Bob Dylan turns 80 today

Thought for the day

Robert Zimmerman (AKA Bob Dylan) left his Minnesota home decades ago and headed to NYC. Who could have guessed what the Gopher State’s loss would eventually mean to the world?

I was lucky to have seen Dylan play in his early days. While still in high school in 1965, I somehow managed to find my way from Palo Alto to Berkeley to hear him perform. I’m guessing 500 people were in the audience.

The first half of the show Dylan played solo with just his acoustic guitar. After intermission, he returned to the stage with an electric guitar in hand. Looking back on it now, it’s hard to believe that transition caused such an uproar.

The second time I saw Dylan in concert was 1972. This time he played both acoustic and electric guitars before thousands of devoted fans. By then, everyone in the audience clamored to hear his hits from albums like The Times They Are a-Changin’ to Highway 61 Revisted.

Since his first break out days, Bob Dylan’s songs have inspired generations. It’s no wonder fans in Minnesota and around the world will be celebrating his 80th birthday today.

-DF