stars. Dylan’s music has touched people all over the world and inspired them to create their own art.
Dylan’s impact is not limited to musicians; his lyrics have also had a profound effect on writers and poets. His work has been translated into multiple languages and has been adapted for stage and screen. Dylan’s influence extends beyond the world of music; he is one of the most important cultural figures of our time.
