Bob Dylan is considered to have had the biggest influence on popular music as a singer and songwriter the world has seen.
He was born Robert Allen Zimmerman on the 24th May 1941 in Duluth Minnesota but the family later moved to Hibbing also in Minnesota.
His father was an electrician and his mother a housewife. He enjoyed all types of music from folk, country, blues to rock and roll; he was involved in various bands at school. He moved to Minneapolis and went to the University of Minnesota but dropped out after a while. Music seems to have had more appeal and a greater pull.
He famously hitched hiked (he pointed out in an interview recently that in those days it was a normal thing to do and it was quite safe.) his way to New York as he wanted to see the folk singer Woody Guthrie who he was a fan of and was ill in hospital at the time.
He changed his name to Dylan supposedly after reading the Welsh Writer Dylan Thomas.
After visiting Guthrie he remained in the city supporting him self by playing in clubs. The word got out that he was worth seeing and having also been given a good review in the New York Times, he got the break he needed. The music producer John Hammond renowned for spotting and nurturing new talent signed him to the record company Columbia records.
His first album came out the following year in 1962. If Elvis had the voice Dylan had the words. His voice is one you either like or don't some would even proclaim that Dylan couldn't sing but his unique talent for writing songs was never questioned.
He was called a protest singer when he started out in the early sixties where he stood up for civil rights. But quite honestly all he was doing was writing and singing about the important things that matter in life. His songs were not simply about love, sadness, happiness but death, injustice and heartbreak.
He doesn't seem to have done things to form he did what suited him. He went on protest marches then suddenly stopped going on them altogether. He was a folk singer but that didn't mean he had to stay with the acoustic style he went electric and despite the outrage at this people settled down and began to enjoy his music once more. He wrote Blowin' in the Wind in 1963 and Like a Rolling Stone in 1965 two of his most famous songs.
He married Sara Lownds in 1965 and although they were happy together for a few years and enjoyed having and raising four children together the marriage sadly didn't last and they divorced in 1977.
In 1986 he married his backing singer Carolyn Dennis they had a daughter but divorced in 1992.
Since April 2006 he has been doing Theme Time Radio Hour for XM Satellite Radio. He has had rave reviews. This is not surprising as he is fun, informative and plays some great music that is different. I love listening to his show it is unlike any other. Rather like Dylan himself it is totally unique.
Also in 2006 his album Modern Times got to number one in America and other countries. He became the oldest person still living to achieve this.
Bob Dylan has been called a poet, hailed as some kind of God and other over the top descriptions have come out during the years, which are often thrown out when someone is in procession of an incredible talent. But to keep it all in perspective and within reality he is quite simply a great songwriter.