Every Friday around 11 a.m. Central, it’s time for Classic Americana on Radio Heartland. We pull a special track from the archives or from deep in the shelves to spotlight a particular artist or song.

This week for Classic Americana, we’re spotlighting a Minnesota-born legend. Robert Zimmerman — later known and admired as Bob Dylan — was born in Duluth, Minnesota. He grew up the Minnesota Iron Range town of Hibbing, and moved to Minneapolis, ostensibly to attend the University of Minnesota, but really starting to hone is craft for songwriting and performing in the music clubs in the Dinkytown and Cedar-Riverside neighborhoods of Minneapolis. In 1961, Dylan left college and Minneapolis to move to New York City, where he assimilated into the Greenwich Village folk-scene, and his career took off from there.

Bob Dylan’s place in the public consciousness has been elevated since last December, with the release of the James Mangold-directed film, A Complete Unknown, starring Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan. 

Here in Minnesota, we recently enjoyed a special treat as Dylan returned to the state of his birth to perform in the city of Mankato last Friday as part of his Rough and Rowdy Ways Tour.

Of course, Bob Dylan has a rich and voluminous discography, but what’s really impressive is how Dylan still loves touring and playing. Because he’s constantly on the move, for our Classic Americana pick this week, it seems appropriate to feature Bob Dylan’s song, “Like a Rolling Stone,” from his 1965 album — actually, one of two he released that year — Highway 61 Revisited.

More from The Current

• Concert recap: Bob Dylan gives an intimate, listening-room-style performance in Mankato
• Film review: In 'A Complete Unknown,' Bob Dylan emerges as a folk hero in more ways than one

External Link

Bob Dylan – official site