Bob Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman on May 24, 1941, in St. Louis County, Minnesota, is a renowned American singer-songwriter. He began his music career in the early 1960s, performing in New York City's folk scene after moving there in 1961. Dylan's debut album, released in 1962, consisted of traditional folk songs, but it was his breakthrough album, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, released in 1963, that gained him recognition.

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan included notable songs such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall," which addressed social and political issues of the time. His subsequent albums, including The Times They Are a-Changin' (1964) and Bringing It All Back Home (1965), further solidified his position as a prominent songwriter. Dylan's decision to adopt electrically amplified rock instrumentation in the mid-1960s sparked controversy among folk purists but led to the creation of iconic albums such as Highway 61 Revisited (1965) and Blonde on Blonde (1966).

A motorcycle accident in 1966 forced Dylan to take a hiatus from touring, during which he recorded a collection of songs with the Band, later released as The Basement Tapes (1975). He explored country music and rural themes in his subsequent albums, including John Wesley Harding (1967) and Nashville Skyline (1969). Dylan's later work, such as Blood on the Tracks (1975) and Time Out of Mind (1997), received critical acclaim and earned him numerous awards, including a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

In the 2000s, Dylan continued to release new music, including the albums Love and Theft (2001), Modern Times (2006), and Tempest (2012). He also published several books of paintings and drawings and exhibited his artwork in major galleries. Throughout his career, Dylan has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, ten Grammy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award.

Dylan's impact on popular culture extends beyond his music. He has been honored with the Kennedy Center Honors, the National Medal of Arts, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016 for his contributions to the American song tradition. Dylan has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.