Do old musicians retire or just keep plugging away?

[DubiousIntentions]

Who did you listen to when you were "younger"?

[SnowedIn]

Some keep plugging away. Some retire. Some scale back. The Beach Boys kept going. Abba retired (sort of). Bruce Springsteen is still going. Billy Joel, sort of. Petula Clark is still singing (watch this video of her with the Saw Doctors and her song Downtown:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ItVEhL-T7qQ

). Cher, oh my goodness... still going. On the other hand, when I was in middle school and listened to Tiffany and Debbie Gibson, I don't think they're making music any more. The Bangles reunited but I don't think they're regularly putting out anything. Kenny Rogers sang until he died. Dolly Parton and Bette Midler still going.

[DubiousIntentions]

I don't think Tiffany (I Think We're Alone Now) had any of her own hits, nor did Debbie Gibson. They were both a flash in the pan, so to speak, and had short careers.

[SnowedIn]

I agree with you! :)

Fun story about Debbie Gibson: as the story goes, she wanted to play Cosette in Les Miserables on Broadway. Didn't make the cut, but some folks at the audition were impressed and they launched her singing career. At least that's the story I heard...

[DubiousIntentions]

It could well be.

[SnowedIn]

Thank you for MHO and for fun questions!

[exitseven]

One of my favorites is Tom Rush. He turned 80 this year and is still touring. I hope to get to see him sometime this summer. This is a song he wrote way back when.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/JV9fXa75NkE

[DubiousIntentions]

Must have been before my time. Way before.

[exitseven]

He was performing back in the 60s. He was the first to record songs written by Joni Mitchell, and
James Taylor. He is a contemporary of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.

[DubiousIntentions]

Sounds like a list of performers at Woodstock.

[exitseven]

Joan Baez was at Woodstock. I forget why Bob Dylan was not there.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO😎

[Daniela1982]

I like the 60's 70's stars and they are slowly disappearing. Here is Jay and the Americans singing Cara Mia then, and now.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/1sFy5_kmEi4

He can still do those high notes.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ffGjbaAFVpw

[exitseven]

When I hear Jay and the Americans I think of another great artist. Johnny Rivers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvJ78hYI6wk

[Daniela1982]

@exitseven Yeah, he came from the bad side of town. Poor as a church mouse.

[WindAtMyBack]

Some keep going. Some outright retire. Some fade away. Some make comebacks after retiring.

Some continue to be good and some are way past their prime. Some singers lose their voice. Paul McCartney is a good example. He lost his voice years ago but he keeps singing anyway. Some are old men trying to act cool - very few 70 year old men can pull off acting "cool". It just looks stupid.

I would say that most keep playing as long as they are able and keep pulling in the money. This seems to be true of most artists and performers, not just musicians. I don't know why, but they tend to keep going.

A large percentage of the ones I listened to when I was younger are dead or have health issues that prevent them from performing. Some end up in the background, producing or whatever.

Some sad deaths in recent years are John Prine, David Bowie, Alvin Lee, Aretha Franklin, Tom Petty, Glen Campbell, Prince.

[DJB72]

Cliff Richard had his first Number 1 single in 1959 and album the following year. He's had more time in the billboard top ten than any other living artist with number 1 singles in 7 consecutive decades. He still sells out World Tours at age 82.

His backing group in the 50s, The Shadows, are semi retired as a group.

They're older than the Stones, Tina Turner, the surviving Beatles.

The best "old" musicians keep finding new ways to make music because they'd die if they didn't.

ZZ Top are still touring. Roger Daltry and The Who still sing about "their generation".

On the Classical stage, those guys literally keep going until they die.

Mostly, anyway.

[DubiousIntentions]

Cliff Richard did a song with Olivia Newton John if I recall right. This is the one I liked.
https://youtu.be/Pulwa9s7Q_4

[DJB72]

He did a couple over the years, yes

[SteveSmith1985]

You should google this band "The Rolling Stones" it'll make you wonder...

[DubiousIntentions]

You must have seen that show on them on cable TV.
https://youtu.be/O4irXQhgMqg

[JPresidente]

They seem to keep going on forever. I listen to a lot of 80’s stuff sometimes and 70’s music.

[nawtee_me]

Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa

[exitseven]

problem is that Frank Zappa has died.

[DubiousIntentions]

@exitseven Must be his ghost?

[exitseven]

If anyone who could come back from the dead it would be Zappa.

[DubiousIntentions]

@exitseven Do you remember this song?
https://youtu.be/R5Q1yVLSR3I