Bob Dylan Biography

Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May
24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, author, musician, poet, and, of
late, disc jockey who has been a major figure in popular music for five
decades. Much of Dylan's most celebrated work dates from the 1960s,
when he became an informal chronicler and a reluctant figurehead of
American unrest. A number of his songs, such as "Blowin' in the Wind"
and "The Times They Are a-Changin'", became anthems of the anti-war and
civil rights movements. His most recent studio album, Modern Times,
released on August 29, 2006, entered the U.S. album charts at #1, making
him, at age 65, the oldest living person to top those charts. It was later
named Album of the Year by Rolling Stone magazine.



Dylan's
early lyrics incorporated politics, social commentary, philosophy and
literary influences, defying existing pop music conventions and appealing
widely to the counterculture of the time. While expanding and personalizing
musical styles, he has shown steadfast devotion to many traditions of
American song, from folk and country/blues to gospel, rock and roll and
rockabilly, to English, Scottish and Irish folk music, even jazz and
swing.



Dylan performs with the guitar, keyboard and harmonica.
Backed by a changing lineup of musicians, he has toured steadily since the
late 1980s on what has been dubbed the "Never Ending Tour". He has also
performed alongside other major artists, such as John Fogerty, The Band,
Tom Petty, Joan Baez, George Harrison, The Grateful Dead, Johnny Cash,
Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, Patti Smith, Emmylou Harris, Bruce
Springsteen, U2, The Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Jack White, Merle
Haggard, Jeff Lynne, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Ringo Starr and Stevie
Nicks. Although his accomplishments as performer and recording artist have
been central to his career, his songwriting is generally regarded as his
greatest contribution.



Over many years, Dylan has been
recognized and honored for his songwriting, performing, and recording. His
records have earned Grammy, Golden Globe, and Academy Awards, and he has
been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriters
Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 1999, Dylan was included in
TIME Magazine's 100 most influential people of the 20th century, and
2004, he was ranked #2 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of "Greatest
Artists of All Time", second only to The Beatles.[7] In January 1990, Dylan
was made a Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres by French Minister of Culture
Jack Lang; in 2000, he was awarded the Polar Music Prize by the Royal
Swedish Academy of Music; and in 2007, Dylan was awarded the Prince of
Asturias Award in Arts. He has been nominated several times for the Nobel
Prize in Literature.



For a complete list of awards won by Bob
Dylan, see List of Bob Dylan awards and accolades.