I don't know whether this topic has been covered before on Mudcat, but personally I am in awe of musicians such as Doc Watson, who, in their eighties, still play with the same fire, fervour and finesse that they displayed in their twenties.

I am trying to think of other musicians (past or present) who come into this category, but the only one I can think of at the moment is Ralph Blizard, a wonderful longbow fiddler, now sadly deceased, whom I had the privilege of meeting and hearing back in 1997. Nobody listening to him play then would ever have guessed that he had turned 80.

So, who are the other musicians who have kept going into their eighties ? (and who have retained the same level of performance skill)

No names, no pack drill, but I could name several names who should have hung up their instruments and retired gracefully long before they reached 60, never mind 80.

Here's hoping that Doc keeps on picking going well into his nineties.