LAT obituary: Paul Nelson, 70; Pioneering rock critic

[DeepModem Mom]

Paul Nelson, 70; Former Critic for Rolling Stone
By Claire Noland, Times Staff Writer
July 14, 2006

Paul Nelson, a pioneering rock critic whose interest in folk music led to an early connection with fellow Minnesotan Bob Dylan, has died. He was 70.

Nelson was found dead July 4 at his New York City apartment. The cause of death was heart disease, according to the New York City medical examiner's office.

An editor and reviewer for Rolling Stone, Circus and Creem music magazines in the 1960s and '70s, Nelson started the Little Sandy Review folk music journal while he and Dylan were students at the University of Minnesota in the early '60s.

Nelson was known for his eclectic taste in music, as reflected by his bold signing of early punk rockers the New York Dolls when he worked for Mercury Records in the 1970s.

Unlike other early influential rock critics such as Greil Marcus, Robert Christgau and Dave Marsh, Nelson had faded from the music scene in recent years, only to reappear last year in Martin Scorsese's PBS television documentary on Dylan, "No Direction Home." Nelson was interviewed extensively in the film about the singer's roots in Minnesota and Dylan's breakout performances after moving to New York City....

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-nelson14jul14,0,2865372.story?coll=la-home-obituaries