Audio slideshow: Bob Dylan at 70

He's a prolific singer-songwriter, poet and painter - and one of the figureheads for the generation who fought for civil rights and social change in 1960s USA.

To mark Bob Dylan's 70th birthday, take a look back at his life and music with author Michael Gray - who, in 1972, wrote the first critical study of Dylan's work, Song and Dance Man: The Art of Bob Dylan.

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Some images courtesy AP, PA, Rex Features, Getty Images and Sony Music.

Music by Bob Dylan. Includes archive audio from NBC News and Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour (Grey Water Park Productions).

Slideshow production by Paul Kerley. Publication date 23 May 2011.

Related:

Bob Dylan's website

Michael Gray's website

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Remembering John Lennon

Rock's music: The Photography of Mick Rock

World view - Travel Photographer of the Year

When Tracey Emin met John Humphrys

John Barry's music