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[[File:Bob Dylan WM.jpg|right|200px]]

[[File:Bob Dylan WM.jpg|right|200px]]

'''Bob Dylan''' (born '''Robert Allen Zimmerman''') (b. May 24, 1941) is considered the greatest songwriter ever,<ref>https://www.rollingstone.com/interactive/lists-100-greatest-songwriters/#bob-dylan</ref> and as a singer is known for his nasally vocals and harmonica playing. He is one of the towering figures of 20th century popular music. He was also an influential figure in 1960's [[counter-culture]].<ref>http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19789/m1/</ref>  He is by far the most-cited songwriter in American judicial opinions, as in his lyric "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows."<ref>from "Subterranean Homesick Blues", on ''Bringing it All Back Home'' (Columbia 1965), this lyric is cited by courts as a guide when an expert is not required in litigation.  ''See, e.g.'', ''Ball v. Posey'', 176 Cal. App. 3d 1209, 1215, 222 Cal. Rptr. 746, 749 (1986).  At the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] level, Justice [[Antonin Scalia]] once copied a line of Bob Dylan's lyrics without attributing credit to him.</ref>

'''Bob Dylan''' (born '''Robert Allen Zimmerman''') (b. May 24, 1941) is considered the greatest songwriter ever,<ref>https://www.rollingstone.com/interactive/lists-100-greatest-songwriters/#bob-dylan</ref> and as a singer is known for his nasal vocals and harmonica playing. He is one of the towering figures of 20th-century popular music. He was also an influential figure in 1960's [[counter-culture]].<ref>http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19789/m1/</ref>  He is by far the most-cited songwriter in American judicial opinions, as in his lyric "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows."<ref>from "Subterranean Homesick Blues", on ''Bringing it All Back Home'' (Columbia 1965), this lyric is cited by courts as a guide when an expert is not required in litigation.  ''See, e.g.'', ''Ball v. Posey'', 176 Cal. App. 3d 1209, 1215, 222 Cal. Rptr. 746, 749 (1986).  At the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] level, Justice [[Antonin Scalia]] once copied a line of Bob Dylan's lyrics without attributing credit to him.</ref>

Dylan, a convert to [[Christianity]], has affected music and culture for five decades.  He won the [[Nobel Prize]] in literature in 2016, and ''Rolling Stones'' greatest songwriter poll by a landslide.<ref>https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/rolling-stone-readers-pick-the-top-10-songwriters-of-all-time-11059/10-elton-john-bernie-taupin-14838/</ref>

Dylan, a convert to [[Christianity]], has affected music and culture for five decades.  He won the [[Nobel Prize]] in literature in 2016, and ''Rolling Stones'' greatest songwriter poll by a landslide.<ref>https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/rolling-stone-readers-pick-the-top-10-songwriters-of-all-time-11059/10-elton-john-bernie-taupin-14838/</ref>

In 1979, '''''after''''' his conversion to [[Christianity]], Dylan included the following lyrics in one of his most famous songs, "Gotta Serve Somebody":<ref>This song sparked a fairly comical response song by [[John Lennon]] emphasizing what he felt to be a prerequisite for serving others called "Serve Yourself".<br>

In 1979, '''''after''''' his conversion to [[Christianity]], Dylan included the following lyrics in one of his most famous songs, "Gotta Serve Somebody":<ref>This song sparked a fairly comical response song by [[John Lennon]] emphasizing what he felt to be a prerequisite for serving others called "Serve Yourself".<br>

Lennon shaped the song for possible inclusion on an album, but never got past playing varying versions of it solo on the piano.  This is a normal practice in the music industry, a practice that, in addition to developing a version with the right feel for the song (called a "demo"), records nuances of the song that appear in this development to ensure they are not forgotten.  At least one version's lyrics included the phrase, "don't forget to serve yourself", indicating the song was aimed at people already serving others (surely including some in obedience to God)—even to the point of forgetting their own needs.</ref>

Lennon shaped the song for possible inclusion on an album, but never got past playing varying versions of it solo on the piano.  This is a normal practice in the music industry, a practice that, in addition to developing a version with the right feel for the song (called a "demo"), records nuances of the song that appear in this development to ensure they are not forgotten.  At least one version's lyrics included the phrase, "don't forget to serve yourself," indicating the song was aimed at people already serving others (surely including some in obedience to God)—even to the point of forgetting their own needs.</ref>

::But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes

::But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes

::Indeed you're gonna have to serve somebody

::Indeed you're gonna have to serve somebody

Born Robert Zimmerman in [[Duluth]], [[Minnesota]], Dylan grew up in Hibbing, where by chance he was discovered to have musical abilities at a very early age.  When later in life he wanted to acknowledge his musical influences, he made a point to mention Christmas music while he was growing up.

Born Robert Zimmerman in [[Duluth]], [[Minnesota]], Dylan grew up in Hibbing, where by chance he was discovered to have musical abilities at a very early age.  When later in life he wanted to acknowledge his musical influences, he made a point to mention Christmas music while he was growing up.

Dylan also found emotional connection with the music of the rock and roll performers of that era.  [[Buddy Holly]] was the first broadly successful rock and roll singer whose public image wasn't managed to seem like a movie star, which gave Dylan and the Beatles likewise hope of success in forming their own bands.  While in high school he formed a series rock and roll bands that would break up each time when the lead singer would be recruited away to a musical act of their own.  During that time he attended a [[Buddy Holly]] concert where the singer's attention was drawn for a moment to the young man watching and learning from him near the stage.  Before leaving for college, Dylan had befriended a black disk jockey who shared his interest in rock and roll and from whom he was given access to the radio station's records.

Dylan also found an emotional connection with the music of the rock and roll performers of that era.  [[Buddy Holly]] was the first broadly successful rock-and-roll singer whose public image wasn't managed to seem like a movie star, which gave Dylan and the Beatles likewise hope of success in forming their own bands.  While in high school he formed a series of rock-and-roll bands that would break up each time when the lead singer would be recruited away to a musical act of their own.  During that time he attended a [[Buddy Holly]] concert where the singer's attention was drawn for a moment to the young man watching and learning from him near the stage.  Before leaving for college, Dylan had befriended a black disk jockey who shared his interest in rock and roll and from whom he was given access to the radio station's records.

Dylan left to attend the [[University of Minnesota]] in [[Minneapolis]].  It was there that he developed a deep interest in [[folk music]], listening to the recordings of artists such as Odetta and [[Woody Guthrie]]<ref> [http://www.faqs.org/faqs/music/american-pie/]</ref> a depth not matched by his decidedly mixed acquisition of skill in playing it. Bob Dylan's roots are in American folk music, with people like [[Pete Seeger]] and Woody Guthrie.

Dylan left to attend the [[University of Minnesota]] in [[Minneapolis]].  It was there that he developed a deep interest in [[folk music]], listening to the recordings of artists such as Odetta and [[Woody Guthrie]]<ref> [http://www.faqs.org/faqs/music/american-pie/]</ref> a depth not matched by his decidedly mixed acquisition of skill in playing it. Bob Dylan's roots are in American folk music, with people like [[Pete Seeger]] and Woody Guthrie.

In 1961, he dropped out of college and headed to [[New York City]], where he became part of the burgeoning folk music scene in [[Greenwich Village]] and eventually landed a contract with [[Columbia Records]], for whom he recorded during most of his career.  Dylan had written a number of original songs, and the music publisher with whom he signed recommended he seek to achieve the modest career goal of publishing a book of his folk songs.  This design motivated him to write and perfect his own songs and to write them whether or not they eventually appeared on an album.

In 1961, he dropped out of college and headed to [[New York City]], where he became part of the burgeoning folk music scene in [[Greenwich Village]] and eventually landed a contract with [[Columbia Records]], for whom he recorded during most of his career.  Dylan had written many original songs, and the music publisher with whom he signed recommended he seek to achieve the modest career goal of publishing a book of his folk songs.  This design motivated him to write and perfect his own songs and to write them whether or not they eventually appeared on an album.

His first four studio albums<ref>''Bob Dylan'' (1962); ''The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan'' (1963); ''The Times They Are a-Changin''' (1964); and ''Another Side of Bob Dylan'' (1964)</ref> established Dylan as a major voice within the developing protest counterculture of the early Sixties. It was ''Bringing It All Back Home'' (1965), however, that propelled him to international fame and stardom. To howls of protest from his devoted "folkie" fans, Dylan "plugged in" and the album's glorious fusion of electric guitars, driving rock rhythms and his unique lyrical style<ref>By turns surreal, poetic, visionary and political.</ref> set a benchmark to which all other artists aspired. He arguably never scaled these heights again, especially in terms of producing an album of such consistent quality and musical completeness. His next three albums<ref>''Highway 61 Revisited'' (1965); ''Blonde on Blonde'' (1966); and ''John Wesley Harding'' (1967)</ref> are rightly highly regarded, but after these his output became of increasingly variable quality and ''Blood On The Tracks'' (1975) is his last album from his classic period to be highly regarded by rock critics.

His first four studio albums<ref>''Bob Dylan'' (1962); ''The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan'' (1963); ''The Times They Are a-Changin''' (1964); and ''Another Side of Bob Dylan'' (1964)</ref> established Dylan as a major voice within the developing protest counterculture of the early Sixties. It was ''Bringing It All Back Home'' (1965), however, that propelled him to international fame and stardom. To howls of protest from his devoted "folkie" fans, Dylan "plugged in" and the album's glorious fusion of electric guitars, driving rock rhythms and his unique lyrical style<ref>By turns surreal, poetic, visionary and political.</ref> set a benchmark to which all other artists aspired. He arguably never scaled these heights again, especially in terms of producing an album of such consistent quality and musical completeness. His next three albums<ref>''Highway 61 Revisited'' (1965); ''Blonde on Blonde'' (1966); and ''John Wesley Harding'' (1967)</ref> are rightly highly regarded, but after these his output became of increasingly variable quality and ''Blood On The Tracks'' (1975) is his last album from his classic period to be highly regarded by rock critics.

== Christian Faith ==

== Christian Faith ==

In 1979, Bob Dylan surprised many by announcing he had accepted [[Jesus Christ]] as his personal savior.  Biblical references had never been missing from Dylan's lyrics.  His third album featured such lyrics as "and the first one now will later be last" as well as "and like Pharaoh's tribe they'll be drownded in the tide, and like Goliath they'll be conquered."  The album ''John Wesley Harding'' is suffused with Christian imagery, and a religious conversion is implied in several songs from ''Street Legal'', the album released in 1978.   

In 1979, Bob Dylan surprised many by announcing he had accepted [[Jesus Christ]] as his personal savior.  Biblical references had never been missing from Dylan's lyrics.  His third album featured such lyrics as "and the first one now will later be last" as well as "and like Pharaoh's tribe they'll be drownded in the tide, and like Goliath they'll be conquered."  The album ''John Wesley Harding'' is suffused with Christian imagery, and religious conversion is implied in several songs from ''Street Legal'', the album released in 1978.   

It was not until 1979, however, that Dylan made his conversion official by releasing an album of [[Gospel music]], ''Slow Train Coming''.  "Gotta Serve Somebody" became a hit single, and Dylan embarked on a tour in which many of his older, secular fans booed him while he attracted a new generation of Christian fans.  His next two albums, ''Saved'' (1980) and ''Shot of Love'' (1981) were also Gospel albums.   

It was not until 1979, however, that Dylan made his conversion official by releasing an album of [[Gospel music]], ''Slow Train Coming''.  "Gotta Serve Somebody" became a hit single, and Dylan embarked on a tour in which many of his older, secular fans booed him while he attracted a new generation of Christian fans.  His next two albums, ''Saved'' (1980) and ''Shot of Love'' (1981) were also Gospel albums.   

He has continued to release new material since, of varying quality and commercial success.

He has continued to release new material since, of varying quality and commercial success.

In 1997, he released the well-received album ''Time Out Of Mind''; a live performance of a song from the album at the 1998 Grammy Awards was interrupted by a [[liberal]] performance "artist". In 2004, he published the first volume of ''Chronicles'', his planned autobiography. Since 2005, he has had a weekly radio show on XM Radio called ''Theme Time Radio Hour'', and he chose the Bible as the theme of a recent show, playing songs by the Reverend J.M. Gates, Kitty Wells, and the Reverend Gary Davis. His 2009 album ''Together Through Life'' reached #1 on the pop music charts; at age 68, he is the oldest artist to have attained that mark. Later that year, he released an album of Christmas songs ''Christmas in the Heart'' which included a mix of religious hymns and secular tunes. He has stated that he is a true believer and able to sing the religious songs as such.<ref>http://www.bobdylan.com/cith-conversation</ref> He has opened many concerts in recent years, with a song about changing his way of thinking to follow [[Jesus]], including his 2011 concerts in [[Israel]], [[Vietnam]] and [[China]].<ref>http://notdarkyet.tripod.com/change.html</ref>

In 1997, he released the well-received album ''Time Out Of Mind''; a live performance of a song from the album at the 1998 Grammy Awards was interrupted by a [[liberal]] performance "artist". In 2004, he published the first volume of ''Chronicles'', his planned autobiography. Since 2005, he has had a weekly radio show on XM Radio called ''Theme Time Radio Hour'', and he chose the Bible as the theme of a recent show, playing songs by the Reverend J.M. Gates, Kitty Wells, and the Reverend Gary Davis. His 2009 album ''Together Through Life'' reached #1 on the pop music charts; at age 68, he is the oldest artist to have attained that mark. Later that year, he released an album of Christmas songs ''Christmas in the Heart'' which included a mix of religious hymns and secular tunes. He has stated that he is a true believer and able to sing religious songs as such.<ref>http://www.bobdylan.com/cith-conversation</ref> He has opened many concerts in recent years, with a song about changing his way of thinking to follow [[Jesus]], including his 2011 concerts in [[Israel]], [[Vietnam]] and [[China]].<ref>http://notdarkyet.tripod.com/change.html</ref>

== Volume of Work ==

== Volume of Work ==