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Bob Dylan is considered one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time. His songs have been described as instruments for social justice with powerful lyrics that have maintained relevance across different eras. Ever since he appeared on New York City's Folk-rock music scene, the Minnesota-born artist has gathered an expansive body of work that has sold millions of copies worldwide.
Some might describe Dylan as an eclectic musician, but his music played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement of the '60s, and his songs Blowin' in the Wind and Rainy Day Women have remained timeless classics.
Bob Dylan may be a household name, but some facts about the living legend may surprise many fans. Here are five interesting facts about Bob Dylan.
5 interesting facts about Bob Dylan
1) Bob Dylan is not his birth name
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The Nobel Prize laureate was born in Duluth, Minnesota, and was named Robert Zimmerman. Over the years, many believed that the prolific songwriter changed his name based on his love for the poet Dylan Thomas in 1961.
Dylan addressed the misinformation in an interview with The New York Times in 1961, saying:
"Dylan Thomas' poetry is for people that aren't really satisfied in their bed – for people who dig masculine romance."
While the music legend refuted the Dylan Thomas theory, he hasn't revealed why he changed his birth name, leaving fans to their own conclusion.
2) Bob Dylan has never had a number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 or UK Singles chart
It might be shocking to several fans of the singer-songwriter that he has never topped the Billboard Hot 100 or the UK Singles chart. In 1965, Bob Dylan released Like a Rolling Stone, which did well on the Billboard Hot 100 but was held back from the number 1 spot by The Beatles' Help.
Similarly, Dylan's 1966 Rainy Day Women peaked at number 2, with the Grammy-winning Happy, Happy by Mamas & Papas securing the number one position on the chart.
It wasn't until April 2022 that Bob Dylan scored his first number-one hit on any Billboard chart with Murder Most Foul. The rock song peaked at number one on the Hot Rock Songs chart. In 1965, Dylan recorded Mr. Tambourine Man, and the rock band The Byrds released their version of the song that same year, topping the Billboard Hot 100.
3) Dylan is the only person in the world with an Oscar, a Grammy, a Pulitzer, and a Nobel Prize
Many fans might be aware that Bob Dylan has won an Oscar and a Grammy award, but some might be shocked to learn that the living legend is also a Nobel Prize Laureate and has won a Pulitzer Prize.
In 2008, Dylan won a Pulitzer Prize for his contributions to popular music and American culture. The Pulitzer citation created for him describes his lyrics as powerful, and rightfully so.
1975, Dylan released the song Hurricane to campaign for the release of Robin "Hurricane" Carter, who had served 20 years in prison for murder following an unfair trial. The conviction would later be turned, and Carter released.
Dylan received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016. His nomination for a Nobel Prize stirred a bit of controversy as many wondered if Dylan deserved such recognition.
4) Dylan was the first person to introduce The Beatles to Marijuana
Bob Dylan had a close relationship with The Beatles. They admired each other's work and shared mutual respect. The Beatles were also influenced by Dylan's folk-rock style, which reflected in some of their later releases, like Norwegian Wood and Rubber Soul.
In a cover story for the Uncut Magazine in 2020, Paul McCartney revealed that Dylan was the first person to introduce the band to using Marijuana. McCartney famously said during the interview:
"We all ran into the backroom going, 'Give us a bit!' So, that was the very first evening we ever got stoned!"
5) Dylan sold the rights to his recording catalog to Sony Music in 2022
In 2022, the 60th anniversary of Dylan's career, Sony Music Entertainment announced via a news release on January 24, 2022, that it had gained full rights over the Rainy Day Women hitmaker's back catalog of recorded music.
According to the entertainment company, the acquisition was in a bid to expand its six-decade relationship with Dylan. The agreement covers Dylan's recorded work from his eponymous album in 1962 to the critically acclaimed Rough and Rowdy Ways.
A part of SME's statement reads:
"Bob Dylan and SME will continue to collaborate on a range of future catalog reissues in the artist's renowned and top-selling Bootleg Series, which began in 1991 and includes 14 releases through last year's lauded Springtime In New York: The Bootleg Series Vol. 16 (1980-1985). The agreement also provides the opportunity for SME to partner with Dylan on additional projects."
Fans may also be interested to know that Bob Dylan has performed 100 times a year for the past 20 years. The singer-songwriter is also a painter and visual artist. Some of his works have been displayed at the Halcyon Gallery in London.
