By Miriam Stansbury
At what age should a musician stop touring?
It’s a provocative question and one that seems increasingly relevant. Bob Dylan is 85. Ringo Starr is 86. Smokey Robinson is 86. Tom Jones is 86. Dionne Warwick is 85. Paul McCartney is 84. Yet they’re still answering the call of the stage.
Barry Manilow, 83, performed what was promoted as his final concert this past August at Jacksonville’s VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. He has dealt with his own health challenges, including surgery for lung cancer. “My voice, I don’t know whether it’s coming back,” he said after hearing his changed voice following surgery.
Rod Stewart’s “Forever Young” makes the question particularly interesting. He plans to take the stage on March 16th of 2027 at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, and has spent more than 50 years performing. But this summer, Stewart canceled tour dates following a coronary stent procedure.
Lionel Richie, 77, also experienced a health scare this summer when he became dizzy during a performance, later postponing two concerts. He subsequently returned to the stage.
Then there is the First Coast’s own Gene Nordan.
Nordan has spent decades behind a piano, becoming a Beaches institution after arriving at Atlantic Beach’s Le Chateau in 1970. He played five nights a week, later performing at private events, charity affairs and other venues. His career even inspired the musical Piano Bar.
Maybe that’s the distinction.
Should older musicians stop performing or stop touring?
There’s a big difference between flying city to city or walking onto a familiar stage or doing a residency.
Growing older doesn’t mean putting away the microphone. Maybe it means choosing the stage more carefully.
