In February 1961, Dylan has played at various clubs in Greenwich Village. In September, he finally received public recognition whenRobert Shelton wrote a positive review in the series New York Times Gerde's Folk City in. The same month, Dylan played harmonica in third eponymous album, the folk singer Carolyn Hester, who brought his talent to the attention of the album producer John HammondHammond signed Dylan to Columbia Records in October. Performance at Columbia's first album, Bob Dylan (1962), consisted of familiar folk blues and gospel material combined with two original compositions. This album made little impact, selling only 5,000 copies in its first year, just enough to break even. In Columbia Records, a singer known as the "madness of Hammond and suggested abandoning the contract. Dylan Hammond defended vigorously. While working for British, Dylan has also recorded some songs under the pseudonym Blind Boy Grunt, flyers Magazine, a magazine of folk music and record label.
Dylan is in two major stages of career in August 1962. He legally changed his name to Bob Dylan, and has signed a management contract with Albert Grossman. Grossman remained until 1970 Director of Dylan, and is also famous for his personality, sometimes confrontational, and fiercely protective loyalty he displayed to his main client. Dylan later said Grossman, "It aColonel guy like Tom Parker figure ... you can feel it coming. "Tensions between Grossman and John Hammond Hammond who was replaced as the second largest producer of albums by Dylan Young African-American jazz producer Tom Wilson.
From December 1962 to January 1963, Dylan made his first trip to England. He was invited by a TV director Philip Saville to play in a play, House of Fools in Castle Street, Saville has directed for BBC television. At the end of the piece, played Dylan's "Blowin 'in the Wind", one of the first major public performances of the song. While in London, Dylan appeared in some folk clubs of London, The Cousins, The Pinder of Wakefield, and Bunjies. He also learned new songs from English players, including Martin Carthy.
Second time Dylan album, The Freewheelin 'Bob Dylan, released in May 1963, he began making his name as both singer and composer. Many songs on this album is marked protest songs, inspired partly by Guthrie and Pete Seeger influenced by the desire of topical songs. "Oxford Town", for example, in the event of sardonic James Meredith as the first black student at risk of entry to the University of Mississippi.