Kim Gordon, age 61 // photo by Hilary Harris
Frankly, every damn day should be National Senior Citizens Day (sorry for the language, gramma), but August 21st is officially the day we honor the elders in our community. The day was designated in 1988 by then-president Ronald Reagan, who added, “For all they have achieved throughout life and for all they continue to accomplish, we owe older citizens our thanks and a heartfelt salute. We can best demonstrate our gratitude and esteem by making sure that our communities are good places in which to mature and grow older.”
KEXP agrees, and today we offer a Video Roundup salute to some of our favorite senior musicians (reports differ, but the age 60 seems to be the median age to be declared “senior”). These artists prove that age ain’t nothin’ but a number as they continue to compose and perform music with every passing year. Watch below and be inspired.
Kim Gordon, age 61
David Bowie, age 67
Bob Dylan, age 73
Patti Smith, age 68
Leonard Cohen, age 79
Jody Stephens, age 61
Iggy Pop, age 67
Robyn Hitchcock, age 61
Kate Pierson, age 66; Fred Schneider, age 63; Keith Strickland, age 60
Yoko Ono, age 81
David Byrne, age 62
Dick Dale, age 77
Bootsy Collins, age 62
Jonathan Richman, age 63
Mavis Staples, age 75
Willie Nelson, age 81
Ray Davies, age 70
Giorgio Moroder, age 74
Tom Waits, age 64
Brian Eno, age 66
Bettye LaVette, age 68