45 Oldest Living Musicians

Bill Wyman

Born in 1936, Bill Wyman is famous for being the bass player for The Rolling Stones from the band’s early years with Brian Jones up until 1993. Since the late 1990s, he has primarily been playing in his band Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings although he does appear on The Rolling Stones’s latest album, which dropped in 2023.

Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones, one of the most influential record producers of the 20th century, just celebrated his 90th birthday in 2023. Jones began his career recording Sinatra and the rest of The Rat Pack, before truly establishing himself as a legend working alongside Michael Jackson on his albums Off The Wall; Thriller; and, Bad. 

Many people have watched the US version of The Office without ever realizing that Rashida Jones (who played Karen, the character who dates Jim in season 3) is Quincy’s daughter. 

Tommy Sands

Born in 1937, Tommy Sands is a singer who found significant mainstream success with the song, Teenage Crush, after performing it on the Kraft Television Theater show when he was just 20 years old. Tommy would make his way to the big screen, holding roles in films like The Longest Day, and, Babes in Toyland. 

Outside of his career, Sands was married to Nancy Sinatra for 5 years, ending in a publicized divorce that came along with the wellspring of professional opportunities drying up. 

Frankie Vallie

With his high falsetto, Frankie Vallie has one of the most distinct voices of the early 1960s. Vallie made a name for himself in the Four Seasons, releasing timeless tracks such as Sherry, and, Walk Like a Man.

While on tour in 2023 at the age of 89, Frankie Vallie officially announced that, aside from an occasional performance, he would no longer be touring full-time. 

Doug Kershaw

Any fan of cajun-flavored country music will tell you that Doug Kershaw is undoubtedly one of the most influential fiddle players of the 20th century. Born in 1936, Doug built his reputation playing alongside his brother, Rusty, throughout the 1950s, eventually going solo in the 1960s.

His song, Louisiana Man, has become something of a standard repertoire piece that today’s fiddle players must know. 

Neil Diamond

Born in 1941, Neil Diamond found his first success as a songwriter with the popular Monkees song, I’m a Believer. By 1970, Neil Diamond began to find his form, releasing some of his most-celebrated songs including, Sweet Caroline, and Cracklin’ Rosie. 

Diamond no longer tours because of complications with Parkinson’s disease, but still performs on occasion, with his most recent being at a Boston Red Sox game in 2022.

Bobby Vinton

Like many of his generation, Bobby Vinton (born in 1935) was inspired by Elvis Presley and eventually found his mainstream break in the early 1960s with a rendition of the song, Blue Velvet. Vinton maintained his success throughout the 1970s, even hosting his own television show in Canada for 3 years. 

Eddie Floyd

Born in 1937, Eddie Floyd is an R&B singer who was signed to Stax Records and is primarily known for his debut single, Knock on Wood. Featuring the Fender Telecaster player, Steve Cropper, as well as Booker T. Jones (of Green Onions fame) his song is widely regarded as a historical artifact of soul music. 

Buddy Guy

Famous for playing flurries of notes on his Fender Stratocaster, Buddy Guy (born in 1936) is one of the last guitarists still around from the Chicago blues era of the 1950s and 1960s. In fact, he has announced that he will be playing his final tour dates in 2024, officially marking the end of a career on the road spanning at least 70 years. 

Ray Anthony

At the age of 101, Ray Anthony is one of the oldest musicians to be featured in this article (at the time of this writing in 2023). Anthony rose to fame playing swing band music in the Glenn Miller Orchestra during the early 1940s, eventually embarking on a solo career after World War II.

Ray Anthony also ventured into acting during the 1950s and even hosted his own television show for a year.