# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/41 "2012-02-19T23:50:27Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Didn’t realize you were one of the ones who replied. Must have missed that. Maybe I can convince you that’s because your eyesight is fading / your brain is calcified? -Or I could admit I couldn’t resist the chance to cite Waters and Gilmour as “still kicking” while snarking at your post. Nothing personal. I’m just old. ---
**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, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/42 "2012-02-19T23:57:22Z")
Patty Andrews of the Andrews Sisters (“Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”) turned 94 just three days ago. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/43 "2012-02-20T00:21:15Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > [Dave Brubeck’](http://www.davebrubeck.com/live/) most recent show was August of last year. He’s _92_. What I was going to mention. The guy has a full itinerary for this year, also. ---
**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 20, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/44 "2012-02-20T02:12:31Z")
> [@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. Really? My picks: Gough Whitlam Vera Lynn Dick Van Dyke Michael Douglas Mikhail Gorbochov… ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/45 "2012-02-20T04:02:00Z")
Not strictly mainstream, a gospel musician, but [George Beverly Shea](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Beverly_Shea) just celebrated his 103rd birthday. I believe he still performs occasionally, or did until recently. Best known as songleader and soloist for the Billy Graham travelling salvation show. SS ---
**Author:** ![pompeybear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8c91f0/32.png) [@pompeybear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pompeybear)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/46 "2012-02-20T04:45:35Z")
My boss, who is 69, loves Little Jimmy Dickens. I believe Dickens is 91 and still performing. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/47 "2012-02-20T07:13:17Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Another longevity record must belong to ZZ Top. I was in Houston last week and their concert there this month was being advertised. The line-up of Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard have been performing together since 1969. I think the OP is looking for musicians who have reached very advanced ages for their professions and lifestyles , such as their 80s or 90s. Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard are all 62. Relative spring chickens compared to some of the others. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/48 "2012-02-20T07:19:46Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > What I was going to mention. **The guy has a full itinerary for this year, also.** Dates? Can’t see anything on his page or Ticketmaster. Where else should I look? ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/49 "2012-02-20T07:58:50Z")
Still on the younger side but Bob Dylan is 71. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/50 "2012-02-20T08:06:42Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > BB King still tours. He is 86. I came in to mention him because he gave a concert where I live just last night that got standing ovations and two encores. All the more impressive when you consider that in addition to being 86 he has diabetes, has had heart attacks, and however much stress and strain having kids with more than a dozen women must bring. An article on him a few years ago mentioned that financially he’s as comfortable as you can get. In addition to having plenty for his own needs he set up trust funds for his kids, a $1 million+ trust fund just for his grandchildren and future descendants’ education, and gave more than $1 million to Katrina related charities in the last few years, so he could afford to retire anytime he wants to, but he loves what he does. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/51 "2012-02-20T08:19:00Z")
I saw Loretta Lynn perform last summer and she sounded terrific. She’s 86. Paul Simon is now 70 and still looks and sounds great. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/52 "2012-02-21T05:32:46Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Dates? Can’t see anything on his page or Ticketmaster. Where else should I look? Damn. I didn’t look at the dates on his home page, which were for last year. Maybe he’s given it up. Benny Golson is still playing, or was last year at 81. We just saw Charles McPherson this evening; looks like death, but still wails a mean alto at 72. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/53 "2012-02-21T05:54:14Z")
Fats Domino had to be rescued from his New Orleans home after the Katrina flooding. AFAIK he still plays once in awhile around New Orleans. He’s 83. Pete Seeger may be the oldest out there. From Peter, Paul and Mary. Pete is 92. I recall a few years ago he misplaced his banjo. I think he left in a cab or something. I read a day or so later that someone returned it to him. He was at Obama’s inauguration. > [@](#): > > On January 18, 2009, Seeger joined Bruce Springsteen, grandson Tao Rodríguez-Seeger, and the crowd in singing the Woody Guthrie song “This Land Is Your Land” in the finale of Barack Obama’s Inaugural concert in Washington, D.C Found the lost banjo article. 😉 [http://brainerddispatch.com/stories/082200/nne\_0822000024.shtml](http://brainerddispatch.com/stories/082200/nne_0822000024.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/54 "2012-02-21T05:57:34Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Pete Seeger may be the oldest out there. From Peter, Paul and Mary. No, that’s [Peter Yarrow](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Yarrow). PP&M did some Pete Seeger songs, but he wasn’t in the group. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/55 "2012-02-21T06:02:44Z")
My mistake. Got my Peters mixed up. 😃 Speaking of Peter Yarrow, he was on early morning tv in 2010 and he’s 73 now. Sadly Mary Travers just died a couple years ago. PPM were together again singing in 2006. > [@](#): > > Yarrow performed the world premiere of the Colonoscopy Song on the CBS early morning program The Early Show on March 9, 2010. > **[File:Peter, Paul and Mary 2006.jpg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Peter,_Paul_and_Mary_2006.jpg)** > > Click on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. > You cannot overwrite this file. The following 2 pages use this file: > The following other wikis use this file: ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2012, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/56 "2012-02-21T13:53:17Z")
Keely Smith is 79 and performed at the 2008 Grammy Awards. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320/57 "2012-02-22T04:16:20Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > I saw Loretta Lynn perform last summer and she sounded terrific. She’s 86. > > Paul Simon is now 70 and still looks and sounds great. Loretta is only 76. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oldest-main-stream-musician-still-kicking/613320.md?page=2)