The Steel Guitar Forum

Well Joe if you are a senior I am in big trouble at 60
!

I have to prove I'm a senior to get the food discounts and the only time I ever play the "senior" card is if I get pulled over by the Police , the plan is to tell them I forgot where I live and can they drive me home.

and no, that hasn't actually worked yet

My buddy Joe Smith, @71, has more energy than an 8 week old cat !

t

Bill Moran wrote:Thought I was old !! Only 61 but still hacking .
You guys got me beat. What happens when we are gone ?

Lets hope that some more kids will grow up take our place.
I went to a great jam yesterday at Polkton NC. Just a bunch of us old guys picking and grinning

This thread is inspiring.
I don't qualify as a senior yet, but am darn close.

Now I can't wait to get there, the Good Lord willin, so I can get as many gigs as you guys.

I feel young again after reading all of these posts. I just turned 63 and play all over Texas with Billy Mata 4 to 6 times a month. In May we will play 10 shows at 6 locations at the Sactemento jazz festible. In July we go to Ruidosa,NM for two dates. I still work in the daytime and go flying when ever I can. Guess I'll play until they pry that bar out of my cold dead hand. I just hope that ain't real soon.

I guess at 64, I am considered a senior!! I play at least 6 to 8 gigs a month, one serious one with a real 6 piece band, but most are with "the Seekers', a 3 piece with me on steel, my wife on conga drums & another lady that sings harmony with me, I have to play steel & sing most of the stuff we do. I use tracks, many are ones I make with a guitar, bass, drums & keyboard cause we can't afford to pay anyone since we do mostly volunteer gigs at the nursing homes in our area, church, and benifits. No longer care about making money, I do however enjoy making friends!! I still teach steel guitar at my little shop also, of course that does not count as a gig, right? Once in a blue moon I get a call from a studio up near Pittsburg Pa, but not too much of that going on around here anymore.

Ernie Pollock

I still play gigs but not always on steel. I play many harmonica classics on my chromatics. I play bass as a fill in lots of times.

What I find I am doing more and more all the time is playing steel and bass at senior's homes or activities, charity functions and local jams at events such as horseshoe tournaments, ball tournaments and so on. (I am a tournament horseshoe chucker)

I'm 71 so that's close to some of you old geezers Still play in church 3 times a week, but only 30 or 40 minutes total during the service, so maybe half a gig. ...The advantage is: I don't carry equipment in & out, set up, tear down The important thing I see in this entire thread is: everybody is still hangin' in, doing what we enjoy so much, and will add years to our lives.

Tony Prior wrote:Well Joe if you are a senior I am in big trouble at 60
!

I have to prove I'm a senior to get the food discounts and the only time I ever play the "senior" card is if I get pulled over by the Police , the plan is to tell them I forgot where I live and can they drive me home.

and no, that hasn't actually worked yet

My buddy Joe Smith, @71, has more energy than an 8 week old cat !

t

Tony, when I do grow up, I want to be just like you.

to actually answer the question, yes I play a few gigs each month, I am excited to get them and go to them, but usually about half way through the first set I've had enough and want to go home. Problem is lately they have been over an hour from home and making that drive at 2am is really gettin' to be a drag @60.

t

Im 72 now but feel older Istill gig once or twice a week Plus a lot of jam sessions. Im lucky though, the youngsters help me with my equiptment most of the time..

I am 72 and still play from four to ten jobs most every month. Glad to see I am still a youngster to some of you who are older and even playing more than I am!!!

I was in this club three years ago when I was 77. I didn't realize what a toll the loading and unloading instruments and amps was taking on my back. It finally gave out and I no longer can lift much of anything. Playing was fun while it lasted, 65 years.

I was lifting a Sierra 10 and 12 string guitar and a Peavy Nashville 400 amp. I had worked out most of my life and thought I was indestructable.

Bowie Martin wrote:I am 72 and still play from four to ten jobs most every month. Glad to see I am still a youngster to some of you who are older and even playing more than I am!!!

Bowie, you sure don't look your age. I never would have guessed you to be 72. By the way I will be 72 this May 8th.

Just turned 62. I know now why I sound so bad when I hear some of you play. I haven't lived long enough to learn and forget what you have forgotten. I think it is great that a Steel can keep a fellow going for many years. Maybe we just don't want to leave it behind.
Also, as I think about it; the way each of you play and I have listened close to some of you, a 12 year old could do anything you play with 40 or 50 years experience. So lets don't let the head get to big.

The young punk on the board....
Mac

I really think one reason I can still get out and play like I do at 72 is that it requires loading, unloading, etc. Yes, does wear on my back sometimes, but then the exercise is what keeps a lot of us young. Back give out, etc.? Yeh, but I am looking at those 10-15 years younger that are physical wrecks that might not have been if they had been loading, lifting, and moving equipment. I tell the guys "let me lift, move this." It is one of the reasons I am still able to play.

Does 39 count ? I get to play in the 35 and over softball games !

At a gig last thursday night former studio musician Billy Mure asked to do a few numbers. He did and the crowd went wild. He's 93 and plays 2-3 nights a week. I forgot to ask what was in his drink!

Age is a feeling and not a number! The birthdays I've had are mine, and I can number them like I want to. When asked my age I answer by the way I feel. Today I feel 34!

I play every day, somewhere.

A guy came into a local music store and commented that he had wanted to play pedal steel until he looked at how old all the local players were and decided it took too long to learn.
True story.

79 in november.

ernie

At 77, the only reason I'm still playing clubs, is that I play every Friday and Saturday night at the same club and don't have to move my equipment, I bring my steel home every 2 to 3 months to change strings and clean and lube the moving part. I believe I can play at least 5 more years, Just loving it and the money's not bad either, Shorty