Bob Dylan’s Keyboard Legend Barry Goldberg Dies: Inside His Newport Folk Festival Feat

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Bob Dylan’s former keyboardist Barry Goldberg has died aged 83.

Legendary blues-rock performer Goldberg sadly breathed his last in hospice care, following a decade-long struggle against non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Confirming to Variety, it was reported that the musician was surrounded by his long-time spouse, Gail Goldberg, and their son, Aram, in his final moments.

Goldberg’s tenure in the Paul Butterfield Blues Band paved the way for an influential event: the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, where Dylan made a groundbreaking move by introducing an electrified sound and enduring hit “Like A Rolling Stone.

In the Oscar-nominated biopic “A Complete Unknown,” Timothee Chalamet’s role saw a dramatic portrayal of the contentious performance, with Justin Levine taking on the character of Goldberg.

Barry Goldberg established a bond with Dylan, who produced his 1974 album as a renowned rock artist.

In 1990, it was Goldberg’s turn to reciprocate, as he produced Dylan’s “People Get Ready”, a track that was included in the movie soundtrack titled ‘Flashback’.

At a major event for folk music, Dylan’s captivating performance left quite an impression, even among the most traditional fans of the genre.

On the unforgettable day of July 25, 1965, a tale that has been passed down like a cherished heirloom remains shrouded in controversy, with passionate discussions still raging over whether the boos I heard were birthed from discontent towards Dylan’s electric performance or dismay over sound issues and a seemingly too-brief set.

Accompanied by a rock band featuring Goldberg on the live organ, Mike Bloomfield on guitar, and Al Kooper on organ, Dylan performed songs like Maggie’s Farm and Like a Rolling Stone. Later, he made an acoustic encore appearance with It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue.

According to legend, Pete Seeger, a prominent figure in the folk music scene, became so enraged that he attempted to stop an electric performance by unplugging it or even considered using an axe to sever the power cord.

However, many years down the line, Seeger admitted that he didn’t oppose Dylan switching to electric music; rather, it was the heavily distorted sound system that caused his displeasure.

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2025-01-23 23:03