Virginia Tech professor discusses success of Bob Dylan in preparation of Saturday concert

Bob Dylan returns to Virginia Saturday night with a performance at the Berglund Center.

According to Virginia Tech Professor of Music Jay Crone, Dylan's popularity spreads across generations because he sings good American music. Fans will hear folk, protest, blues, country and western, and rock and roll music.

Crone also said Dylan is one of the great composers of our time, already recognized by winning a Nobel Prize.

"His words changed popular music," Crone explained. "Before Dylan started writing these 10-11 minute long songs with words that people couldn't really figure out, exactly, on the first listening and he changed all that. Now anybody, you write a song you can say whatever you want. So that was huge, it became very much like art."

Crone said Dylan's sound is nothing like contemporary music because he doesn't use modern technology.

"I think if you're looking for something that's really clean and processed and perfect, it's probably not the place to go," he said. "But if you want something that's very natural and heartfelt, his music and his songs and his poetry, it's the total human expression. There's pain and suffering and joy and happiness there. He never overdubbed his vocals, it's all very natural so what you hear is what you get."

As of Friday afternoon, there were still some tickets available for the concert that kicks off at 8:00 Saturday night.