Bob Dylan - a singer, composer, painter and poet

It is virtually impossible to contemplate today's music without paying homage to Bob Dylan. While there have been many famous singers and songwriters, few have had such an impact on music as Dylan. For this reason, it is good to know something about the man and how he changed the face of music.



Dylan was born on May 24, 1941. His real name was Robert Allen Zimmerman which he changed to Bob Dylan. In addition to being a very successful singer and composer, he is also known for his skills as a painter and poet. His work has spanned more than five decades, with much of his most popular work being done back in the 60s when he first came upon the music scene in New York.

In the early days, Dylan focused on what some might call "protest" songs. Of note in this genre were the songs "Blowin in the Wind" and "The Times They Are A Changin'". It wasn't until 1965 or so that he began to churn out music that was more pop related, and many of his earlier fans were not happy about that, thinking he had abandoned his roots.

One thing remained constant with Dylan however, and that was that his lyrics always contained a sense of rebellion and usually went against what was considered conventional at the time. Some of the artists that he noted as having influenced him were Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie, Little Richard and Robert Johnson.

In general Dylan prefers to perform with acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards, and harmonica. While he has recorded and performed with many back up bands, he is most noted for playing with a group of musicians aptly named "The Band".

In terms of his songwriter skills, many very well known bands have played his music, with many of these songs hitting top spots in both radio play and sales. Just two of his many songs that other performers saw success with were "House of the Rising Sun" and "Tamborine Man". Each of these songs hit top levels and are still considered some of the best pop songs ever produced.

For many of those who love Dylan, his singing was the turning point for them. Dylan proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that a performer did not have to have what most considered to be a "good" singing voice. His voice is raspy and, at times, hard to understand. But his ability to interject emotion into his songs set him apart from many of his fellow artists. This is just as true today as it was decades ago. Many people consider his style of singing (and voice) to be truly unique in the world of music.

Bob Dylan has amassed a huge inventory of songs over the years. One of the best ways to learn more about this important artist is to listen to his music, starting with his early career and moving along Dylan's timeline as his style changed. His music is still as popular today as it ever was and is easy to locate both online and off.