'Dylan of the North East' turns 60

Shillong, Apr 15 (UNI) Lou Majaw, popularly known as the ''Bob Dylan of Northeast India'' yesterday celebrated his 60th birthday in high style at the non-descript Soso Tham Auditorium here.

Elegant in, tight denim shorts, yellow and blue socks and a bag, Majaw let loose a string his birthday concert with an instrumental piece April Shower.

The one-and-a-half-hour concert also recalled the past 59-years of the great musician that the Northeast has ever produced through his popular songs - Sea of Sorrow, Ghost Revisited, Little Man, Because I care, True true loving and Change of Freedom.

The show was attended by his family members, former band members of Great Society and Ace of Spades and well wishers.

Born to a poor family, Majaw could not afford a guitar or a radio. In a friend's house he was introduced to the music of Bill Haley and Elvis Presley, and taught himself the guitar in school.

He then later moved to the 'City of Joy' (Kolkata) to start his career in music and performed in bars and pubs for various groups - Dynamite Boys, Vanguards, Supersound Factory, and Blood and Thunder.

And then he was ispsired by Bob Dylan only in 1966 with Blowing in the Wind and started organising a folk festival to ''honour Dylan'' at a small auditorium in Shillong from May 24, 1972.

Last night, again Majaw performed Bob Dylan's hit song Forever Young with musicians from Shillong, Guwahati and as far as Kolkata, marking his 60th birth anniversary.

UNI