Elijah Wald

Elijah Wald is an American folk-blues guitarist, music journalist, and cultural historian whose work has influenced the understanding of popular music history. A musician since age seven and a writer since the early 1980s, Wald has published more than 1,000 articles, primarily about folk, roots, and international music for various magazines and newspapers, including two decades as the world music writer for Boston Globe. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including "Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues," "The Dozens: A History of Rap's Mama," "How the Beatles Destroyed Rock 'n' Roll: An Alternative History of Popular Music," and the bestselling "Dylan Goes Electric!" Wald holds a doctorate in ethnomusicology and sociolinguistics.

Before establishing himself as a writer, Wald traveled internationally as a folk-blues guitarist, performing in Europe, Africa, and Asia. He led a blues band in Seville, a swing trio in Antwerp, and a rock band in Colombo, and studied with Congolese guitarist Jean-Bosco Mwenda. This direct engagement with global musical traditions informs Wald's approach to music journalism and cultural history.

Wald's book "Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties" examines the cultural, political, and historical context of the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. The work explores the folk revival, the emergence of rock, and the tensions between traditional and innovative music, offering insights into Bob Dylan's artistic development, his relationship with blues, and his impact on popular music. The book received reviews in The Guardian, The New York Times, The Observer, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, and was recognized by Booklist for its contribution to modern musical history.

"Dylan Goes Electric!" served as the basis for the film "A Complete Unknown," which was nominated for multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor. Wald also collaborated with Dave Van Ronk on "The Mayor of MacDougal Street," which inspired the Coen Brothers' film "Inside Llewyn Davis."

Wald has taught at UCLA and Boston College and is a frequent speaker on the history and culture of popular music. His honors include a Grammy Award for album notes to The Arhoolie Records 40th Anniversary Box, an ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award, and special mention from the American Musicological Society's Otto Kinkeldey Award. Wald continues to write, perform as a guitarist and singer, teach at music camps and universities, and speak on topics related to music history and culture.