Bob Dylan's one time girlfriend Suze Rotolo has passed away following a long term illness.
Arriving in New York as a complete unknown, Bob Dylan soon located the folk scene. An innocent young singer from the sticks, he fell into the company of the bright, literate young Suze Rotolo.
A well connected figure on the Greenwich Scene, the pair soon became a well known couple about town. A photo of Bob Dylan with Suze Rotolo adorns the front of his seminal album 'The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan'.
Suze Rotolo acted as the inspiration for several of his best known songs, including 'Boots Of Spanish Leather' and 'Tomorrow Is A Long Time'. Well educated and deeply cultured, Suze Rotolo is credited with helping Bob Dylan become passionate about politics, as well as influencing his burgeoning love of painting.
Parting company, Suze Rotolo later married and shunned the attention some Bob Dylan fans showed her. Remaining largely reclusive, Rotolo recently emerged from hiding to tell her side of the story.
Invited to take part in the Martin Scorcese documentary 'No Direction Home' her appearance shone new light on a period of Dylan's career. As interest in her part of the story increased, Suze Rotolo wrote the highly readable memoir 'A Freewheelin' Time'.
Focussing on her youth, the memoir is a well written, enjoyable account of the Greenwich Village folk scene at its height.
Later suffering from a long term illness, Suze Rotolo passed away last week. Reports in the Village Voice include a number of tributes, with Rotolo being survived by Enzo Bartoccioli - her husband of some forty years.
A well respected artist in her own right, Suze Rotolo was a noted figure on the New York arts scene.
Read an informative obituary HERE.