How Greenwich Village Shaped American Music: David Browne’s New Book Tells the Story

Few places have shaped American music and culture quite like New York’s Greenwich Village.

From the folk revival of the 1950s to the punk explosion of the 1970s, “the Village” has been home to legends, outsiders, and game-changers. In his new book Talkin’ Greenwich Village, veteran Rolling Stone journalist David Browne dives deep into the stories behind the scene—chronicling the rise of artists like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and the Lovin’ Spoonful, and honoring the lesser-known figures who helped build the Village’s creative legacy.

We spoke with Browne about the music, the mayhem, and the myth of this one-of-a-kind neighborhood.

Image: Musicians in Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village. (Credit Carole Teller’s Changing New York/archive.gvshp.org)