Oldest Performer You've Seen Who Was Still Excellent

Saw McCartney last summer (he was 74) and Billy Joel last summer (he was 67). Both were fantastic. Also saw Ringo in 2014 (he was 74) and he was also great.

 

Alice cooper. This week.
Still very much at the top of his game

 

John Lee Hooker

 

Earl Scruggs @ Hardly Strictly, 2011.

 

Delbert McClinton, 2007

 

Saw the Oak Ridge Boys last Saturday and they were fantastic. Group members aged 69-78.

 

Going to see a 78-year-old Ian Hunter tonight. From what I've read, the show in L.A. last night was pretty great.

 

Johnny Cash

 

Richard Thompson

 

I saw Dick about thirteen years ago and it was a superb show, also at around the same time I saw David Allan Coe. Also great.

Both are still gigging. I understand Mr. Dale is in pretty sad shape but have not seen him in person.

 

I saw Chuck Berry in the early 1970's and he absolutely killed it. It's almost impossible to get up there at almost 90 years old and still do what you did in your prime. John Lee Hooker and B B King were doing the same thing and really irritating their fans. I think Grace Slick had the right philosophy. She quit while she was ahead of the game.

 

Love them also!

 

Stefane Grapelli

 

Ravi Shankar was 89 when I saw him at Carnegie Hall in 2009. It was mesmerizing.

 

I saw Doc Cheatham live in 1995 when he was 90 years old. He was great.

 

Jeff Beck is awesome but as for other guitarists of his generation there's John Mclaughlin who is a year older than Jeff and plays incredibly demanding material. Jeff calls him the greatest musician alive.

 

He was sharp into his late 60s!

RIP

 

Paul McCartney 5 years ago.

 

Willie Nelson. I saw him five days ago and I thought he was great.

 

Gary Brooker (72) two weeks ago and Ritchie Blackmore (72) last month. Both superb!

 

It's amazing how these folks are kinda redefining what it means to be old. For the most part, they're not confined to their porch waving their canes and saying, "Back in my day...". They're still out there, great or not, making music and performing for big crowds. For what it's worth, I'm glad these people didn't hang it up at 30. They're proving that artists can still be vital long after the normal age rock rock music retirement.

 

Tony Bennett, some years back, at Neil Young's Bridge School benefit. He was 78 at the time and totally killed it. The crowd loved him.

 

Tina Turner, who was the BEST, I might add. It was a while back.
She is my Grandmother's age, which I can't imagine her rocking out in her 5o's and 6o's........

 

French singer Charles Aznavour on the day he turned 89 - May 22 2013. His voice was perfect and he moved effortlessly on stage, even dancing a little.

 

Ian Hunter last week at 78