Chapter
1. The Polar Music Prize Ceremony
2. From Hibbing to New York
3. From acoustic to electric
4. The Band
5. A period of searching
6. A return to folk roots
7. The Dylan Repertoire
8. Tributes
9. A New Millenium
10. Editor's note
2000 Laureate

BobDylan

Bob Dylan's influence as a singer-songwriter on the development of 20th century popular music is indisputable. His achievements encompass over five decades of constantly changing modes of creativity, and exhibit continual innovation, while remaining firmly rooted in American musical traditions. Bob Dylan’s ability to combine poetry, harmony and melody in a meaningful, often provocative context, has captivated millions across all age groups, cultures and societies. Through his modest and persuasive approach to music, he has demonstrated an impressive ability to question the most determined political forces, to fight all forms of prejudice, and to offer unflinching support for the less fortunate.

Chapters

The Laureates of 2000: Bob Dylan and Isaac Stern.

Stockholm, May 2000

The 9th Polar Music Prize was awarded to Bob Dylan and violinist Isaac Stern. Bob Dylan attended the Ceremony in Stockholm and received his prize from HM King Carl XVI Gustaf, which was quite unusual as Bob Dylan rarely attends ceremonies.

The ceremony was held at Berwaldhallen in Stockholm with international guest star Bryan Ferry performing, alongside Swedish artists Louise Hoffsten and Sophie Zelmani, among others.

The citation for Bob Dylan was read by H.R.H. Princess Christina.

Bob Dylan with the Polar Music Prize diploma. (Source: © Polar Music Prize)

Bryan Ferry interviewed before performing at the 2000 Polar Music Prize Ceremony.

Bob Dylan, HM King Carl XVI Gustaf and Isaac Stern on stage at Berwaldhallen.
H.R.H. Princess Christina reads the official citation, and H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf presents Bob Dylan with the 2000 Polar Music Prize.
Bryan Ferry performs "Falling In Love Again" by Hollander/Connolly and Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall".
Louise Hoffsten performing Bob Dylan's "What Good Am I" at the 2000 Polar Music Prize Ceremony.
Swedish singer Sophie Zelmani performing Bob Dylan's "Most of the Time" at the 2000 Polar Music Prize Banquet at Grand Hôtel, Stockholm.

From Hibbing to New York

Bob Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Duluth, Minnesota on May 24, 1941. Growing up in Hibbing, Minnesota from age 6, the young Dylan had an early interest in music, listening avidly to blues, country and rock & roll on the radio and eventually taking up piano, guitar and harmonica. In high school he formed The Golden Chords and played covers of Little Richard and other popular songs of the time at local gigs. In 1959 he moved to Minneapolis where he enrolled at the arts college of the University of Minnesota. It was during these years that his interest in American folk music grew and he began to perform solo at coffeehouses under the name Bob Dylan.

Bob Dylan and Joan Baez during the Civil Rights March in Washington, D.C. on August 28, 1963. (Source: Photo by Rowland Scherman, via Wikimedia Commons)

In January 1961 he moved to New York City, where he began performing around Greenwich Village. It was at a concert at Gerde’s Folk City in September of that year that Dylan got his break after a positive review of the gig by New York Times' critic Robert Shelton. It led Columbia A&R man John Hammond to sign Dylan and produce his first album, which was released in March 1962.

Bob Dylan’s first album was comprised almost entirely of folk and blues standards and included only two originals. Over the course of 1962 he began writing more original material, and stirred up the Greenwich Village folk scene with his caustic humor and gift for writing political protest songs.

First album "Bob Dylan", 1962.

The culmination of this period of songwriting was 1963's The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan; the album made a huge impact on the American folk scene with many performers covering Dylan’s songs. The most significant were Peter, Paul and Mary, whose version of “Blowin’ in the Wind” became a hit in the summer of 1963. It was not long before Bob Dylan had made a name for himself, and by 1964 he was playing 200 concerts a year.

Album cover, "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan", 1963

He released The Times They Are A-Changin’ in 1964, an album that mixed protest songs with more personal lyrics. Later that year he was introduced to Roger McGuinn from The Byrds to whom he gave “Mr Tambourine Man” – the song went on to become the band’s first hit in 1965, kicking off folk rock.

Bob Dylan performing "Mr. Tambourine Man" at the Newport Folk Festival, 1964.

The Byrds make their national television debut performing Dylan's song "Mr Tambourine Man," May 11, 1965.

"Elvis freed your body, Bob freed your mind"

Bruce Springsteen, 2008

From acoustic to electric

Dylan took a new turn in going over to electric guitar and instruments with "Like a rolling stone" and the Highway 61 revisited album in 1965. The first in many radical changes throughout his career.



"When I was a kid, Bob's voice somehow – it thrilled and scared me. It made me feel kind of irresponsibly innocent. And it still does. But it reached down and touched what little worldliness I think a 15-year-old kid, in high school, in New Jersey had in him at the time. Dylan was - he was a revolutionary, man, the way that Elvis freed your body, Bob freed your mind. And he showed us that just because the music was innately physical, it did not mean that it was anti-intellect. He had the vision and the talent to expand a pop song until it contained the whole world. He invented a new way a pop singer could sound. He broke through the limitations of what a recording artist could achieve, and he changed the face of rock and roll forever and ever."

– Bruce Springsteen speaking at the induction of Bob Dylan to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Album cover "Highway 61 revisited", 1965

Album cover, "Blonde on Blonde", 1966

Bob Dylan's 60s

The Band

In 1965 Bob Dylan hired The Hawks as his touring band. The Hawks changed their name to The Band in 1968 and would go on to become Dylan’s most famous backing band, primarily because of their intuitive chemistry and “wild thin mercury sound.” His albums through the late '60s and early '70s, however, were more country and folk influenced – to many people’s surprise.

1975’s Blood on the Tracks was hailed as a return to form by critics, and in the fall Dylan launched "The Rolling Thunder Revue tour" with an extensive list of supporting musicians, including Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Arlo Guthrie, Mick Ronson, Roger McGuinn and poet Allen Ginsberg. In the fall of 1976, he appeared in The Band’s farewell concert, The Last Waltz, which was filmed by Martin Scorsese.

"Big Pink," home of The Band in late '60s. It was to the basement of this house in West Saugerties, near Woodstock in the state of New York that Bob Dylan retreated to in 1967 to write songs. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Ticket stub from the Rolling Thunder Revue at the University of Southern Mississippi, May 1, 1976. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Bob Dylan and The Band touring in Chicago, 1974. Left to right: Rick Danko (bass), Robbie Robertson (guitar), Bob Dylan (guitar) and Levon Helm (drums). (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Bob Dylan, 1970s

A period of searching

In 1979 Dylan announced that he was a born-again Christian and released a series of albums: Slow Train Coming (1979), Saved (1980) and Shot of Love (1981) – with a strong Christian message.

He returned to more secular recordings with Infidels in 1983, a much appreciated album from this period, and Empire Burlesque in 1985, a mix of dance tracks and rock & roll.

In 1986 he hit the road with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and in 1987 with the Grateful Dead. It could be said that the ‘80s were a period of searching for Dylan.

Together with George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty, Dylan co-founded The Traveling Wilburys in 1988, who released two successful studio albums.

Album cover, "Shot Of Love", 1980 (Source: Sony Music Entertainment)

Album cover, "Infidels", 1983 (Source: Sony Music Entertainment)

Original music video for Traveling Wilburys' "Handle With Care," 1988

In 1989 Dylan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and later that year he released what would be his best received album during the 1980s – Oh Mercy. Produced by Daniel Lanois in New Orleans, the album was a coherent collection of songs that showcased a reenergized and engaged Dylan.

The house on Soniat Street, New Orleans, where Bob Dylan recorded the album "Oh Mercy" in April 1989. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Album cover "Oh Mercy". 1989 (Source: Sony Music)

Bob Dylan, 1979-1989

The 30th anniversary

After the creative success of Oh Mercy, Dylan’s time during the '90s was divided between live concerts, painting and studio projects.

October 1992 marked the 30th anniversary of Bob Dylan’s first album, and Columbia marked it with “Bobfest,” an all-star concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden featuring more than 30 artists, including Neil Young, Tom Petty, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Johnny Cash, Lou Reed and Dylan himself.

Broadcast live on pay-per-view, it was released as an album and video the following year.




A return to folk roots

As if to bring his career full circle, Dylan then recorded two solo guitar and vocal albums of traditional folk songs and covers: Good As I Been To You (1992) and World Gone Wrong (1993).

The live album from the 30th anniversary concert

Bob Dylan live at Bar Opinião in Porto Alegre, Brazil, April 7, 1998.  (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Original music video for Bob Dylan's "Blood In My Eyes For You," 1993
Peter, Paul and Mary at the Civil Rights March on Washington D.C., August 28, 1963. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

The Dylan Repertoire

Other artists’ covers and interpretations of his songs have always been an important part of Bob Dylan’s musical career – not only for spreading his music far and wide, but also for helping audiences discover Bob Dylan the artist. After his breakthrough in 1963-64, the hundreds and subsequently thousands of Bob Dylan covers are evidence of both the originality and the universality of his songs – not to mention his renown among other musicians and artists. In the Spotify list to the left you will find some of the best known and most important covers, as well as some of the lesser known.

Bob Dylan covers

Jimi Hendrix recorded "All Along the Watchtower" in January 1968, only three months after Dylan recorded the original. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

"Master poet, caustic social critic and intrepid, guiding spirit of the counterculture generation."
– Time Magazine

"He so enlarged himself through the folk background that he incorporated it for a while. He defined the genre for a while.” – Paul Simon

“He’s laid down the template for lyric, tune, seriousness, spirituality, depth of rock music.”
– Joe Strummer

“The people I revered in the late ‘60s´and the early ‘70s, their motivation was to do great work and great works creates revolution. The motivation of Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan or The Who wasn’t marketing, to get rich, or be a celebrity.”
– Patti Smith

“They asked me what effect Bob Dylan had on me. That’s like asking how I was influenced by being born.”
– Pete Townshend

New Millenium, New Success

In a way Bob Dylan’s new millennium started already in 1997. That year he released Time Out of Mind, his first album of original material in seven years. It received his strongest reviews in years, debuted in the Top Ten and received platinum certification. It sparked a revival of interest in Dylan, who appeared on the cover of Newsweek and began selling out concerts again. The album received three Grammy Awards for Album of the Year, Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Male Rock Vocal.

"Time Out Of Mind", 1997.

Soundtrack, Literature & the Arts

In 2001 he won his first Oscar for the song “Things Have Changed” in the film Wonder Boys. Later that year he released another new album of original material, Love and Theft, recorded with his touring band and produced by himself under the pseudonym Jack Frost. The album featured a wide array of genre influences, including rockabilly, Western swing, jazz and even lounge ballads, and was a success with critics. In the decade that followed, Dylan kept as artistically busy as ever: he wrote screenplays and an autobiography, acted, painted, hosted some 100 radio shows, and released two more studio albums – Modern Time (2006) and Together Through Life (2009).

"Man on a bridge" - Painting by Bob Dylan from The Complete Collection 2008 (Source: © Bob Dylan)

The new millennium, Bob Dylan’s fifth and sixth decade as an artist, has proven to be the most intense and creatively diverse period of his whole career. The Never-Ending Tour he started in 1988 keeps going. He has re-invented old material, recorded new studio albums, released live records, and continued painting and writing at a level of productivity we have not seen for a long time, if ever. In 2009 he even recorded a traditional Christmas album, Christmas in the Heart, with standards like “Little Drummer Boy” and “Here Comes Santa Claus.”

"Christmas In The Heart", 2009

Bob Dylan performing "The Times They Are A-Changin'" at the White House during a celebration of music from the Civil Rights Movement, February 9, 2010.

Bob Dylan saluting Michelle and Barack Obama at the celebration of music from the Civil Rights Movement, February 9, 2010. (Source: Photo by Pete Souza, via Wikimedia Commons)

Proceeds from the album were donated to various charities around the world. In 2011 Dylan’s label, Egyptian Records, released an album of previously unheard Hank Williams songs – The Lost Notebook of Hank Williams. Dylan helped curate the project, in which songs unfinished when Williams died in 1953 were completed and recorded by a variety of artists, including Dylan himself. On September 11, 2012, Dylan released Tempest, his 35th studio album since the debut in 1962.

Album cover, "Tempest", 2012 (Source: Sony Music Entertainment)

Content of biography is presented here as it was published in 2012.

Bob Dylan has since 2012 pursued his career, released more albums and received other awards, notably the Nobel Prize in Literature 2016. Polar Music Prize Laureate Patti Smith read the Nobel Prize citation and performed at the Nobel Ceremony, which Bob Dylan chose not to attend.

All picture from the ceremony and banquet: © Polar Music Prize.

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