Photo: Columbia Records / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Roger McGuinn is one of those musicians who quietly shaped the entire sound of a decade without ever getting quite the household-name recognition he deserves. As the frontman of the Byrds, he essentially invented folk rock — that chiming, electric twelve-string Rickenbacker tone he coaxed out on Mr. Tambourine Man is one of the most instantly recognizable sounds in rock history, and he did it by electrifying Bob Dylan before most people even knew what that meant. What I love about McGuinn is that he's a genuine craftsman first and a celebrity last — the guy just kept playing, kept collaborating with Dylan and Tom Petty, and kept touring long after most acts from the sixties had either quit or gone nostalgia-tour on autopilot. His Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 1991 was well earned, but honestly the real monument is every jangly guitar riff that came after him.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Roger McGuinn
- Name (Japanese)
- ロジャー・マッギン
- Reading
- ろじゃー・まっぎん
- Born
- July 13, 1942 (age 84)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Cancer / Horse
- Origin
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Occupation
- singer-songwriter / singer / guitarist / composer / musician
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- MOJO Awards
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Roger McGuinn born?
Born July 13, 1942 (age 84).
Where is Roger McGuinn from?
Roger McGuinn is from Chicago, Illinois, United States.
What does Roger McGuinn do?
Roger McGuinn works as singer-songwriter, singer, guitarist, composer, musician.
Singer-songwriter — see all → · Singer — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.