Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan is an American singer/songwriter who has written many famous folk and rock songs.

Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Duluth, Minnesota, on May 24, 1941. In high school, he started his own rock bands. At university, he switched to folk music and took the name “Dylan,” after poet Dylan Thomas.

In 1960, Dylan went to New York City. He wrote folk songs and sang in folk clubs and coffee houses. He recorded his first album in 1962. His next two albums, in 1963, made him the most popular singer/songwriter of the 1960s protest movement. People were protesting the Vietnam War and issues like racial injustice.

In 1963, he became involved with Joan Baez, a famous folksinger. For two years, he wrote many of the songs she sang. He also performed at her concerts and gained new fans.

In 1964, Dylan began experimenting with different kinds of music. His 1964 album was more personal and less about protest. In 1965, he started to use an electric guitar, which upset some of his fans. His 1965 album included the now-famous rock classic “Like a Rolling Stone.” A 1969 album was based on country music.

In 1973, he acted in a movie and wrote the music for it. The next year, he toured with his band and made his first No. 1 album.

In 1977, Dylan and his wife divorced. In 1979, Dylan became a born-again Christian and his next album reflected his new faith. This musical phase lasted only a few years. In the 1980s, he began touring again and released several successful albums. In 1989, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Dylan continues to write songs and perform. His 1997 rock album Time Out of Mind is one of his most popular albums. He has won several Grammy Awards and an Academy Award for Best Original Song for the 2000 movie Wonder Boys.