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22 Feb 03 - 11:54 AM (#895889) Subject: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Rick Fielding This was partly inspired by a couple of things Peter T said in another thread. I've kind of 'up-dated' and 'Down-trodden' it. Who's been able to keep a sizeable audience the longest? Just for the sake of arguement I'm gonna use the (audience) figure of Five thousand people as a minimum (feek free to change it) Frank Sinatra certainly comes to mind as someone who commanded that size crowd in the mid-forties til the nineties (with some valleys in between) Bing Crosby was a superstar by the early thirties, and may well have been an even bigger draw by the mid 80s (when d'he die?) Peter mentions Louis Armstrong who was famous in the Twenties, and continued being popular til he died (seventies?). Long after he lost his lip, he was singing hit songs. Hmmmm. Peter Paul and Mary did concerts in the early sixties and continue to this day. A tad over forty years. How long was Harry Lauder's career? Any other singers, players, comics, that have really been able to bums in the seats for a longggg time? Cheers Rick |
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22 Feb 03 - 11:59 AM (#895897) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Sorcha Bob Hope. |
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22 Feb 03 - 12:00 PM (#895898) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: CarolC Players: The Toronto Maple Leafs, from the 1920s to the present. ;-) |
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22 Feb 03 - 12:00 PM (#895899) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: SINSULL The Rolling Stones. It is embarrassing to see those saggy old men whining about getting no satisfaction. |
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22 Feb 03 - 12:15 PM (#895913) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Jeri Maybe somebody who didn't like school, played semi-pro baseball and ran for state governor (lost)? |
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22 Feb 03 - 12:20 PM (#895915) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Rick Fielding Hmmmmm, do you mean Roy Acuff Jer? Ya know I think Sorcha may have it. I didn't specify that the person had to still be funny! (actually I enjoyed the "Road" pics. But lets see....mid-thirties til maybe five years ago. Almost sixty years at least. Is there anyone still performing successfully TODAY who started around 1940? Any Scots or Irish comics or singers? Rick |
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22 Feb 03 - 12:21 PM (#895917) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Sandy Mc Lean Rick, I would question your 5000 figure. Almost any venue seating that many sounds like the inside of a drum. (we're talking hockey rinks here.) Maybe 500 to 1000 is a better number. After 60+ years Hank Snow could still draw that many . Many of the other older opry stars could do the same. Country fans are usually for life. Anything associated with Hank Williams is still big 50 years after his death. It may be an oxymoran but that,s long life. Elvis is another that will live on for many years. (Working in a carwash) :-} Sandy |
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22 Feb 03 - 12:25 PM (#895920) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Rick Fielding Fair enough Sandy. Let's go with 1000. I'm comin' back to Peter Paul and Mary. (although I'd sure rather go to a veteran "Opry Act" than them). |
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22 Feb 03 - 12:26 PM (#895921) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Jeri Yes, Rick. Sorry - you're looking for currently-performing performers and I don't believe Roy Acuff is. |
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22 Feb 03 - 12:32 PM (#895928) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Rick Fielding No I'm not. Dead ones is fine! Roy's career went from mid thirties to (I'm guessin') mid eighties....'bout right? Don't forget these folks: Billy Ray Cyrus. Sue Thompson Harold Dorman PJ Proby |
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22 Feb 03 - 12:36 PM (#895934) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Jeri Roy Acuff started performing with Dr Haueer's Medicine show in 1932, and I believe he performed right up to his death in '92. 60 years, although I don't know if he drew 1,000+ crowds in '32. How long did Ella Fitzgerald perform? |
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22 Feb 03 - 01:03 PM (#895956) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Cluin John R. Cash, though not for much longer it looks like sadly. |
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22 Feb 03 - 01:07 PM (#895962) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Sorcha Can't leave out the Doc. |
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22 Feb 03 - 01:10 PM (#895966) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Cluin I certainly wouldn't, Sorcha. |
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22 Feb 03 - 01:11 PM (#895967) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Cluin Of course I'm sure that if Mark Twain or Will Rogers were still alive, they'd be packing `em in. Even if only to see really old guys on stage. ;) |
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22 Feb 03 - 02:02 PM (#896013) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: katlaughing Willie Nelson Johnny Cash |
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22 Feb 03 - 02:47 PM (#896039) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: McGrath of Harlow Pete Seeger. Even if he just talked. |
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22 Feb 03 - 03:36 PM (#896071) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Rick Fielding Jeezus! Heather wanted to know who Sue Thompson and Harold Dorman were, in my 'longevity' joke post. Surely they're not THAT obscure!! Hmmmmmm. Pete Seeger may well be THE answer. In folk circles he certainly was well known in the EARLY forties (often, as "Pete Bowers") and he could sure draw over a thousand folks today. That's a longgggg time. Rick |
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22 Feb 03 - 09:56 PM (#896277) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Rick Fielding Anyone else, that had a sizeable audience in the early forties and is still a concert act today? If it IS Pete Seeger then I'm quite surprised. Cheers Rick |
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22 Feb 03 - 10:02 PM (#896283) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: maire-aine Harry Belafonte? |
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22 Feb 03 - 10:07 PM (#896285) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Jeri When did Earl Scruggs start playing? |
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22 Feb 03 - 10:10 PM (#896287) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Cluin Once Lester got hisseff tyooned up. ;) |
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22 Feb 03 - 10:23 PM (#896294) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Bill D George Burns lasted about as long as any...I heard him say he was booked at the London Palladium on his 100th birthday...he lived to 100, but was not well enough to perform... But, yeah, Pete Seeger may be as relevant an answer as any. (Who was it who first said, "If I knew I was gonna live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself!"?) |
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22 Feb 03 - 10:32 PM (#896300) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: M.Ted Cab Calloway is probably the one with the most longevity--Headliner at the Cotton Club with his first big hit record in 1930, he continued to have hits on the pop charts til the late 60's, even made the transition to MTV, and was still touring with his orchestra(and drawing big audiences) at the time of his death in 1994-- |
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22 Feb 03 - 10:32 PM (#896301) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Bill D Pablo Casals lived to be 97 Eubie Blake was 100, and still playing to full houses. |
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22 Feb 03 - 10:35 PM (#896303) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Sorcha Bill Monroe had a mighty good run too. |
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22 Feb 03 - 11:42 PM (#896348) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Sandy Mc Lean George Burns was sure around a long time but if he was God that would be an unfair advantage. It looks like Pete may be the champ! |
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22 Feb 03 - 11:57 PM (#896363) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: GUEST,maddy Bill D - good for you, but didn't it have to be someone still gigging? i guess that let's eubie out. pete seeger isn't singing in public much anymore - and he's a surefire draw, even singing with others, like the clearwater walkabout chorus. i was going to nominate jean ritchie - still singing to packed houses all over the world - and sounding great - she still has her high notes [nervous about them now and then] and her range has increased and her voice gets richer as she ages. she's 82 now [no tattling - she said so on stage recently] and another kind of longevity - oscar brand has had a weekly radio show on NPR for 50+ years - now that's longevity. |
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23 Feb 03 - 04:20 AM (#896484) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Little Robyn How old is Ronnie Gilbert? Is she still singing? She started about 60 years ago. Then there's Cyril Tawney, and Packy Burns. And this weekend, in NZ we've had Cliff Richard and Bob Dylan, both of them singing to crowds of thousands and both of them going longer than P,P&M, I think. Robyn |
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23 Feb 03 - 10:53 AM (#896614) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Rick Fielding Hmmmm Cab Calloway eh? If the dates that Ted gives are accurate that makes 64 years! That trumps everyone else mentioned. Remember, I'm talking about having a SIZABLE audience from beginning to end. Anyone else who may have started as early as 1930 and gone on as long as '94? I guess George Burns is right up there, but I doubt if he commanded much of an audience in his first few years in vaudeville (before he met gracie)....I may be wrong though. Rick |
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23 Feb 03 - 11:03 AM (#896620) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: gnu Tommy Makem. |
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23 Feb 03 - 11:16 AM (#896628) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Bill D well, I don't know how BIG their audiences were, but here is the Carrier clan of Cajun/Zydeco music, which includes Clifton Chenier. One guy has been playing for 77 years. It would take a lot of research to figure out who commanded major crowds for the longest time. |
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23 Feb 03 - 12:13 PM (#896661) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: gnu Noone will ever be "crowned" but it is interesting to read about who comes to mind. I forget, did anyone mention Tony Bennet ? Perry Como ? |
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23 Feb 03 - 12:14 PM (#896663) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: catspaw49 Interesting thread Rick.... I hate to bring this one up, but would a band originally formed in 1916, hitting it's stride in about 1925 in Chicago and then going on to New York (and the world) and playing to full houses from then on count? Same leader for about 60 years, until his death, the band itself is still playing today......Would that count? A neighbor of yours I believe......Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians...and gawd do I ever still hate that sax vibrato........Old Guy was also one hell of a hydroplane racer too Spaw |
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23 Feb 03 - 12:21 PM (#896668) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Bee-dubya-ell I think Eubie Blake is generally creditted with originating the "If I knew I was gonna live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself!" quip. Bruce |
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23 Feb 03 - 02:39 PM (#896759) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: fat B****rd Ray Charles 'aint doing too bad, either. |
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23 Feb 03 - 02:41 PM (#896761) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Little Robyn Two news reports on the Cliff Richard concert this morning - one says there were 25,000 people there, the other says almost 30,000. So what's an odd 5,000 people at a concert like that? (We didn't go - it cost about $100 or more, depending on where you sat - on the grass or in a seat.) |
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23 Feb 03 - 03:14 PM (#896796) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: annamill I tend to feel it must be Johnny Cash. I actually remember my mother, in the fiftys, telling me how much she had enjoyed listening to him when she was young! Gads! The Carter family WERE amazing weren't they! ;-) What did they do for that boy to make him last so long, especially with his bad habits? I love hearing him tell a story today. Love, Annamill |
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23 Feb 03 - 03:24 PM (#896804) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: dick greenhaus Well, if you include the recently deceased (I always thought that should be just "ceased"), there's Frank Sinatra, who wowed 'em in the early 40s and Burl Ives (who was a big draw since 1939.) Stanley Holloway must be in there somewheres, too. |
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23 Feb 03 - 05:23 PM (#896865) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Rick Fielding I Thought about Stanley Holloway Dick, but I guess folks are just suggesting ANYONE now who's been singing for forty years. Guy Lombardo is an interesting name, but when did he die? If nobody can come up with someone to beat Ted's suggestion of Cab Calloway (and 64 years) I declare his "The LONGEST viable career". Going, going...... Rick |
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23 Feb 03 - 05:45 PM (#896878) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: TheBigPinkLad I'm betting Stevie Wonder would rack up a few years if you did the mathematics. Started when he was nine or something didn't he? |
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23 Feb 03 - 06:10 PM (#896892) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: catspaw49 Lombardo died in '77 so he's a few years short of Cab Calloway. Looking up his death, I also found that he had done the New Year's program on radio or TV from 1929 til 1976.....47 years. I guess Dick Clark still has a way to go on that one. Groucho had two contestants appearing together on "You Bet Your Life" and both were named Heidi. In the best Goucho tradition he said, "I'll call you Heidi-Hi and I'll call you Heidi-Ho.....and you can call me Cab Calloway." Spaw |
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23 Feb 03 - 11:08 PM (#897065) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Rick Fielding What about opera singers? Who was the woman who made all the "Farewell tours"? Heather mentioned Sophie Tucker. Did she perform past the sixty year mark? Rick |
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24 Feb 03 - 12:15 AM (#897102) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Bill D Sophie was right at 60 years... I still think Eubie Blake oughta get some sort of prize: "BLAKE, Eubie (b James Herbert Blake, 7 Feb. 1883, Baltimore MD; d 12 Feb. '83) .................... Long career began 1899 in Baltimore cafes; teamed with Noble Sissle '15 in vaudeville;.....played at President Carter's White House jazz party '78; continued performing almost until centenary:" I make that over 80 years...so I guess it depends on how big an audience you require for your decision. |
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24 Feb 03 - 10:25 AM (#897299) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Rick Fielding Yeah, Bill. Eubie was probably the very first person I thought of, simply from a longevity basis. However a great deal of his career was behind the scenes as a songwriter and Producer. He came to Toronto in the late sixties (after being "discovered" by Johnnie Carson) but his audience (at the Colonial Tavern) was closer to fifty than five hundred. Cab...goin' once, goin' twice... Rick |
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25 Feb 03 - 08:58 AM (#898198) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: GUEST Buddha...Jesus Christ .... Mohammed. |
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25 Feb 03 - 09:55 AM (#898242) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Rick Fielding Hmmmmm....well I guess they're pretty entertaining, and they've all had a good run, but I'm not sure if their "working careers" were longer than Cab's....and did they even exist? Cheers Rick |
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25 Feb 03 - 10:45 AM (#898275) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Strupag Surely Compay Segundo must be in the running. He must be around 96, been profesional before 1939 and released his last album in 2000. |
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26 Feb 03 - 05:11 AM (#898952) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Nigel Parsons How about Tom Jones? Born Thomas Jones Woodward on June 7, 1940, Tom began singing at an early age. It wasn't unusual in the Valleys towns of South Wales. He became frontman for 'Tommy Scott & The Senators' in '63, but his performing clearly went back before that. So a minimum of 40 years, and still going strong. While we're on the Welsh, how about Shirley Bassey, born Jan 1937 and performing in the clubs of 'Tiger Bay' (Cardiff) by the time she was 15 (so in 1952) Nigel |
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26 Feb 03 - 06:16 AM (#898973) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: mooman I'd be very surprised if the oldest members of the Blind Boys of Alabama didn't win this title. Must be over 60 years together singing now and I saw them give a storming concert last year! moo |
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26 Feb 03 - 06:24 AM (#898975) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: greg stephens To broaden out the category a bit, Alistair Cooke's weekly broadcast "Letter from America" on BBC Radio 4 has been going steadily for 57 years now, which is pretty damn impressive. |
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26 Feb 03 - 06:47 AM (#898983) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Wolfgang Let's widen the search a bit: Charles Aznavour (still singing), Udo Jürgens (still singing) Wolfgang |
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26 Feb 03 - 09:26 AM (#899075) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Roger the Skiffler I would have said Eubie Blake (but he's been mentioned already). B.B. King looks like going on for ever too. Conversely, three people with short recording careers that nevertheless had a great influence: Robert Johnson, Hank Williams I (both dead by 30) and Fred McDowell, "discovered" far too late. RtS |
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26 Feb 03 - 09:33 AM (#899083) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Wolfgang Andres Segovia gave concerts from 1919 until 1986 (though I don't know whether he often crossed the 5000 barrier. Wolfgang |
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26 Feb 03 - 11:20 AM (#899158) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Bill D I found a quote from a book that says of Ella Fitzgerald: "The length of Fitzgerald's career is considerably impressive in the context of socio-cultural constructs during her era, and as a black female music artist, she claimed a wide range of nationally acclaimed accomplishments. Finally, despite the odds against her, "[Fitzgerald] was doubtless the longest singing career in American music, popular, jazz, concert, or any other kind of music, and it certainly is one of the most illustrious." that may be hyperbole, but at nearly 60 years in major venues (started at 18, she sure is up in the list. |
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26 Feb 03 - 11:31 AM (#899174) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Rick Fielding Vancouver's Dal Richards has sung for 67 straight New Years celebrations. Thanks Wolfgang. I should have known I could count on you to find an artist who may have TOPPED the 64 years attributed to Cab Calloway. I believe the size of audience we discussed was 500 to 1000. So...Segovia at perhaps 67 years? That looks pretty hard to beat. Rick |
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26 Feb 03 - 12:18 PM (#899199) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: KateG Ella Fitzgerald's surely got to be up there. I saw her at a Carnagie Hall concert in the mid 1980's. The hall was packed. Her voice wasn't what it had been in its prime; but her musicianship and showmanship were awesome. |
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26 Feb 03 - 03:32 PM (#899364) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: simon-pierre There was an article in Sing Out! not so long ago about the "Delta Blues Cartel", four bluesmen who made a show together in august 2002 : Henry "Mule" Townsend, born in 1909, made his first record in 1929 for Columbia. "Honeyboy" Edwards, born in 1915, got his first professionnal gig in 1928, at 13. He was playing for "wine and whisky and plenty of food"! Good old days! His first records were "only" in 1942, for Alan Lomax. There was also Robert Lockwood Jr, born in 1915, who played with Johnny Shines and... Robert Johnson, and "Homesick" James Williamson, born in 1908 (there's not much info about him). |
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27 Feb 03 - 11:36 AM (#899699) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Steve-o My favorite Eubie Blake quote is, "I don't think of myself as an old man....I think of myself as a young man with some serious problems." |
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27 Feb 03 - 11:56 AM (#899721) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: GUEST,Les B. Probably not qualifiers for the audience size, and because they're not one person, but the Stonemans (Pop Stoneman & extended family) and the Carter Family started in the late 20's and are, sort of, still going. |
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05 Mar 03 - 07:16 AM (#903868) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: cetmst Jean Ritchie ? |
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05 Mar 03 - 07:29 AM (#903875) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Steve Latimer Ralph Stanley is still packin' them in at 84. Earl is still going strong at 79(?). |
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05 Mar 03 - 10:28 AM (#903968) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Jimmy C Crosby, Sinatra, Jolson all now deceased, Belafonte, Seeger, Joan Baez. Pavorati, among the living, 2 real superstars not singers or musicians would be The Pope and Billy Graham. If the audience are real fans of one particular type of music/show then any "NAME" doing that kind of music should be able to hold that size of an audience. The secret would be his/her patter between the numbers. A good showman/woman would have no problem but just to sing one song after another without any interaction between the performer and the audience couild prove difficult for all but the superstars. |
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05 Mar 03 - 10:45 AM (#903978) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: GUEST,Bystander Petula Clark started on BBC radio in the early '40's aged about 8, was in films 40's/50's, had her first hit record early 50's and still singing I believe. G.H.Elliott made his first recording in 1904 and his last just before he died in 1969. Albert Whelan a year longer, first 1903 and last 1969. Both these artistes were well established on the Music Halls before they recorded. |
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05 Mar 03 - 11:05 AM (#903988) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Rick Fielding OK.....thanks for bringing this back up, glad to see there's still a bit of interest. We've extablished that there are a HUGE number of entertainers WHO'VE MAINTAINED AN AUDIENCE for over forty years. ...and some for FIFTY YEARS! Three or four who've BEEN POPULAR for SIXTY (plus) years. Anyone (alive or dead) who HAS HAD A DEFINABLE AUDIENCE for SEVENTY YEARS? And don't go tellin' us "Robert Blake"! (he had quite a few 'down' periods, between bursts of celebrity) Cheers Rick |
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05 Mar 03 - 06:24 PM (#904300) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: wilco Whole bunch of living, Grand Ol' opry folks, since they play on the Opry, with big paying crowds: Ralph Stanley, Earl Scruggs, Wilma lee Cooper (ill now), Wade Mainer, Bill Carlisle, etc. Mainer and Carlisle go back to late twenties!!! |
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05 Mar 03 - 08:27 PM (#904374) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Rick Fielding Wade Mainer and Bill Carlisle! (glad to hear those two veterans are still alive.....they ARE, aren't they?) Whoopie! Thanks Wilco. I'm gonna check on some dates here, but I think those two may now lead the field. Any idea when Mainer's "Maple on the Hill" was first recorded (with J.E. of course) or when the Carlisle brothers made their debut? |
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06 Mar 03 - 11:27 AM (#904817) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: M.Ted "Maple on the Hill" was first recorded in August of 1935--The Mainers had been playing on the "Crazy Barn Dance" on WBT in Charlotte, NC since 1934, and had been playing for a number of years before that, though I can't find any more specific information--Wade was born in 1907--I am not sure how to figure his playing career, since he retired after moving to Flint, Michigan to work at the Chevrolet plant, found religion, and quit playing the banjo in 1953-- Molly O'Day apparently convinced him that you could have religion and still play the banjo(she was living proof), but he didn't really start recording and performing again til after he retired in 1973-- he still seems to be playing at festivals up to this very day-- One thing that amazes me--though rock, blues, and jazz performers often seem to die early and tragically, old timey/country/bluegrass performers often seem to go forever-- Harry Lauder was performing up until the time of his death in 1950--he was born in 1870, and was the top draw in the Music Halls by 1912--again, I only am not able to determine when he started, but he seems to have been making appearances as early as 1891-- |
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06 Mar 03 - 11:45 AM (#904828) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: GUEST,Peter T. Gee, I spawned this thread, and only just discovered it. Yehudi Menuhin, played in concerts from age 7 and died at 83. That gives him over seventy years. I am sure that there are others --Heifetz, Rubenstein, and Horowitz, perhaps? Yours, Peter T. |
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06 Mar 03 - 04:44 PM (#905071) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: GUEST,Peter T. Arthur Rubenstein played to full houses from age 12-90, which gives him 78 years. This may be the top? yours, Peter T. |
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06 Mar 03 - 06:10 PM (#905155) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Rick Fielding My favourite piano player Artur Rubenstein! Saw him twice. Way to go Peter....he may be the BIG WINNER! I'll think of a prize! Rick |
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07 Mar 03 - 01:05 PM (#905403) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: GUEST,Pete Peterson OK: SOLO performers: Arthur Rubenstein Bands with membership changing: dunno-- maybe the Bluegrass Boys? (1941-1996) Bands with constant membership: the Six and Seven-Eighths String Band of New Orleans who (according to their Folkways record of 1956) first got together in 1914 and lasted till at least 1960 --46 years!! Solo performers in country/oldtime/folk, probably Wade and Julia Mainer didn't George Jones make his first Mercury records in the early 50s?? |
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07 Mar 03 - 05:29 PM (#905512) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Rick Fielding Ummm....actually no elf. But thanks. I think the problem is when a dolt like me can't get my own blue clicky to work, and then I become ambiguous. (and that is NOT a sexual term!) The thread on Artur Rubenstein can probably safely be re-instated. It's quite different than the one I was trying to link it to. The title is a sort of joke, of the kind that I often do in order to alert Mudcatters that they don't need to take it (or me) terribly seriously. When I was looking to see if any lovers of piano music (classical, blues or jazz) had joined my little discussion, and had any stories about meeting (or sleeping with) Jerry Lee Lewis, and found the whole thread gone, I panicked. Oh my gawd....Shambles is RIGHT....they HAVE come for me!! Ha ha! Cheers Rick I undeleted the other thread, which is currently here: The Ultimate Piano Guy, over 75 years!. --JoeClone |
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09 Mar 03 - 02:47 PM (#905978) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Mary in Kentucky Rick, I heard Alicia de la Rocha (pianist) several years ago at one of the nicest concerts I've ever attended. So many people showed up that they had to seat some people on the stage. She was in her 70's, and what little I can find on the net says she's in her 80's now. Her Chopin was flawless; you could hear each single note of a trill. But what made it such a serendipitous event was that I had to go alone at the last minute, and ended up sitting next to an elderly lady in the middle of the auditorium who also had to go alone because her husband was critically ill. And I had the most beautiful conversation with that lady who had spent much of her youth in Spain and knew all about Alicia de la Rocha and her music. The lady also knew a lot about Alicia's technique and was familiar with all the Chopin and Spanish pieces that were played. I remember thinking when I saw Alicia take the stage -- she swooped across wearing a brightly colored, flowing dress -- I hope I still have that much style when I'm 75! |
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09 Mar 03 - 03:44 PM (#905995) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: GUEST,Q Rudy Vallee had a pretty long career. Doesn't match some of those already listed, I don't think. |
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09 Mar 03 - 04:46 PM (#906027) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Rick Fielding Hi Mary Great story about Alicia. I'd completely forgotten about her. Cheers Rick |
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09 Mar 03 - 06:25 PM (#906096) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: wilco I think that Wade is about 99 years old. Wade Mainer was honored last summer in Nashville, TN. He played on the Grand Old Opry, and was inducted in the Hall of Fame. The next day, a saturday, he performed at the Uncle Dave Macon Festival in Murfreesboro, TN. There were 45,000 people there at Uncle Dave's. His grandsons have a band, and they played too! There was a fiddler here in my area, Uncle Bob Douglas, who died last year, at age 101. He performed on the Grand Old Opry at age 100, and he wouldn't quit after his alloted two songs. Figured that he waa 100 years old, and it could be the only time he played there, so he just kept playing fidle tunes!!! |
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11 Mar 03 - 09:33 PM (#907869) Subject: RE: Who leads the league in Longevity? From: Genie Viktor Borge had a pretty good long run, too. |