Bob Dylan: A Legend
"An artist inoculates his world with disillusionment," said the
infamous writer, Henry Miller. Robert Allen Zimmerman, grandchild of
Welsh-Jewish immigrants, was born on May 24, 1941 in Hibbing,
Minnesota, near Duluth. About fifteen years later, he took on the name
Bob Dylan unknowingly stamping himself and his name in folk music
history forever.
Dylan began writing poetry and song lyrics at a young age and came to
the name of Bob Dylan after the poet Dylan Thomas. In 1959, Dylan
attended the University of Minnesota emphasizing folk music but soon
dropped his education to pursue his interest in music, his obsessions
with Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis. (www.top-success.com.) Dylan
apparently started three prior bands to his own, "The Gaden Chords,"
"Elston Gunn," and "His Rock Boppers."
At eighteen, Dylan was eager to join Little Richard and soon followed
his heart straight on into New York City. By the beginning of the year
1961, he was renowned throughout Greenwich Village, the artist
district of New York City, to play at coffeehouses throughout the
area. (www.angelfire.com.) He could impressively learn songs simply by
hearing them once, and soon, offers came flying from small nightspots
such as "Ten Scholar Café" and "St. Paul's Purple Onion Pizza Parlor."
After local hearings and his simplistic way of playing the harmonica
from albums from Harry Belafonte and Carolyn Hester, he was auditioned
by John Hatmond in 1961 and eventually signed to Columbia Records.
At the March of 1963 in Washington, D.C., Dylan voiced his opinion on
the issues of civil rights in America by the power and magic of song.
...
... middle of paper ...
...evity. Bob Dylan sums
himself and his thoughts and his religion up by saying, "After all, an
artist is a seeker of truth. When an artist believes he has found the
truth, the art suffers." He knows he has a lot figured out. He knows
he stands as a legend. But he knows there is more to it than just
singing poetry from generation to generation to generation.
WORKS CITED:
Yudelson, Larry. "Dylan: Tangled Up In Jews." Washington Jewish Week.Online
http://www.radiohazak.com/Tangled.html
"Israel's Wars and Dylan's Muse." Dylan and the Jews.
http://www.radiohazak.com/Peace.html
"Bob Dylan at 60."
http://www.angelfire.com/oh2/writer/bobdylanat60.html
"Bob Dylan - Top Success Story."
http://www.top-success.com/SFS/BobDylan/index.html
Another Side of Bob Dylan. Poetry in album slip. Columbia Records.
Herb Brooks was an incredible leader. He was a coach with a vision, a vision that led a group of college kids to beat Russia, considered one of the greatest sports momen...
The music industry during the 1940s was filled with many talented artists who impacted the music industry and the history of rock n’ roll forever. But one of the very well known and talented artists was Buddy Holly. Buddy Holly was the first to pioneer new music genres and progressive music. Charles Hardin Holley (1936-1959) was an American musician and artist whose creative career began in 1956. The family name is correctly spelled “Holley” but his first recording contract from Decca Records in 1956 spelled his last name “Holly” and he kept it that way for the rest of his career (Griggs 1). Holly took a very influential position in the music industry and built an audience for his Rock and Roll music very quickly due to his unique voice and advanced knowledge of music. Buddy Holly is a prime example of a musical pioneer who blended resources from various music genres including a variety of popular genres such as rhythm and blues (RNB), oriental, and African (Schinder and Schwartz 85).
The music of jazz became an important aspect of American culture in the early 20th century. The crisp syncopation of ragtime and the smooth tunes of the blues seeped into American mainstream music through dance halls and saloons and later through ballrooms. Instruments like the piano, trumpet, trombone and clarinet became important and symbolized the “swing-feel” of jazz because of their capability to syncopate and improvise precisely. With the help of the booming recording industry, musical geniuses were discovered and their talent and contributions to the emergence of jazz spread throughout the entire country. Such musicians include composer, arranger and pianist Jelly Roll Morton who heavily influenced the development of early jazz by his unique piano style, his “invention” of musical notation for jazz, and his compositions that have become the core in the jazz repertory. Because the style was new and different and so successful in drawing in large audiences, musicians around the world tried to mimic it. Furthermore, Morton’s masterpieces were the first to show notation for complicated jazz music and thus, formed the basis for standard notation in jazz compositions today.
American singer-songwriter and folk musician Bob Dylan describes in his autobiography, as well as his life and music in general, the ambiguity of folk songs and their ability to be openly shared, interpreted, and even fabricated, and he believes that human nature is such that we are most comfortable with this opacity. The work of African American artist Kara Walker reinforces this belief, and applies it to history with the exploration of cultural ideas regarding race, sexuality, identity, gender roles, repression, and violence.
The Life of Billy Joel Billy Joel was born on May 9, 1949 in Bronx, New York. He moved at the age of four to a small town on Long Island. This is where at the ripe age of four he discovered the art of music. Originally a classical music fan, Billy Joel honed his skills with classical piano training. This undoubtedly has had a major influence on his life and certainly his music.
Johnny Cash was widely regarded as the most influential songwriter of the 20th century, known as “The Man in Black,” was admired for his emotional honesty of balladry, anarchy of rock ‘n’ roll, and love struck country music. He was one of the country’s biggest stars in the 1950’s and 60’s with 100 hit singles orchestrated. Cash was born and raised in Kingsland, Arkansas where both his parents were landowners. Poverty did not stop Cash; he wrote songs since the age of twelve and preformed on KLCN radio station in Blytheville, Arkansas, 1950. Nine years later, Cash got signed by Colombia Records and made his first hit single, “Don’t Take Your Guns To Towns,” where it reached the country’s top chart. Cash also overlooked the death of his brother to influence himself and become the legend he is known today. Johnny Cash’s fame reached a point in which the obstacles became too difficult to handle causing his downfall, but various events allowed his life to get back on track.
At the start of this class, I did not think that I would learn as much as I did. Just last night my wife and I were watching “The Voice” and someone was singing “I’ll Be There.” I told her that was a song by The Jackson 5. She disagreed with me and told me that Mariah Carey had sung that song. I looked it up and we were both right. I went onto tell her that I was more right because The Jackson 5 sang it first. It got me thinking about this class and how I catch myself thinking about the history of songs whenever I hear them on the radio or in a movie.
Bob Dylan’s “Blowing’ in the wind” was considered to be a civil rights national anthem, a more folky spin on Sam Cooke’s “ A change is gonna come” The asking of open ended questions made the song catchy and relatable to the era’s racially charged demeanors. According to the 1976 issue of Christianity Today magazine “Early in his career Dylan wrote many finger-pointing songs about man's inhumanity to man. He sang out against racial prejudice, hatred, and war. Freedom and sin are major themes in a number of Dylan's songs. "With God on Our Side" (1963) is a satirical justification of war. In "Masters of War" (1963) he lashes out at the war profiteers who make money from young men's lives. Bob Dylan was ultimately considered to be an unauthenticated front man for the civil war, Dylan touched on humanitarian aspects such as racism, poverty, corruption and the war. “Me, I don’t want to write for people anymore – you know, be a spokesman. From now on, I want to write from inside me …I’m not part of no movement… I just can’t make it with any organization”(Dylan, 1964)
Some people are born to become legends, Bruce Springsteen is one of them. From the second he was born and through his younger years everyone knew he was destined for something bigger than a regular nine to five life, they just didn’t realize the magnitude of what was to come. Born into a all around food middle-class family, no on in that house hold even Bruce, didn’t realize that within fifty years he would reach living legend status. Also have a title of one of the best musicians to every live. After working hard at what he loves, Bruce has become known as a musical hero and inspiration to his fans and fellow musicians. With his deep lyrics, amazing stage presence, incredible guitar skills, and his passion, he is an untouchable force in the music industry. Using his lyrics to vent his emotions and past, but to also add awareness to social issues around the world. Bruce and his love for music affected him his whole life, and has shaped into what he is today. His music now affects the world. His music has truly changed the world (musically and socially) forever.
the bars and be gone for hours at a time, leaving his worried wife and
Bob Dylan is an important icon whose music continues to influence rock music even six decades later, despite after several top forty hits, not one being a number one hit. His music has inspired many iconic musicians like Johnny Cash and The Grateful Dead (nj101.com) . What Bob Dylan brought to rock music back in the sixties can be heard in today’s music.
Scott Joplin was know as the kings of ragtime. I will explain also explain how he grew up and what type of music he played. I will also write about why I believe he deserves the title that he has been bestowed upon him.
As a child Dylan was comfortable being the center of attention, often writing creative poetry for his mother and on occasion singing. Dylan had no formal music lessons, but none the less he began to compose. Later at age 14, he took up the guitar and shortly after formed a band, one of many he played the guitar in. Always plunging ahead, performing to his up most potentional, Dylan absorbed his surroundings as a source of inspiration. Even during his early efforts Dylan responded very positivly to mainstream musicians, such as country star Hank Williams. Yet, he responded especially well to early rock stars such as Little Richard, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis. In the summer of 1959, after graduation Dylan began to work at a cafe, where he began to pay increasing attention to folksingers such as Judy Collins and Jesse Fuller. Finding an instant connection with their songs, songs relevant to social issues. Dylan was drawn into both the musical style and the social message of these indivisuals.
Have you ever wanted to know about a famous West Virginian? West Virginia has a rich amount of history of music. It has Appalachian folk music, styles of fiddling, and ballad singing. Many of West Virginians love country music; one of the many country singers is Brad Paisley. Brad Paisley is one of the biggest country singers today. Brad paisley always loved country music. He has been playing guitar since eight years old.
For my final map presentation I wanted to introduce a topic that interests me, along with my audience. I am a huge Bruce Springsteen fan, and with growing up in Jersey and along the shore I can only hope that everyone knows of him, about him, or even a few songs of his. Springsteen is legendary for his popularity, beautifully written and performed songs, and his three and half hour long concerts. I have been obsessed with him now for about 5 years and I could not pass up the opportunity to do some research and present a project involving him. I decided to make a map showing where Springsteen played for the first half of his last tour in the Untied States and everywhere he performed at.