Suze Rotolo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Suze Rotolo
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Suze Rotolo, 2009
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| Born | November 20, 1943 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | February 25, 2011 (aged 67) New York City, U.S.
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| Occupation | Artist |
| Known for | Appearing on the cover of The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan |
| Spouse(s) |
Enzo Bartoccioli
(m. 1967) |
| Partner(s) | Bob Dylan (1961–1964) |
| Children | 1 |
Susan Elizabeth Rotolo (born November 20, 1943 – died February 25, 2011), known as Suze Rotolo, was an American artist. She was also the girlfriend of famous musician Bob Dylan from 1961 to 1964. Dylan later said she greatly influenced his music and art during those years.
Suze Rotolo is the young woman walking with Bob Dylan on the cover of his 1963 album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. This famous picture was taken by photographer Don Hunstein. In her own book, A Freewheelin' Time: A Memoir of Greenwich Village in the Sixties, Rotolo wrote about her time with Dylan. She also shared stories about other artists and musicians in Greenwich Village, New York. She grew up in a family whose parents were members of the Communist Party USA. This was during a time called the McCarthy Era, when being a Communist was very unpopular in the U.S. As an artist, Suze Rotolo was known for making special "artists' books." She also taught art at the Parsons School of Design in New York City.
Contents
Suze Rotolo's Life Story
Early Years and Meeting Bob Dylan
Suze Rotolo was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her family was of Italian-American background. She grew up in Sunnyside, Queens. Her parents, Joachim and Mary Rotolo, were members of the American Communist Party. This meant they believed in a political system where everyone shares wealth and resources.
After graduating from high school in 1960, Suze became very active in politics. She worked for groups like the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). CORE worked for equal rights for all people. She also worked with SANE, a group that wanted to stop nuclear weapons. Suze and her sister Carla were part of the folk music scene in Greenwich Village.
Suze first met Bob Dylan at a folk concert in July 1961. Her sister Carla introduced them. Carla was working for a folklorist named Alan Lomax at the time.
How Suze Influenced Dylan's Music
After meeting Suze, Bob Dylan's songs began to change. He started writing about important topics like the civil rights movement and the danger of nuclear war. Suze and Dylan began living together in early 1962. Her family did not approve of this. As Dylan became more famous, their relationship became harder for Suze.
In June 1962, Suze left New York to study art in Italy for six months. She studied at the University of Perugia. This time apart from Suze inspired many of Dylan's famous love songs. These include "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright" and "Boots of Spanish Leather".
Many people believe Suze's political ideas influenced Dylan's protest songs. Dylan also said that Suze introduced him to the French poet Arthur Rimbaud. Rimbaud's writing style greatly influenced Dylan's own songs. Suze was also involved in a type of theater called Brechtian theater. Dylan said her interest in this theater style also influenced his songwriting.
Suze and Dylan broke up in 1964. Dylan wrote a song called "Ballad in Plain D" about their breakup. Years later, he said he regretted writing that song.
Later Life and Career
In June 1964, Suze Rotolo traveled to Cuba with a group. At that time, it was against the law for people from the United States to visit Cuba. She remained interested in political issues throughout her life.
In 1967, Suze married Enzo Bartoccioli, who was a film editor. They had one son named Luca, who became a guitarist. In New York, Suze worked as an illustrator and painter. Later, she focused on creating "book art." These were art pieces that looked like books but included everyday objects. She continued to be politically active. For example, she joined a street-theater group and protested at a big political meeting in 2004.
For many years, Suze did not talk much about her relationship with Bob Dylan. But in 2004, she was interviewed for a documentary. In 2005, she appeared in Martin Scorsese's film, No Direction Home: Bob Dylan. This film was about Dylan's early career.
In 2008, Suze published her book, A Freewheelin' Time: A Memoir of Greenwich Village in the Sixties. In the book, she talked about how she tried not to be known only for her relationship with Dylan. The famous picture of her and Dylan on the album cover was hard for her to escape. She wanted people to know her as an artist and activist, not just "the girl on the front cover."
Suze Rotolo passed away from lung cancer at her home in New York City on February 25, 2011. She was 67 years old.
Film Appearances
In the 2007 movie I'm Not There, there is a story based on Bob Dylan's life. Heath Ledger plays a character named Robbie Clark, who is one of six characters inspired by Dylan. Charlotte Gainsbourg plays Claire, Robbie's wife. This character is a mix of Dylan's first wife and Suze Rotolo. In the movie, Robbie and Claire meet and fall in love in Greenwich Village. A scene where they run through the streets of New York is a recreation of the famous album cover from The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.
Images for kids
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Cover art for the 1963 album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, showing Bob Dylan walking with Suze Rotolo.
See also
In Spanish: Suze Rotolo para niños
