HispanicBusiness

Bob Gaudio

A member of the Four Seasons and later a songwriter/producer, he met Dylan in 1990.

"I was introduced to him by Neil Diamond when we were recording 'The Jazz Singer.' I apologized for our Wonder Who (a Four Seasons novelty project with manipulated lead vocals to sound like mice), extremely playful version of his not-so-playful 'Don't Think Twice, It's All Right.' He replied: 'I wasn't sure the first time I heard it that it was my song.'"

Rosanne Cash

She worked with Dylan twice in 1992.

"He invited me to sing backup on David Letterman's 10th anniversary special at Radio City Music Hall. The background singers for 'Like a Rolling Stone' were me, Mavis Staples, Emmylou Harris, Michelle Shocked and Carole King. Then at his 30th anniversary (with Columbia Records) show at Madison Square Garden, I sang 'You Ain't Goin' Nowhere' with Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin. My dad (Johnny Cash) introduced us. I remember I asked Bob before the show if he was nervous, and he said, 'I wish I was.'"

Merle Haggard

The country legend opened for Dylan in 2005-06.

"I was honored to go to his soundchecks every day. He came over, asked my opinion a couple of times. I don't think Bob Dylan asks very many people an opinion on anything. He asked, "How did the whole band sound?' I responded to him and his soundman came over to me about eight months later and said, "What the (bleep) did you say to Bob?' I said, 'How much bass pedal do you want?' The soundman said, 'Goddamn, he's been on my ass about that bass drum ever since you talked to him.'"

Bob Dylan as Lyricist:

Kris Kristofferson

"When I was a teenager, popular songwriters were writing 'How Much Is That Doggie in the Window.' He lifted songwriting up into a different art form. He's the reason that the rest of us who followed got any respect around the world." Lucinda Williams

"He was the first one that brought the two worlds together _ the literary world and the folk-rock world." Rod Stewart

"Absolutely overwhelming. He was a tremendous influence on me. Probably the all-time great lyricist. I can't say enough about Bob." Bob Seger

"There's never been anybody as good as him as far as writing lyrics. Ever. He'll never do any wrong in my book. But he should take better care of his voice."

Dhani Harrison

Son of George Harrison, who played with Dylan in the Traveling Wilburys.

"He put words to things that no one in my father's generation or in my generation can. There's no one like him. He's going to cut you in half with his tongue."

His Personality:

Kris Kristofferson

"I can't say I was ever comfortable around him but he made me laugh and I really respect him. He's kind of a genius. He's totally unpredictable. He has an innocence of genius. There's something about him almost like a little child."

Chrissie Hynde

"I recently read a great interview with him in Mojo magazine. He's just so lucid and poetic and funny. Yeah, he's the man."

Bob Dylan's Legacy:

Bruce Springsteen

"He is the father of my country."

Carlos Santana

"He's a great mirror for humans. We'll learn about ourselves. His music is forever. It transcended the '60s. He's the voice of just not one generation but he created some serious forever-hymns. And he did it when he was in his early 20s."

Randy Newman

"The work he did is just about the best it ever got. The early, early stuff. There was great song after great song on those records. It was the highest point in terms of lyrics that pop music has ever reached." Pete Townshend of the Who

"His contribution is as big or bigger than Brian Wilson or the Beatles, on the shaping and sharpening of modern pop music. True, in the late '50s there were rock artists like Chuck Berry who used smart lyrics, and those like Woody Guthrie who wrote political songs. But Dylan gathered it all up and made it seem possible to write a song about anything at all _ he tore down every boundary and yet remained true to a set of strong musical traditions. In other words, he did the impossible."

Merle Haggard

"Take him out of the picture and it would be a mighty hole. Not just in his music but in Johnny Cash music and other songs you didn't know he's written. The list goes on. The biggest impression he made with me was when he sang with just his guitar: 'The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind.' It don't get no bleepin' better than that."