Though the octogenarian is keeping his tour schedule full, he is scaling things back a bit; earlier this year, King announced that 2006 would be the last year during which he would tour abroad, and that he would "[confine] the bulk of his still numerous live show appearances in future years to North America," according to a press release.

"I think the clock is ticking, yes," King said in a statement. "In fact, I know it is. Frank Sinatra sang about 'the September of [his] years'; I think I'm in the November of my years."

Despite slowing down his international roadwork, King has no plans to retire.

"I'm a diabetic, yes, but I'm pretty healthy," he said. "I'm 80 years old, yes, but I get along very well; I hardly remember I'm 80 unless I have to run up a hill or stairs. As long as people buy my records and come to my concerts, I don't see anything else I'd like to do."

King celebrated his 80th birthday last September, and marked the occasion with that month's release of "80," an album that features the singer/guitarist performing a dozen blues standards with some help from Eric Clapton, Elton John, Roger Daltrey, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Gloria Estefan, Glenn Frey, Mark Knopfler, Billy Gibbons, Bobby Bland and Daryl Hall.

In February, "80" won the Grammy award for Best Traditional Blues Album, bringing King's lifetime Grammy tally to 14 trophies.

Born on Sept. 16, 1925, King joined the ranks of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and has released more than 50 albums over the course of his recording career.