The singer known as the “voice of his generation” speaks.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bob Dylan will come into the area “Like a Rolling Stone” at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena, 326 Napoleon St., downtown Johnstown.
Dylan’s raw, raspy voice also has sung about “Mr. Tamborine Man,” “The Times They Are a-Changin’” and “House of the Rising Sun.”
His unprecedented stop in Johnstown is part of a 14-city North American tour slated to begin Friday in British Columbia and continue south to Montana and North and South Dakota then inches its way eastward through Minnesota, Iowa and Indiana to Cincinnati and Youngstown, Ohio, before reaching Johnstown.
“The opportunity to host such a legendary writer and musician will surely be a historic moment for the Cambria County War Memorial,” said general manager Michael Silva.
“Based on the success of Crosby, Stills and Nash, I started looking for other legacy artists to fill the same niche in Johnstown.”
Through his contacts at SMG Sports and Entertainment, which manages and markets the arena, Silva was able to find out that Dylan was coming through western Pennsylvania.
“One thing led to another, and the stars were aligned,” Silva said of the ease in getting the star performer.
Dylan’s self-titled first album, which included such folk and blues tracks as “Highway 51,” “House of the Rising Sun” and “Man of Constant Sorrow” was released in 1962.
Dylan has always been known for his rich and poetic lyrics, and his work had considerable influence on the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s and significant impact on American culture through the past 50 years.
He was awarded a special Pulitzer Prize in 2008 for “his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power.”
As one of the most influential American musicians of the 20th century, Dylan was the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor, this year.
He also was the recipient of the French Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres in 1990, Sweden’s Polar Music Award in 2000 and several doctorates, including the University of St. Andrews and Princeton University, as well as numerous other honors.
Dylan has won 11 Grammys, including a Lifetime Achievement Award.
He has written more than 600 songs, and his songs have been recorded more than 3,000 times by other artists.
And at 71, Dylan continues to record and tour today.
Before beginning his North American tour, he toured in Europe and South and Central America.
Dylan’s newest album, “Tempest,” which contains 10 new and original songs, will be released in September.
Performance
What: Folk rock icon Bob Dylan.
When: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 29.
Where: Cambria County War Memorial Arena, 326 Napoleon St., downtown Johnstown.
Tickets: $47.50, $57.50 and $67.50, plus fees.
Information: www.warmemorialarena.com or 536-5156.
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