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Tyler Watkins
1/29/2016
ENG 112-39
Essay 1
Bob Dylan
Many have heard of him, but do not understand the impact he has had on the music we listen
to today. Born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Duluth, Minnesota on May 24th 1941. Springing into
popularity in the early sixties with an original sound, and lyrics that focused on controversial
topics of the era, he quickly became known as one of the most influential artists of his time. He
continued to solidify his legacy throughout the years by being successful in other genres of
music such as country and rock, all the while staying true to his original sound. His Lyrics served
as an example for other artists on how to express yourself, not just through your sound, but
through meaning and poetry. His songs has told great stories and have also been used as a
rallying cry for civil movements. He wasnt just another artist, his footprints are all over music of
today. Every great rock or country artist that followed him was inspired by him in some way. If a
kid in America is learning to play the guitar and wanting to invent something new and original
with his music, I can almost guarantee he has Bob Dylan on repeat. Bob Dylan did more than
make music and sing songs, he inspired people to think, he was an inspiration for growth and
change and he influenced music limitlessly.
In his early years, Bob Dylan was known as simply as a Folk- Rock artist, he got his start
in music while attending college at the University of Minnesota. He began playing at the local
bars around campus and eventually decided to move to New York to pursue music, where he

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took on the name Bob Dylan. The 1960s were a controversial time, with civil rights, and anti-war
movements, the people of the United States wanted to be heard and demanded change. This is
where Bob Dylans influence began, songs like The Times They Are A-Changin and Blowin
in the Wind became anthems for the movements of the 1960s.Blowin in the Wind was
especially influential because of its deliberate support of the civil rights movement of the time.
Bob Dylan became as popular and respected as he was because we wasnt scared to take a stand
and write about something that mattered. His expression through his music is what made him so
influential in the early 1960s. With a growing fan base and no sign of slowing down Bob Dylans
career continued to sky rocket into the mid-1960s.
In the mid-1960s Dylans lyrics developed from a social posture to lyrics that were more
expressive of his personal beliefs and feelings. Along with the change in lyrics came a change in
his musical style; instead of staying strict to his Folk Rock roots he branched out to more of a
rock and roll sound to back his new lyrics with albums like Blonde on Blonde, Bringing it all
back home and Highway 61 revisited. In the book The Bob Dylan Albums: A Critical Study
Anthony Varesi says this about this milestone of Bob Dylans career; By employing backing
musicians, Dylan took these songs and charged them to a rock beat, leaving the rest of the world
scrambling to catch up (14). It was at this period of his career that he separated himself from
just another Folk artist to musician that was lyrically and musically marvelous. At the Newport
folk festival in 1965 he was famously booed off the stage for playing his songs electrically
instead of in acoustic. He had an appetite to explore a different part of his musical soul and share
it with the world; his success in doing so it what makes Bob Dylan so influential. Even though
the traditional folk artist fans didnt embrace his new work the rest of the music world did, not
only did they embrace it, they applauded his originality and envied his lyrical ability.

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In 1966 Dylan spent several months in the hospital due to a motorcycle crash. In the
years following Dylan began again to explore new genres of music with his albums Nashville
Skyline and The Basement tapes. The albums brought more of a country and rustic feel to his
music but were wildly successful albums. Throughout the rest of his career he would never
change musical styles as quickly and seamlessly as he did in the 60s. The 1960s were the decade
that put Bob Dylan on the map as the artist he was, it was the decade that put his music on
display for other musicians to place on the pedestal that holds one of a kind music that can never
be replicated, only praised and admired. He truly changed the way music was made during this
time period.
In 1975 Bob Dylans first number one record, Planet Waves was released. Not long
after were two more number on albums Blood on the Tracks and Desire, these tracks
launched into stardom and into the spotlight of Rock and Roll music. In 1979 Dylan reinvented
his faith and solidified himself as a Christian. With the Reinvention of his faith he earned his
first Grammy award with the album Slow Train Coming (Bob Dylan). During the 1980s Dylan
began to spend less time recording and more time touring with other renowned artists.
After nearly a decade of touring, in 1989 Bob Dylan was elected into the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame. When Dylan was elected into the Rock and Roll hall of fame Bruce Springsteen
spoke at his ceremony, he had this to say: He invented a new way a pop singer could sound,
broke through the limitations of what a recording artist could achieve, and changed the face of
rock and roll forever (Bob Dylan). Still making music today with his latest album being
released in 2012. Although he may be older his music is an instant classic to a die-hard Bob

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Dylan fan. Anybody who has listened to a good deal of his music can attest that there is a little
bit of Dylan in every song that comes on.

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Works Cited
Varesi, Anthony. "The Bob Dylan Albums." Google Books. Guernica Editions, n.d. Web. 31 Jan.
2016.
"Bob Dylan Biography." Bio. Ed. Biography .com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 1 Feb.
2015.