Age is just a number.
To quote the late Toby Keith in Don’t Let the Old Man In, “How old would you be if you didn’t know the year you were born?”
I'm guessing you feel younger than your chronological age.
Did you hear that country artist George Strait recently broke an attendance record in Texas? Close to 111,000 fans made the show the largest ticketed concert ever in the U.S. USA Today reports the previously held record was The Grateful Dead in 1977 in New Jersey.
There's so much to love about George Strait’s accomplishment, not the least of which is he's 72.
A George Strait show is pretty much pure music. You aren’t going to get too many bells and whistles, pyrotechnics or special effects. It's a man and his guitar, a pair of jeans and some cowboy boots. There won’t even be too much talking. There will be hit after hit after hit.
Having seen George a couple of times, and meeting him once, he is just exactly as he appears. Down home, humble, quiet and oozing talent.
That’s part of why his fans are so loyal — we know what to expect.
This record-breaking event got me thinking about all the legends still out there on the road.
I was following along on social media as Barry Manilow completed his One Last Time tour in England. Night after night of sell-out performances with incredible energy and showmanship.
Oh, and Barry just turned 81. He’s over there descending a huge staircase, with no railings, and a bad hip. He hops up on his piano and hops back down. He paces and dances and hits every note of every song.
Barry is not retiring. No, he's just not doing big international tours anymore. He’ll still do mini-tours and keep his residency in Las Vegas.
Lionel Ritchie is still going All Night Long at 75. When he’s not serving as an American Idol judge, he’s on tour with Earth,Wind and Fire and also has a permanent spot in Vegas.
Engelbert Humperdinck was just at Casino Rama at the age of 88. Sure, he sat down for a few songs. He’s earned it.
Paul Anka also recently played Rama to rave reviews at 82.
Dolly Parton is still kicking butt at 78 — singing, writing and pitching products from dishes to donuts.
All of them are eligible for a senior's discount.
The legendary Dick Van Dyke just won an Emmy for a guest appearance in the soap opera Days of Our Lives. He’s still singing, dancing and acting at 98.
If you run down that list, I would suggest none of them have rested on their laurels. They just keep going.
All have busy schedules and projects on the go. They look ahead and not backward.
The word "retirement" doesn’t seem to be in their vocabulary.
How many celebrities have we watched walk away and then do one or several more comeback tours?
Does watching these artists make me feel inspired? Yes.
Do they make me feel useless? Also, yes.
Manilow gets up and off his grand piano unassisted. I would need a crew of four to boost and lift. Plus, it would be a crime against a Yamaha.
Walking up or down a staircase — no matter how many steps — must be done in a sideways shuffle.
Stairs with no railing? Forget it!
When I see performers tickling the ivories or sliding their fingers up and down the frets of a guitar, I think about trying to open a medicine bottle in the morning.
Maybe we are not all created equal...
My musical heroes have always been a source of inspiration. I always come out of a concert feeling energized and uplifted.
It looks to me the legends all found the fountain of youth and it must have something to do with doing what they love.
If anyone can find that and set it all to music, that’s the life!
