The R. Neuwirth Folk Collection Blog: Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman) is arguably the most famous folk singer of all time, even though his status as a "folk singer" is up for debate. Dylan's first album, Bob Dylan, consisted of Dylan's versions of several folk songs, including "House of the Rising Sun" and "Man of Constant Sorrow", as well as one original composition, his tribute to Woody Guthrie, "Song To Woody", sold poorly when it was released in 1962. His breakthrough came with his second album, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, which included his first major hit, "Blowin' In The Wind". While folk music contributed a lot to Dylan's work, it was not until the 1990s when Dylan recorded another album of traditional music, 1992's Good As I Been To You and 1993's World Gone Wrong.

Originally from Hibbing, Minnesota, Dylan moved to Greenwich Village, and became part of the folk revival of the early 1960s. He became associated with major folk stars like Joan Baez, who he toured with, and Peter, Paul and Mary, who he shared a manager with, and who first made "Blowin' In The Wind" a hit. In 1965, Dylan stunned the crowd at the Newport Folk Festival (he had been a hit at the 1963 and 1964 festivals) by playing rock music on an electric guitar, a move that was seen as a betrayal of the folk music community and ideals by many in the crowd.