Though he's less than three years away from his 80th birthday, blues legend B.B. King [ tickets ] continues to tour at a pace that would test the stamina of a 20-year-old.

The Itta Bene, Miss.-born singer-guitarist has lined up an extensive winter tour that will visit his usual mix of clubs, casinos and theaters. He typically plays well over 100 concerts each year.

King's latest major release is 2001's "A Christmas Celebration of Hope," the first Christmas collection of his career. He also turned up on Tony Bennett's 2001 album "Playing With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues."

King is nominated for two GRAMMY^® awards this year: Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "Auld Lang Syne" from "A Christmas Celebration of Hope," and Best Traditional Blues Album for "A Christmas Celebration of Hope." The GRAMMYs air on February 23 on CBS.

In 2001, King took home two GRAMMYs^®: Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "Is You Is, or Is You Ain't (My Baby)" with Dr. John, and Best Traditional Blues Album for "Riding with the King" with Eric Clapton.

Over his 60-year recording career, King has released more than 50 albums. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.