A true icon of American popular culture, songwriter and entertainer Bob Dylan was a catalyst for changing social currents in the 1960s. His songs of the 60s, such as "Blowin' in the Wind," immediately conjure up an era even for those too young to have witnessed it. Although he often shuns the public eye and has dropped out of sight for long periods in his career, Dylan continues to write and perform and remains influential on the popular music scene. Unswerving in his antiwar stance, he shocked audiences of the February 1991 Grammy Awards ceremony, at which he was honored with a lifetime achievement award, by singing his "Masters of War" during "Operation Desert Storm." Elusive to biographers, Dylan has inspired relatively few substantive accounts, although much has been written about his music. The present study presents an accurate summary of his life and an analysis of his pivotal role in popular music. His more than 400 songs and other writings, recordings, concert tours, and film and television appearances are all fully documented, as are bootleg recordings and recordings of his music by other singers. Presented in a lively manner with much anecdotal material, the facts and the myths about Dylan and the strengths and weaknesses of writings about him are carefully assessed in this one-volume source on the man and his work.

Examines the life and work of the iconoclastic icon of the 1960s folk-music scene, whose career as a songwriter and performer endures today. Summarizes what little is know of Dylan's early and private life; assesses his impact on his time and on the course of popular music; lists his lyrics and music, recordings and performances, and renditions of his songs by others; and provides a chronology from his 1941 birth to his surprise appearance at the 1993 pre-inaugural concert.
Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

A useful and readable reference work, highly recommended for academic and larger public libraries.Choice

Bio-critical assessment with full documentation of songs, recordings, tours, and film and television appearances.

A true icon of American popular culture, songwriter and entertainer Bob Dylan was a catalyst for changing social currents in the 1960s with memorable songs like "Blowin' in the Wind." Elusive to biographers, Dylan has inspired relatively few substantive accounts, although much has been written about his music. The present study presents an accurate summary of his life and an analysis of his pivotal role in popular music. His more than 400 songs and other writings, recordings, concert tours, and film and television appearances are all fully documented, as are bootleg recordings and recordings of his music by other singers.

WILLIAM MCKEEN is Associate Professor at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications.