The title pretty much says it all. I’m trying to identify the oldest person to sing or play an instrument in a song that was in the top 40. I’d like to exclude peope who had a hit song in 1960something that became popular again decades later for whatever reason (thus the guys who did that Unchained Melody song that was popular after the move Ghost came out are SOL).
For my contribution, ISTR reading somewhere that a jazz musician named Tito Puente was in his 80’s when he played an instrument on some jazz remix song (Swing the Mood, perhaps?) that was popular for a week or so in the late 80’s. But I may just be imagining that.
Actually, now that I think about it, some of the original tracks for Swing the Mood were recorded in the 40’s and 50’s and remixed for the song (as opposed to being recorded specifically for that song), so my original contribution doesn’t count.
It wouldn’t surprise me if the soundtrack for the movie Amadeus had slipped into the Top 40 when the movie was at its peak of popularity, but this likely violates your “no rereleases” rule.
Moms Mabley, with her rendition of “Abraham, Martin and John” in 1969. It was a cover, but a cover of something contemporary to the time, not released decades later. She was 70.
Walloon, I think Casdave and Julius Henry are referring to the British charts and not the U.S. Hot 100.
Anyway, I’m not sure this is the record, but I think the last time Sinatra had a single in the charts, he was well into his 70’s. I also think he was almost 80 when his Duets albums came out and charted.