What a great subject! Not too many on here I care to respond to anymore.

I feel I'm the best I've ever been, at 64. Not that that's saying a whole lot, but I can't see any fall off in vocal ability or playing keyboard. The recordings tell me I'm on key better than when I was younger, and the rides and style selection are more suitable for the situation.

Arthritis in the right wrist will be a bigger problem as more time passes, and I can't play a real, weighted piano action. But then I never did anyway.

My back doesn't bother me nearly as much as when I was younger and that may because my equipment is lighter and I'm more careful moving it.

I must set my my e.q. early in the night, because by the end of a few hours I don't hear things the same and it doesn't sound as good as when I started. I've come to realize that it's that my hearing changes during the night, even though I mostly use the Bose and it is not that loud. So I trust my settings more. I must MAKE myself take a few breaks, not because I'm tired but so my hearing re-adjusts. Does this make sense?

I am very much more selective about where I work. No more smoke-filled venues. None.
I never smoked and it always bothered me a lot, and I don't have to take it anymore!
I always made it a point to never drink alcohol when I work. You won't see many old drunks making a living as entertainers, unless they were at the top and are now just holding on.

I have also gotten a little less dumb. I have raised my price so that the jobs I get are top quality. I expected the number of jobs to fall off, but the opposite has been the case. I suppose it's a case of perceived value--if they have to pay more to get me, I must be better than the guys who work cheap!

I've also had the benefit of working with quite a few world class players, and have been careful to listen, not only to what they say, but to what they play. It's not the number of notes that count, it's when you play them. Being accepted by this type of musician gives me more confidence in my ability, and that confidence enhances my performance. That confidence wasn't always there, and it was hard-earned!

Having said all this, there isn't a night that I've ever worked that I haven't learned something. I almost always record myself and I am my own most harsh critic. Over the years, I have have gotten to the point where I can stand to listen to most of it without feeling embarrassed.

On another note, my golf game is better than it's ever been, at least most of the time. I've lost a little distance, but experience and self control have more than overcome that. I feel much of the same thing happening with the music.

Last week I was playing golf, on a five-man team. We were all stinking it up pretty bad, and one guy said, "Oh well the worst day on the golf course is better than the best day at work." I looked at him and said, "Maybe for you, but for me, when I to to work, I get to play music and sing. People try to buy me drinks, give me money and tell me how great I am. Women flirt with me. (O.k., now they are OLD women). You guys have the wrong jobs!".

DonM