Bob Dylan Biography

Robert Allen Zimmerman, known as Bob Dylan, is an American singer, songwriter, painter and writer. While his career expands over more than five decades, he has made the most impact in the 60s, with emblematic songs about the social and political issues that his country faced. However, he also left a mark on popular music, with songs such as 1965’s Like a Rolling Stone. Furthermore, he managed to keep up with the musical trends and still releases

Musical Highlights 

Bob Dylan released his self-titled debut album in 1962. One year later, he made his commercial breakthrough with the platinum-certified The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, which peaked at number 1 in the UK. Furthermore, the 1964 album, The Times They Are A-Changin’, spawned the hit title singles and highlighted an improvement in Dylan’s songwriting. His sound turned more to rock & roll, during the “British Invasion” when he released Bringing It All Back Home. Additionally, it started a series of 5 platinum-certified releases.

Moreover, the next album, Highway 61, presented a more mainstream Dylan. The lead single, Like a Rolling Stone, made Dylan a true star and became one his most recognised songs. Following up on that success, in 1966 Dylan came out with Blonde on Blonde. The album and several tracks made it into various “best of” lists, including Rolling Stone‘s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Transition & Recent Years

In the mid-70s, Dylan astonished the world with Blood on the Tracks. It turned out to be one of the artist’s best-selling to date and entered the Grammy Hall of Fame. Moreover, it spawned the popular single Tangled Up in Blue. 1976’s Desire also made a big impact, topping the Pop Billboard and making the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.

During the 80s and 90s, Bob Dylan struggled with his musical identity. He did, however, release the triple-Grammy-winner Time Out of Mind, in 1997. Still, he fully recovered in 2006, with the release of Modern Times, another number 1 album. Not only did the record enter the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, but it gathered critical acclaim for all over the world. Most recent, the folk legend released his 38th studio album, Triplicate, a 3-part traditional pop composition.

Awards, Achievements & Other Endeavours

Overall, Bob Dylan sold more than 100 million albums. He is the proud owner of no less than Eleven Grammy Awards, but also a Golden Globe and an Academy Award. Furthermore, he entered several Halls of Fame. Most recently, he received a Nobel Prize in Literature “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”. In 1990, he was declared a “Commandeur dans l’Ordre des Art et des Lettres.”Additionally, Dylan is an acclaimed painter, whose work can be admired in major art galleries and in his seven published books.

Photo source: Discogs