One of the most fascinating items in the career-spanning collection is a letter written by Pete Seeger in the 1990s, in which the folk singer explains what actually happened at the infamous Newport Folk Festival in July 1965.
Elvis Costello Performs “I Threw It All Away" at Opening of the Dylan CenterIn paying tribute to Bob Dylan at a concert held during the opening festivities for the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma,
Elvis Costello also sang an epic, rip-roaring “Like a Rolling Stone,” apparently the first time he’s covered the signature song of his most obvious influence in full in concert. But earlier in the set Costello also did a lesser-known balladic chestnut from the Dylan catalog: “I Threw It All Away.”
In his 1990 apology letter, Seeger draws that same comparison between Dylan and Howlin’ Wolf. In it, he explains that he actually liked Dylan’s electrified version of ‘Maggie’s Farm’ and that the cause of his dismay was that the sound of too muddy. (Faroutmag)
Seeger’s letter reads:
“Bob! Someone just told me that you too think I didn’t like your going electric in 1965. I’ve denied that so many times. I was furious at the distorted sound – no one could understand the words of ‘Maggie’s Farm’ – and dashed over to the people controlling the PA system. ‘No, this is the way they want it,’ they said. I shouted, ‘if I had an axe, i’d cut the cable’, and I guess that’s what got quoted. My big mistake was in not challenging from the stage the foolish few who booed. I shoulda said, ‘Howlin Wolf goes electric, why can’t Bob?’ In any case, you keep on. Best, Pete.”
The $10 million installations have opened to the public on May 10, following three days of inaugural events, which will include performances by Mavis Staples, Patti Smith and Elvis Costello.
Smith's concert, which followed a performance by Mavis Staples on Thursday, was the first time Smith had appeared at Cain's Ballroom, a historic western swing venue, since 1978. (It was the same year she released her third studio album, Easter, which featured her hit collaboration with Bruce Springsteen, "Because the Night.")
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Mavis Staples performed at Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa, Okla. It was the first of three scheduled performances that will take place as part of the grand opening weekend of the Bob Dylan Center, which opens to the public on May 10.
"We're so happy to see you, we're so happy to be here," Staples said from the stage. "I came out to have a good time."
The pair enjoyed a close relationship for several years, though Staples reportedly turned down his offer of marriage. “I often think about what would have happened if I’d married Bobby, though,”
The art exhibit is also Dylan’s first since the massive, 100,000-item Bob Dylan Archives was donated to the University of Tulsa in 2016.
“These include handwritten lyric manuscripts to some of the world’s most treasured songs, previously unreleased recordings, never-before-seen film performances, rare and unseen photographs, visual art and other priceless items spanning Bob Dylan’s unparalleled seven decades as one of the world’s most important cultural figures.”
“One reason why this exhibit could only be done is Tulsa is that we have, with the archive, a wealth of supporting material,” Chaiken added. “When the ‘Face Value’ portraits have been shown before, there was no material that gave the portraits any real context. But here we’re able to highlight the fact that there is a precedent for those portraits.”
Recently The Bob Dylan archive in Tulsa, Oklahoma is now open to select groups and individuals with qualified research projects. https://bobdylanarchive.com/
There have long been rumors that Mr. Dylan had stashed away an extensive archive. It is now revealed that he did keep a private trove of his work, dating back to his earliest days as an artist, including lyrics, correspondence, recordings, films and photographs.
That archive of 6,000 pieces has recently been acquired by a group of institutions in Oklahoma for an estimated $15 million to $20 million, and is set to become a resource for academic study.
Bob Dylan 64” in black sharpie pen. The sheet music is for the same song. Measures 9 x 6. Originally from the personal collection of Peter McKenzie. Dylan lived with Pete and his family in Greenwich Village when he first came to New York and was performing at small venues. Very good condition. Comes with a Gotta Have Rock & Roll™ C
