Bruce Johnston

[GA Russell]

Bruce Johnston, who is now 81, is retiring from touring, and will focus his energies on songwriting.

'60s rock legend announces departure from tour after 61 years

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I'm nowhere near 81 & even at my age I can't see myself performing on stages all around the world, night after night. I have enough trouble when we get back to back snowstorms up here in Maine. I am retired and hope to be able to enjoy not working.

I heard a story that 81 year old Steve Miller (now 82) backed out of a small tour at the last minute last year and some of the artists involved threatened to sue. I guess you can't even slow down when you get older in the rock world. You can only stop.

[Brad]

Dylan is still performing and he’s almost 85. 

[Kevin Bresnahan]

1 hour ago, Brad said:

Dylan is still performing and he’s almost 85. 

If you call what he does "singing", then sure.

[felser]

Neil Young, 80, cancelled his scheduled European tour.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I've seen several elderly Jazz musicians in recent times that should have been retired. Their playing was not good. One sax player embarrassed himself up on stage.

Not every septuagenarian/octogenarian is physically capable of continuing their music career.

I wonder why Bobby Kimball retired? He was a great singer with Toto.

 

[medjuck]

I saw Benny Carter when (IIRC-- and I often don't) he was over 90.  He played just fine.  

Edited yesterday at 12:34 AM by medjuck

[felser]

George Coleman sounds great on the live albums recorded in his 80's.  Pharoah was strong until the end.    Roy Haynes, wow. OTOH, have heard decline in plenty of other musicians.  And the stories about McCoy Tyner's last performances are heartbreaking. 

[randyhersom]

3 hours ago, medjuck said:

I saw Benny Carter when (IIRC-- and I often don't) he was over 90.  He played just fine. 

Likewise Benny Golson

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I had a long reply written up but I deleted it, as I have fond memories of seeing older Jazz greats, even when they were not playing well. As I said, not every septuagenarian/octogenarian musician can continue to play at a high level.

I'll leave it at that.

[Stompin at the Savoy]

I happened to catch Joe Henderson and Bobby Hutcherson together at an engagement at Jazz Alley in Seattle around 2000 or just before.  Both men were looking quite frail but they played great.

[mjazzg]

Marshall Allen...

[mikeweil]

22 hours ago, Kevin Bresnahan said:

 As I said, not every septuagenarian/octogenarian musician can continue to play at a high level.

I'll leave it at that.

For some musicians it seems to be very hard to sense when you better stop performing.