LX+ AT SUPER BOWL XL
BY DAN MILLER
February 7, 2006
I was happy to see the Rolling Stones, those ageless music icons, performing at Super Bowl XL.
Not because their music was fresh, or even particularly good.... but it was rather impressive to see those guys still getting it done, well into their 60's, with -- seemingly -- the same energy they had in their 20's.
Mick Jagger is 62, and he's still as skinny as a teenager.
Charlie Watts is 64, and now resembles the late David Brinkley.
Keith Richards is 62, though he doesn't look at day over 86.
The Super Bowl entertainment was a salute to the staying power of our aging entertainers.
For those of us who've crossed the divide into our 60's, it was inspirational.
The pre-game entertainment came from Stevie Wonder, a mere kid at 55.
But then, the National Anthem was performed by 65 year old Aaron Neville, along with Aretha Franklin, who's still going strong at 63.
Heck, I half expected 57 year old Terry Bradshaw to play quarterback for the Steelers.
At auditoriums and arenas everywhere, singers 60 and older are playing to sold out houses, out-drawing many of the youngsters.
Examples:
Bob Seger 60
Ringo Starr 65
Barbra Streisand 63 ...(turns 64 next month)
Davy Jones 60
Mick Fleetwood 63
Paul Simon 64
Art Garfunkel 65
Eric Clapton 60
Neil Diamond 65 ...(had one of the biggest grossing tours of the year)
Brenda Lee 61 ...(I remember seeing her perform at age 12 in Augusta)
Tom Jones 65 ...(women are still throwing "things" on stage)
Wayne Newton 63 ...(the whitest teeth in show biz)
Little Richard 73
Kenny Rogers 67 ...(should have left his eyes unaltered, but still a force)
Diana Ross 61
Carole King 64
James Darren 69 ...(wow, Moondoggie's almost 70)
Merle Haggard 68 ...(still, nobody can touch him)
Don Everly 69
Phil Everly 67
Chuck Berry 79 ...(the granddaddy of them all)
Johnny Mathis 70
Pat Boone 71
Seals & Crofts 64 & 65
Paul Anka 64
Chubby Checker 64
Gene Pitney 65
Randy Newman 62 ...(doing some of his best work)
Percy Sledge 64
Bobby Vee 62
Bobby Sherman 62 ...(did you know he's now a paramedic?)
Patti Page 78
Fats Domino 77
Dion 66 ...(no info on the Belmonts)
Jerry Lee Lewis 70
Neil Young 60 ...(just released a wonderful new album)
Barry Manilow 62
Andy Williams 78 ...(still packing the house in Branson)
Bobby Vinton 70
Kris Kristofferson 69
Willy Nelson 72 ...(he's still performing somewhere most everyday)
Neil Sedaka 66
Porter Wagoner 78 ...(a fixture on the Opry)
Dolly Parton 60
George Jones 74
Paul McCartney 63 ...(will you still need him, will you still feed him??)
Jerry Garcia 63 ...(that is, if he were alive, but he literally joined the "dead" at 53)
Now don't you feel young?
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