Minnesota Music Icon Bob Dylan Turns 75

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesota music icon Bob Dylan turns 75 years old today.

Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Hibbing. The singer-songwriter, artist and writer has been influential in popular music and culture for more than five decades.

"He's unparalleled," said Remy Maxwell, host of 104.1 Jack FM.

In the 1960s, Dylan laid the ground work for so many artists across every genre.

"I mean Sunday night at the Billboard music awards, Kesha did 'It ain't me babe' and I mean you would never think an artist like that would cover a song like that, and I'm not a fan of Kesha but it was amazing," he said.

Much of Dylan's most celebrated work dates from the 1960s, when his songs chronicled social unrest.

"What Dylan did was poetry in motion," Maxwell said

As far as his mystique?

"That's what so great about him. We don't know about him; the stuff we know about everybody else," he said.

While Dylan didn't want to be the spokesperson for his generation, some of his early songs such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin'" became anthems for the anti-war movement.

Maxwell said he believes Dylan stayed true to his roots.

"And he made his mark playing little clubs in Dinkytown.  I think he's a Minnesotans through and through," he said.

Maxwell said it's hard to believe Dylan is 75 years old.