Photograph: David Michael Kennedy
Bob Dylan was born in Duluth, Minnesota on 24th May 1941. He grew up in the mining town of Hibbing and played in a number of rock and roll bands as a high school student. In 1959 he enrolled at the University of Minneapolis but left after his freshman year. The Sixties 1961 In January, Dylan moved to New York City where he visited his idol Woody Guthrie in hospital and performed in the folk clubs of Greenwich Village. Following a performance at New York’s Gerde’s Folk City in September, Dylan received public recognition through a review by critic Robert Shelton in The New York Times. Dylan’s talents were brought to the attention of A&R producer John Hammond and in October he signed a contract with Columbia Records. 1962 In March, Dylan released his first album, ‘Bob Dylan’. 1963 Dylan’s second album, ‘The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan’, including songs like ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ and ‘Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright’ helped establish him as a singer and songwriter. He soon became an important figure in the national folk movement. ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ was released by Peter, Paul and Mary and reached number two in the American music charts in July. In the same month, Dylan performed at the Newport Folk Festival. It was also during 1963 that Dylan became prominent in the civil rights movement, singing at protest rallies with Joan Baez. On 28th August he sang at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the civil rights rally at which Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous ‘I Have A Dream’ speech. 1964 Dylan felt increasingly constrained by the folk and protest movement and his fourth album, ‘Another Side of Bob Dylan’, released in August 1964, showed a move away from protest songs to ones of a more personal and poetic nature.
1965 Dylan released ‘Bringing It All Back Home’, which included the use of electric instruments and signified his departure from folk music towards rock and roll. In April, Dylan began a tour of Britain and the hysteria surrounding him was captured in the film documentary, ‘Don’t Look Back’ (1965), directed by the filmmaker D. A. Pennebaker. Dylan’s single ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ was released on 20th July and became his first major hit. Five days later he performed at the Newport Folk Festival, backed by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, where he showcased his new electric sound and received a mixed response from the audience. In September, Dylan began touring backed by the Hawks – who later became known as The Band. 1966 In April, Dylan began a tour of Australia and Europe, which culminated in a raucous and notorious confrontation between the singer and fans during a concert at the Manchester Free Trade Hall in Britain. On 29th July near Woodstock, New York, Dylan crashed his motorcycle. Although the extent of his injuries was not known, he disappeared from public view for many months. He would not tour again for eight years. 1967 In spring, The Band moved to Woodstock to be closer to Dylan and he recorded with them in the basement of their house. The tracks produced were widely bootlegged and only legitimately released in 1975 as ‘The Basement Tapes’. 1968 On 20th January, Dylan made his first live appearance, following the accident, with The Band at a memorial concert for Woody Guthrie in New York City. 1969 In May, Dylan appeared on the first episode of Johnny Cash’s new television show, singing several songs as duets with Cash. Dylan rejected requests to perform at the ‘Woodstock Festival’ and instead topped the bill at the ‘Isle of Wight Rock Festival’ on 31st August.
1978 Dylan embarked on an extensive tour of New Zealand, Australia, Europe, America and Japan. 1979 In the late 1970s, Dylan became deeply interested in developing more spiritually inspired music based on his evolving studies of the Bible. Two albums rooted in Gospel Music – ‘Slow Train Coming’ and ‘Saved’ – were released in 1979 and 1980. The Eighties 1982 Dylan was inducted into the ‘Songwriters Hall of Fame’ in March 1982. 1985 In July, Dylan contributed vocals for the all-star single, ‘We Are The World’, in aid of African famine relief. On 13th July he appeared, backed by Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, at the Live Aid concert at the JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. His third book, ‘Lyrics: 1962-1985’, was published and ‘Biograph’, a five-disc retrospective collection, was also released. 1986-1987 During these years, Dylan toured backed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. In 1987 he toured with backing from the Grateful Dead, which led to the album ‘Dylan & the Dead’ (1989). Dylan also starred in the movie ‘Hearts of Fire’ (1987) directed by Richard Marquand. 1988 In January, Dylan was inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’, with an induction speech by Bruce Springsteen. In spring, Dylan joined Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty and George Harrison to form the light- hearted group The Traveling Wilburys. They released two well-received albums in 1988 and 1990. Late spring also saw the start of what came to be called the ‘Never Ending Tour’ with a small and evolving band. The Nineties 1990 In January, Dylan received the ‘Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres’, the highest cultural award given by the French Government. He was also included
The Seventies 1970 Dylan left Woodstock and moved to MacDougal Street in New York City. In June he received an honorary doctorate of music from Princeton University, New Jersey. Dylan’s collection of experimental writings from 1966, ‘Tarantula’, was finally published in November. 1971 George Harrison persuaded Dylan to appear at a benefit concert for Bangladesh at Madison Square Garden in New York City in August 1971. 1972 In November, Dylan contributed to the soundtrack of the film ‘Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid’ (1973) directed by Sam Peckinpah. The soundtrack included ‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door’ which has subsequently been covered by over one hundred recording artists. Dylan also made his acting début in the film as a minor member of Billy’s gang. 1973 A collection of Dylan’s lyrics and poetry, ‘Writings and Drawings’, was published. 1974 In January, Dylan and The Band embarked on their first tour in eight years, playing thirty-nine shows in twenty-one cities coast-to-coast in America. A live album documenting this tour, ‘Before the Flood’, was released. 1975 From autumn 1975 until spring 1976, Dylan toured North America with the ‘Rolling Thunder Revue’, which included a changing entourage of artists such as the poet Allen Ginsberg, and singers Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez. Footage of the tour was used in the four-hour film, ‘Renaldo and Clara’, directed by Dylan. Released in 1978, the film met with a mixed response from audience and critics. 1976 In November, Dylan appeared in The Band’s ‘farewell’ concert, which was filmed by Martin Scorsese and released as the film ‘The Last Waltz’ in 1978.
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