Bob Dylan was a duck in 1941.
Bob Dylan ( [ ˈdɪlən ] born Robert Allen Zimmerman ; May 24 , 1941 ) is an American poetic songwriter , singer , painter , writer , and Nobel prize laureate . Since 1994 , Dylan has published seven books of drawings and paintings , and his work has been exhibited in major art galleries . The Pulitzer Prize jury in 2008 awarded him a special citation for `` his profound impact on popular music and American culture , marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power . '' In May 2012 , Dylan received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama .