Bob Neuwirth, Singer-Songwriter and Bob Dylan Collaborator, Dies at 82

Bob Neuwirth—the musician, songwriter, and visible artist arguably greatest recognized for his collaborations with Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, and John Cale—died of coronary heart failure on Wednesday, The New York Occasions experiences. He was 82 years previous.

Neuwirth was a singer-songwriter who entered Bob Dylan’s orbit within the early Sixties He grew to become a fixture of Dylan’s interior circle, working as his street supervisor in the course of the notorious 1965 tour of England documented in D.A. Pennebaker’s Don’t Look Again. He was later a member of Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue band and crew within the mid-’70s. Along with co-writing Janis Joplin’s Pearl music “Mercedes Benz,” Neuwirth is credited as the one who launched her to Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee.” 

Following his self-titled 1974 album on Asylum Information, Neuwirth launched 1988’s Again to Entrance and a collection of albums within the ’90s. Most notably, he and John Cale collaborated on the 1994 album Final Day on Earth. That was adopted by Neuwirth’s 1999 collaboration with José Maria Vitier, Havana Midnight. Neuwirth additionally collaborated with Kris Kristofferson, Bobby Charles, Kinky Friedman, T Bone Burnett, Alejandro Escovedo, and extra. Patti Smith mentioned Neuwirth was one of many first folks to encourage her to jot down songs. 

“On Wednesday night in Santa Monica, Bob Neuwirth’s huge coronary heart gave out,” Neuwirth’s household mentioned in a press release (by way of Rolling Stone). “Bob was an artist all through each cell of his physique and he liked to encourage others to make artwork themselves. He was a painter, songwriter, producer and recording artist whose physique of labor is liked and revered. For over 60 years, Bob was on the epicenter of cultural moments from Woodstock, to Paris, Don’t Look Again to Monterey Pop, Rolling Thunder to Nashville and Havana. He was a beneficiant instigator who typically produced and made issues occur anonymously. The artwork is what mattered to him, not the credit score. He was an artist, a mentor and a supporter to many. He shall be missed by all who love him.”