# Singers 50+ who can still hit the high notes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 25, 2010, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317 "2010-01-25T03:19:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/1 "2010-01-25T03:19:44Z")
Most singers that I am aware of are no longer able to hit high notes by the time they’re 50 years old or so. So I was a little surprised a few weeks ago when I was watching VH1 (or VH1 Classic) and they showed ZZ Top Live in Texas which was recorded in 2007. Billy Gibbons fiddles with his guitar for a second then kind of hows “oowww” and has the audience do it, then he does it again and then the third time he does it really high pitched and then laughs cause he took the audience by surprise. So I’m curious, what other singers do you know of who are 50 or older who can still hit the high notes? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/2 "2010-01-25T03:32:23Z")
I’m over 50 but not famous but, when singing along with the radio, I draw comfort that the singer can’t hit that note anymore, either. Even The Big O had kd lang to do the heavy lifting, just in case: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-EiKPrAOHA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-EiKPrAOHA) It was nip and tuck at first, but in the end she was mixed down as my main man hit the notes God wanted him to. ETA: I think I’ll listen to it anther time or two. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/3 "2010-01-25T04:08:26Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I’m over 50 but not famous but, when singing along with the radio, I draw comfort that the singer can’t hit that note anymore, either. > > Even The Big O had kd lang to do the heavy lifting, just in case: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-EiKPrAOHA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-EiKPrAOHA) > > It was nip and tuck at first, but in the end she was mixed down as my main man hit the notes God wanted him to. > > ETA: I think I’ll listen to it anther time or two. I saw Roy Orbison at the Austin Aqua Fest just a few months before he died. He LOOKED absolutely ridiculous. He must have been 58, but was still trying to look like a Fifties biker. But he sang magnificently, and hit EVERY high note, seemingly without effort. And a few years back, I saw the Everly Brothers, who must have been pushing 70, performing with Simon & Garfunkel. Phil Everly still sounded terriffic, much better than his imitator, Art Garfunkel. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/4 "2010-01-25T04:35:32Z")
A great falsetto can last. I can only imagine the magnificence of a great castrato, since the Vatican’s last wasn’t that great and I’m not about to volunteer. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/5 "2010-01-25T04:41:26Z")
Can Frankie Valli still do it? I don’t even know if he still performs but he could for quite a while, I’m pretty sure. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/6 "2010-01-25T04:44:49Z")
As I tried to think of more examples, I think that, even though he can’t hold a note for very long any more, I think Steve Tyler still might be able to get his voice fairly high. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/7 "2010-01-25T05:05:14Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Can Frankie Valli still do it? I don’t even know if he still performs but he could for quite a while, I’m pretty sure. My 68 year old uncle went to see Frankie Valli a few years back. He says that, after the first song, Vallie tells the audience candidly, “Folks, I’m gonna tell you a secret- I’m not 19 years old any more. I can’t sing falsetto, and I’m not even going to try. I hope we’ll all have a good time anyway.” According to my uncle, the audience laughed, gave Frankie a big hand, and he went on to do a perfectly fine show. ---
**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:** [January 25, 2010, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/8 "2010-01-25T05:15:08Z")
The Bee Gees are still hitting the high notes. I got worried after Maurice died. They were talking about stopping. Looks like they are finally going to make new music again. > **[Bee Gees interview](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/6502249/Bee-Gees-interview.html)** > > They might be celebrating 50 years in music with a new compilation album, The Ultimate Bee Gees, but the surviving members are in reflective mood. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/9 "2010-01-25T05:41:35Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > As I tried to think of more examples, I think that, even though he can’t hold a note for very long any more, I think Steve Tyler still might be able to get his voice fairly high. I can’t let that pass without pointing out that the man who actually _raised_ Liv Tyler [can still hit the high notes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnKbvF49QnI#t=6m33s) from an album he recorded when he was in his early 20s. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/10 "2010-01-25T05:45:40Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > I can’t let that pass without pointing out that the man who actually _raised_ Liv Tyler [can still hit the high notes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnKbvF49QnI#t=6m33s) from an album he recorded when he was in his early 20s. I almost forgot about him. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/11 "2010-01-25T05:53:23Z")
Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) is 51 now and can still hit the high notes. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/12 "2010-01-25T05:55:48Z")
> [@Nobody](#): > > I almost forgot about him. Thanks. Forgot to mention that Todd is 61. He is taking this tour, playing his classic album “A Wizard/A True Star” in it’s entirety Feb 6th in London and Feb 8th in Amsterdam. Todd’s been recording new music since his 1970s heyday, doing some great stuff that has been heard only by his fans, trying to avoid the trap of being a “nostalgia act” that some would prefer. So he approached this tour as a theatrical event with a dozen costume changes. Lots of fun and great music. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/13 "2010-01-25T13:57:24Z")
Looks like Ray Davies is still hitting the high notes on [Waterloo Sunset](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b2duP2emgA). ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/14 "2010-01-25T14:51:18Z")
Tom Jones appears to still be able to belt out notes. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/15 "2010-01-25T14:59:39Z")
Interesting sidebar: it’s not always the HIGH notes that are a problem. Anyone who’s seen Neil Diamond over the past 10-15 years knows he can’t hit the LOW notes anymore. When he comes to a line with low notes, he SHOUTS the line rather than singing it. And if a song has SEVERAL consecutive lines with low notes? He turns the song into an audience sing-along. ---
**Author:** ![tacoloco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/16 "2010-01-25T15:04:35Z")
> [@HongKongFooey](#): > > Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden) is 51 now and can still hit the high notes. No kidding. I watched Flight 666 recently and the guy is still in top singing shape. Tom Jones too as someone else mentioned. > [@aceplace57](#): > > The Bee Gees are still hitting the high notes. I got worried after Maurice died. They were talking about stopping. Looks like they are finally going to make new music again. It makes me a little sad, though. Mo was my favorite Bee Gee. It was a long time before I learned that he played bass on pretty much all of the Bee Gee records. The guy was a rock solid, creative player. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/17 "2010-01-25T17:16:59Z")
Tony freaking Bennett. It’s not that the notes are SO high, but the dude is 84 years old and he tends to finish off his songs with a high (and loud, full-voiced) flourish. And he gets out there and sings a decently full repertoire of them, too. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/18 "2010-01-25T18:05:28Z")
Phillip Bailey from Earth, Wind and Fire. He is 60+, and has been hitting those high notes for over 40 years. And he can sing about 3 or four notes _higher_ now. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/19 "2010-01-25T18:29:42Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Interesting sidebar: it’s not always the HIGH notes that are a problem. Anyone who’s seen Neil Diamond over the past 10-15 years knows he can’t hit the LOW notes anymore. > > When he comes to a line with low notes, he SHOUTS the line rather than singing it. > > And if a song has SEVERAL consecutive lines with low notes? He turns the song into an audience sing-along. Sadly, he’s been doing that for quiet a while now. ---
**Author:** ![Rafe\_Hollister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Rafe\_Hollister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rafe_Hollister)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317/20 "2010-01-25T18:41:12Z")
Septugenarian Bluegrass singer, Grammy award winner, member of the Grand Old Opry Del McCoury is the king of the high lonesome sound. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXVi639aKlQ](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXVi639aKlQ) [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otV\_k-K5oN8](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otV_k-K5oN8) [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3Is\_C5KIVs](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3Is_C5KIVs) [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmQ0RTVFeH4](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmQ0RTVFeH4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singers-50-who-can-still-hit-the-high-notes/526317.md?page=2)