# Oldest Main Stream Musician Still Kicking? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 19, 2012, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320 "2012-02-19T13:13:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/1 "2012-02-19T13:13:09Z")
My SO was watching a show about the Rolling Stones tonight and after viewing Keith Richards (dead but won’t lay down) we were trying to work out who is the one from that era- or earlier- that is still going. Obviously “mainstream” is a very loose definition, but I wasn’t really thinking of Shirley temple or someone else who had a few hits. A lot died young, and a lot lost traction and disappeared. I was thinking of that old bat Tina Turner, and possibly Gerry Marsden from Gerry and the Pacemakers. Of all of the ones I could think of though, Kris Kristofferson is the ace. He must have seen so much during his career and is still kicking. I did think of Willie Nelson, who is remarkably only 3 years older (he always seemed 140) but I can’t come up with anyone else. Any offers? ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/2 "2012-02-19T13:18:16Z")
[Acker Bilk](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acker_Bilk), 83. There was an interview with him last week where he said that he was sick of ‘Stranger On The Shore’ [Leonard Cohen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_cohen), 77. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/3 "2012-02-19T13:24:14Z")
If you count Rolling Stones/Keith Richard, there are a whole bunch at about their age that are still kicking and doing fine such as Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck, Ron Wood, Pete Townshend, Paul McCartney etc etc. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/4 "2012-02-19T13:25:24Z")
So quickly! Thanks. In a million years I would not have thought of Acker Bilk- and I just thought of leon Russell etc. Acker Bilk will take some beating though. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/5 "2012-02-19T13:26:55Z")
Sorry Brittekland- didn’t see your post until after I answered. There seem a heap around 70 ish- I was thinking of someone slightly older. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/6 "2012-02-19T13:31:18Z")
How about [Tony Bennett](http://tonybennett.com/), 85? Good lord, the man is still touring! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/7 "2012-02-19T13:35:48Z")
BB King still tours. He is 86. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/8 "2012-02-19T13:50:55Z")
If you’re talking about specifically someone from the rock ‘n’ roll scene, [John Mayall](http://www.johnmayall.com/bio.html) is 78 and still touring and recording. Little Richard is 79 and still performs, though he doesn’t actually tour AFAIK. Fats Domino is 83, but his last performance documented on Wikipedia was three years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/9 "2012-02-19T13:58:07Z")
George Jones is 80, and still performs. Ralph Stanley is 84, and also still touring. I suspect there will be a few country or bluegrass performers even older, but I can’t think of any more in their 80s. ETA Pete Seeger is 92, and was still active a couple of years ago. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/10 "2012-02-19T14:05:44Z")
A lot of the oldies bands such as the Beach Boys and Kingsmen are playing at casinos. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/11 "2012-02-19T14:18:53Z")
> [@GreenElf](#): > > A lot of the oldies bands such as the Beach Boys and Kingsmen are playing at casinos. True, but the Beach Boys are not the original line up. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/12 "2012-02-19T14:35:27Z")
He’s not touring, as far as I know, but Chuck Berry still performs regularly in the St. Louis area. He’s 85. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/13 "2012-02-19T14:43:54Z")
Vera Lynn, who got a Grammy in 2009 at the age of 92, is still going. I have her as a unique pick in the Death Pool. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/14 "2012-02-19T14:55:01Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Vera Lynn, who got a Grammy in 2009 at the age of 92, is still going. > > I have her as a unique pick in the Death Pool. Does anybody here remember Vera Lynn? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/15 "2012-02-19T14:57:29Z")
_Raises hand_ Yes, yes they do. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/16 "2012-02-19T15:00:31Z")
I don’t know if Ed Cassidy still plays anymore but the former drummer for Spirit is 88. His stepson, Randy California who was also in the band, unfortunately drowned 15 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/17 "2012-02-19T15:00:57Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Vera Lynn, who got a Grammy in 2009 at the age of 92, is still going. > > I have her as a unique pick in the Death Pool. She’s still alive but (according to Wiki) hasn’t performed in nearly 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/18 "2012-02-19T15:02:39Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > Acker Bilk will take some beating though. Care to rephrase this? ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/19 "2012-02-19T15:05:01Z")
[“Vera! Vera! What has become of you?”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPfGYnU5Rlw) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/20 "2012-02-19T15:09:29Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > She’s still alive but (according to Wiki) hasn’t performed in nearly 20 years. The title and OP said “still kicking”, not “still performing” And I did make a mistake about the Grammy. In 2009 she topped the British charts, not won a Grammy. So sue me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320.md?page=2)