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Singer and songwriter Bob Dylan is photographed in 1963.
Singer and songwriter Bob Dylan is photographed in 1963.
William C. Eckenberg/The New York Times/Redux
Entertainment

In pictures: The legendary Bob Dylan

Updated 11:35 AM EST, Tue January 28, 2025
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Bob Dylan is one of the world's most influential singers and songwriters.

Dylan has sold more than 125 million records during his career, which has spanned over 60 years, and he's still performing today. Some of his most famous songs include "The Times They Are a-Changin'," "Like a Rolling Stone" and "Blowin' in the Wind."

In 2008, Dylan won a Pulitzer Prize special citation for "his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power." In 2016, Dylan was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for "having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition."

In 2020, Dylan sold his entire catalog of songs — more than 600 — to the Universal Music Publishing Group. The New York Times estimated the deal to be worth more than $300 million.

"It's no secret that the art of songwriting is the fundamental key to all great music, nor is it a secret that Bob is one of the very greatest practitioners of that art," said Sir Lucian Grainge, the CEO of Universal Music Group. "Brilliant and moving, inspiring and beautiful, insightful and provocative, his songs are timeless — whether they were written more than half a century ago or yesterday."

Dylan performs at The Bitter End folk club in New York City in 1961. His first album, "Bob Dylan," came out in 1962 and consisted mostly of old folk songs.
Dylan performs at The Bitter End folk club in New York City in 1961. His first album, "Bob Dylan," came out in 1962 and consisted mostly of old folk songs.
Sigmund Goode/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images
Dylan plays the guitar at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1963. Dylan was known in his early career for playing the guitar and the harmonica, and for his distinctive vocal phrasing.
Dylan plays the guitar at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1963. Dylan was known in his early career for playing the guitar and the harmonica, and for his distinctive vocal phrasing.
Rowland Scherman/Getty Images
Dylan performs "Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues" during rehearsals for "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1963. Because of the song's political content, the network told him to perform a different song on the broadcast. <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftime.com%2F3847730%2Fbob-dylan-ed-sullivan-john-birch%2F" target="_blank">Dylan refused and walked out</a>.
Dylan performs "Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues" during rehearsals for "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1963. Because of the song's political content, the network told him to perform a different song on the broadcast. Dylan refused and walked out.
CBS/Getty Images
Dylan and singer Joan Baez perform together at the March on Washington, a historic civil rights rally in 1963. The two collaborated often in the 1960s and were linked romantically for a short time.
Dylan and singer Joan Baez perform together at the March on Washington, a historic civil rights rally in 1963. The two collaborated often in the 1960s and were linked romantically for a short time.
Rowland Scherman/National Archive/Newsmakers/Getty Images
Dylan holds a camera on the top of a car in Massachusetts in 1964.
Dylan holds a camera on the top of a car in Massachusetts in 1964.
John Byrne Cooke Estate/Getty Images
Dylan records his album "Bringing It All Back Home" in 1965. The album was a mix of acoustic and electric guitar. Dylan's move to electric was controversial at the time. Some fans wanted him to stick with the acoustic music they were used to hearing from him.
Dylan records his album "Bringing It All Back Home" in 1965. The album was a mix of acoustic and electric guitar. Dylan's move to electric was controversial at the time. Some fans wanted him to stick with the acoustic music they were used to hearing from him.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Dylan smokes a cigarette as D.A. Pennebaker films "Don't Look Back," a documentary film about Dylan's tour of England in 1965.
Dylan smokes a cigarette as D.A. Pennebaker films "Don't Look Back," a documentary film about Dylan's tour of England in 1965.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Dylan is escorted past fans as he arrives at a London airport in 1965.
Dylan is escorted past fans as he arrives at a London airport in 1965.
Mirrorpix/Everett Collection
Dylan sits with a puppet as he faces the media at a hotel in Paris in 1966.
Dylan sits with a puppet as he faces the media at a hotel in Paris in 1966.
Pierre Godot/AP
Dylan performs with country singer Johnny Cash on Cash's show in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1969.
Dylan performs with country singer Johnny Cash on Cash's show in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1969.
Miachael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Dylan plays at the Isle of Wight Festival in England in 1969.
Dylan plays at the Isle of Wight Festival in England in 1969.
Brian Moody/Shutterstock
Nearly 200,000 fans wait for Dylan to perform at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1969. The stage is on the bottom left.
Nearly 200,000 fans wait for Dylan to perform at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1969. The stage is on the bottom left.
PA Images/Getty Images
Dylan performs with former Beatle George Harrison at Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh in 1971.
Dylan performs with former Beatle George Harrison at Harrison's Concert for Bangladesh in 1971.
Bill Ray/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Dylan speaks at the Mariposa Folk Festival on Toronto's Olympic Island in 1972.
Dylan speaks at the Mariposa Folk Festival on Toronto's Olympic Island in 1972.
Keith Beaty/Toronto Star/Getty Images
Dylan appears in a scene from the 1973 film "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid." Dylan also recorded the soundtrack for the film.
Dylan appears in a scene from the 1973 film "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid." Dylan also recorded the soundtrack for the film.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Getty Images
Dylan, center, performs with Van Morrison, left, and Robbie Robertson of The Band at a concert in San Francisco in 1976.
Dylan, center, performs with Van Morrison, left, and Robbie Robertson of The Band at a concert in San Francisco in 1976.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Dylan performs in London in 1978.
Dylan performs in London in 1978.
Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Dylan attends a bar mitzvah for one of his sons at the Western Wall in Jerusalem in 1983.
Dylan attends a bar mitzvah for one of his sons at the Western Wall in Jerusalem in 1983.
Zavi Cohen/AP
Dylan and Tom Petty pose for a portrait circa 1986. They toured together that year.
Dylan and Tom Petty pose for a portrait circa 1986. They toured together that year.
Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty Images
Dylan and Bruce Springsteen perform "Forever Young" at a concert for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.
Dylan and Bruce Springsteen perform "Forever Young" at a concert for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.
Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images
Dylan talks with James Brown, "The Godfather of Soul," in 1990.
Dylan talks with James Brown, "The Godfather of Soul," in 1990.
Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images
Pope John Paul II greets Dylan, who performed at a concert in the Pope's honor in Bologna, Italy, in 1997.
Pope John Paul II greets Dylan, who performed at a concert in the Pope's honor in Bologna, Italy, in 1997.
Arturo Mari/AP
Dylan and other Kennedy Center honorees stand for the National Anthem with President Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Clinton in 1997.
Dylan and other Kennedy Center honorees stand for the National Anthem with President Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Clinton in 1997.
Larry Downing/Reuters
Dylan performs "Love Sick" alongside performance artist Michael Portney at the 1998 Grammy Awards. Portnoy had been hired as part of the background dancers for the performance, but his shirtless interruption was not planned and he was carted off stage.
Dylan performs "Love Sick" alongside performance artist Michael Portnoy at the 1998 Grammy Awards. Portnoy had been hired as part of the background dancers for the performance, but his shirtless interruption was not planned and he was carted off stage.
Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images
Dylan has won 10 Grammy Awards in his career and sold more than 125 million records.
Dylan has won 10 Grammy Awards in his career and sold more than 125 million records.
Anonymous/AP
Dylan appears in the 2003 film "Masked and Anonymous" with John Goodman, left, and Luke Wilson. Dylan co-wrote the film under a pseudonym.
Dylan appears in the 2003 film "Masked and Anonymous" with John Goodman, left, and Luke Wilson. Dylan co-wrote the film under a pseudonym.
Lorey Sebastian/BBC/Shutterstock
Dylan is seen at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where he received an honorary degree in 2004.
Dylan is seen at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where he received an honorary degree in 2004.
ROTA/Camera Press/Redux
Dylan performs at the Bluesfest music festival in 2011.
Dylan performs at the Bluesfest music festival in 2011.
Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images
Dylan receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2012. "I remember, you know, in college, listening to Bob Dylan and my world opening up, 'cause he captured something about this country that was so vital," Obama said.
Dylan receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2012. "I remember, you know, in college, listening to Bob Dylan and my world opening up, 'cause he captured something about this country that was so vital," Obama said.
Leigh Vogel/WireImage/Getty Images
Sara Danius announces that Dylan had won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Sara Danius announces that Dylan had won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Jonas Ekstromer/AFP/Getty Images
Patti Smith performs on behalf of Dylan during the Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony in 2016. Dylan wasn't able to attend because of pre-existing commitments. <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2017%2F04%2F01%2Fentertainment%2Fbob-dylan-nobel-prize%2Findex.html" target="_blank">He received his award</a> at a private ceremony five months later.
Patti Smith performs on behalf of Dylan during the Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony in 2016. Dylan wasn't able to attend because of pre-existing commitments. He received his award at a private ceremony five months later.
The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images
Dylan performs with Neil Young at London's Hyde Park in 2019.
Dylan performs with Neil Young at London's Hyde Park in 2019.
Dave J. Hogan/Getty Images for ABA
Dyland and Mike Campbell perform at a Farm Aid concert in Noblesville, Indiana, in 2023.
Dyland and Mike Campbell perform at a Farm Aid concert in Noblesville, Indiana, in 2023.
Gary Miller/Getty Images

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