Bob Dylan is one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, known for his poetic lyrics and distinctive voice. His life has been full of interesting and often dramatic incidents that have shaped his career and his legacy.

Born Robert Zimmerman in Duluth, Minnesota in 1941, Dylan was raised in a Jewish family and showed an early interest in music. He began playing guitar and harmonica as a teenager, and was heavily influenced by the folk music scene in New York City.

In the early 1960s, Dylan became a fixture of the Greenwich Village folk scene, playing clubs and coffeehouses and quickly gaining a reputation as a talented songwriter. His breakthrough came in 1963, when he released his second album, "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan," which included such classic songs as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right."

Over the next few years, Dylan would become a leading figure in the counterculture movement, using his music to speak out against war, social injustice, and other political issues. He famously plugged in his electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, causing a controversy among his folk-music fans who saw it as a betrayal of their genre.

In the late 1960s, Dylan went through a period of personal turmoil, including a motorcycle accident that left him with a broken neck and a long recovery period. During this time, he withdrew from the public eye and focused on writing and recording new music.

In the 1970s, Dylan's career took on a new direction as he embraced rock and roll and collaborated with a new generation of musicians. He released a string of critically acclaimed albums, including "Blood on the Tracks" and "Desire," and toured extensively around the world.

Throughout his career, Dylan has faced both praise and criticism for his music and his political views. He has won numerous awards, including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2016, and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Today, as he turns 82, Dylan continues to write and perform music, and his influence can be heard in the work of countless artists who have followed in his footsteps. His life and his music have left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of the 20th century and beyond.