Did Jim Morrison Discover Bob Dylan? The Shocking Story Some Fans Swear By (And Others Can’t Believe)

Did Jim Morrison Discover Bob Dylan? The Shocking Story Some Fans Swear By (And Others Can’t Believe)

In the golden haze of 1960s rock history, a curious debate has sparked unexpected tension between two legendary fan bases: those of Bob Dylan and Jim Morrison. The argument? That Jim Morrison may have helped introduce Bob Dylan to the world—or at least to his circle—before Dylan became a household name. Some fans even go so far as to say Morrison “put Dylan on.” But how much truth is there in this surprising claim?

Let’s dive into the heart of the controversy, where admiration, memory, and musical myth collide.

Portrait of folk musicians Joan Baez and Bob Dylan taken while they shared the stage during a duet at the Newport Folk Festival, Rhode Island, 1963. This was Bob Dylan’s first performance on the Newport stage. (Photo by Rowland Scherman/Getty Images)

The Party That Sparked the Legend

One of the most intriguing pieces of this story comes from Gerry McClain, a friend of Jim Morrison during his brief time at Florida State University in the early 1960s. He recalls a specific moment that stuck with him decades later:

“The only time I heard Jim Morrison mention music at Florida State University was at a party in 1963. He said: ‘I want you to hear this guy. He’s really great.’ Jim put on this record by a singer nobody had ever heard of. It was Bob Dylan.”

It’s an evocative scene—college students clustered in a room, drinks in hand, and Morrison, already a deep thinker and self-styled outsider, spinning a Dylan record before most people knew his name. According to McClain, this wasn’t just casual listening; it was Morrison actively turning people on to a new voice in music.

If this account is accurate, it’s a compelling piece of rock history: Jim Morrison—the Lizard King himself—was not just a poet and performer, but also a tastemaker and early Dylan evangelist.

But Wait—Wasn’t Dylan Already Famous?

Naturally, not everyone agrees with this narrative. Some Dylan fans find the idea laughable or even offensive. To them, Bob Dylan was already the voice of a generation before Morrison ever took the stage in leather pants.

One Dylan devotee put it bluntly:

“Wow, Morrison discovered Dylan?!? Dylan came out with ‘Like a Rolling Stone’ in ’65, the year that Morrison started getting into his own musical career. In ’65, Morrison decided upon the name of his new group, The Doors. I’m thinking that Dylan must be really grateful that Morrison thought Dylan was worth listening to. We Dylan fans are grateful.”

Another added:

“I heard about Bob Dylan way before Jim Morrison and The Doors. Dylan was already a regular in the Village in the early 60s.”

And they’re right—at least in the broader timeline of music history. Bob Dylan had released his debut album in 1962, and by 1963 he was performing at the March on Washington, sharing a stage with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. By the time “Like a Rolling Stone” dropped in 1965, Dylan was already a superstar.

So Who’s Right?

This is where things get interesting. While Dylan was certainly active and building a name for himself in the early ’60s, he hadn’t yet reached the ears of every college student across the country. The underground music scene moved differently in those days—without internet or widespread media exposure, word of mouth played a massive role in how new artists found audiences.

In that context, Morrison spinning Dylan’s record in 1963 might not mean he “discovered” Dylan in the literal sense, but it does suggest he was ahead of the curve—already in tune with a revolutionary sound and eager to share it with others. To the students at that party, Dylan may have still been a mystery. Morrison, whether consciously or not, was helping spread the word.

The Deeper Connection

Beyond the “who discovered who” angle, what makes this debate so fascinating is how much Dylan and Morrison actually have in common. Both were literary-minded, enigmatic, and spiritually driven artists who challenged mainstream ideas about what lyrics could be. Dylan was influenced by Beat poets and folk storytelling; Morrison by Arthur Rimbaud, Nietzsche, and Native American shamanism. Their styles diverged, but they both chased transcendence through music and words.

Could Dylan have influenced Morrison’s writing? Absolutely. Could Morrison have helped shape the listening habits of those around him by championing Dylan early on? That’s also likely. But did Morrison “make” Dylan famous? Probably not—and that’s okay.

Why the Debate Matters

At its core, this debate isn’t really about who put who on—it’s about how fans construct meaning around their heroes. The idea that Morrison might have helped introduce Dylan to others adds a layer of mystique to both men. It connects them, however briefly, in the kind of near-mythic way that makes music history so endlessly fascinating.

In the end, we don’t need to pick sides. Whether you’re team Dylan or team Morrison (or both), the story adds one more colorful thread to the tapestry of ’60s rock lore. Maybe the truth lies somewhere in the middle: Dylan was already on his way to greatness, but Morrison—restless, brilliant, and hungry for the new—was one of the first to see it and say, “You have to hear this guy.”

And if that’s not putting someone on, what is?