ABSTRACT
Folk music has always been an important part of the American music tradition, and topical songs—personal stories linked to current political and cultural events—are an essential part of that heritage. Bob Dylan, an itinerant nineteen-year-old folksinger, wandered through the streets of New York's Greenwich Village one cold day in December 1960. Dylan had an early interest in the piano, rejecting lessons and opting instead for the I'll-do-it-myself school of learning. Like high school bands everywhere, Dylan and friends were plagued by the authority's attitude toward rock and roll. He listened to bluesmen Muddy Waters and Jimmy Reed and classic rockers Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly. Dylan also reached a musical peak with "Like a Rolling Stone"—the opening drum shots signal its power while the large ensemble climbs harmonic steps to the chorus, crowned by Bloomfield's slashing guitar fills. From time to time, Dylan releases alerted critics that he was still a contemporary songwriter worthy of note.
