The North 1033 has a long history of celebrating Bob Dylan’s music. Even as the times truly did change here at the Northland’s oldest community, public radio station, our dedication to the preservation and broadcasting of music not found anywhere else did not.
For 33 years, Highway 61 Revisited has been a mainstay of our musically focused programming, and during that time the show, which is solely focused on the music of Bob Dylan, has had two primary hosts. Miriam Hanson is the host nowadays and has been expertly and excitingly helpful as The North 1033 has been celebrating the release of A Complete Unknown during the month of December. She took over the show after the passing of Highway 61 Revisited creator John Bushey back in 2018.
The interview posted here with PBS North’s Karen Sunderman is Bushey’s final interview. In it, he talks about the creation of the show and a variety of other noteworthy Dylan details that aren’t very well known outside the Duluth and Hibbing area.
So, who was John Bushey, and why is he considered an expert on all things Dylan?
That question is best answered by Zane Bail, founding member of the Duluth Dylan Fest. Zane is the COO of the Northland Foundation which funds critical community organizations and projects and has been instrumental in securing support and funding for events for the fans of Bob Dylan for over 15 years. She was a dear friend to John Bushey and continues to carry his legacy forward in maintaining and crafting new relationships of Bob Dylan fans worldwide. These are her words on John’s legacy . . .
By Zane Bail
In the early 1990s, I discovered Highway 61 Revisited, a radio show hosted by John Bushey. It quickly became part of my weekly routine, bringing the magic of Bob Dylan into my life. After moving away for a few years and missing the show—this was long before streaming—I returned to Duluth in 1997 and met a magician named John Bushey. I couldn’t believe that this amazing magician was also the host of my favorite radio show.
It wasn’t until around 2005, when my late husband Don Dass became involved with the Bob Dylan Way Cultural Pathway project, that we grew close to John, one of the world’s top Dylanologists. As luck would have it, we were also neighbors.
As the founding host of Highway 61 Revisited, John played a pivotal role in keeping Dylan’s spirit alive in our city. I believe his efforts laid the groundwork for what has become the annual Duluth Dylan Fest. I’m deeply grateful that John was able to pass the torch to Miriam, who continues to share her passion and knowledge of all things Dylan with our community and listeners around the world.
In reflecting on John’s impact on Duluth, the region, and beyond, I spoke with his sister Barb. Three words came to mind: Giving, Learner/Teacher, and Passion.
John was always there to lend a helping hand. If he couldn’t assist, he likely knew someone who could. We’d often get calls from people worldwide who were on their Dylan pilgrimage, and John was always eager to share his knowledge and even give tours in Duluth and Hibbing.
John’s enthusiasm for learning and teaching was boundless. He was always reading, listening to others’ stories, and immersing himself in anything that piqued his interest—whether it was Bob Dylan, magic, handcuffs, woodworking, or metalworking. He was a phenomenal teacher who inspired his elementary students to love learning, often using Dylan’s lyrics and a bit of sleight of hand in his lessons.
My late husband, Don, always admired John’s passion for so many things—Dylan, Houdini, geology, and much more. John’s passion for life was contagious.
Barb shared that wherever they went, John would run into people who knew him and were thrilled to see him. He had a way of connecting with others that made him a joy to be around. I witnessed this countless times, including once at a Dylan concert in Rochester, Minnesota, when fans recognized John’s voice from the Highway 61 Revisited show. They were excited to meet him and thank him for the program.
John left us too soon in 2018, but his influence and legacy continue to thrive in countless ways. The Duluth Dylan community is especially grateful to The North 103.3 FM for honoring John’s legacy, particularly with the special show airing on December 28. Additionally, the Duluth Dylan Fest pays tribute to John’s impact each year through the John Bushey Memorial Lecture.
John’s influence endures, particularly through the weekly Highway 61 Revisited show, recorded in the John Bushey studio on the campus of his alma mater, UMD. His legacy shines on.
