I was looking through some "M" artists for my other thread when I came across Tony Martin, who died less than 18 months from his 100th birthday and was wondering if anyone who made the UK singles chart ever made three figures?

 

Vera Lynn is a fortnight away from her 98th, Al Caiola and Pearl Carr & Teddy Johnson are well into their 80s. Buster Martin from the Zimmers was probably 97 or 98 when he died (and Alf Carretta was 93) but I can't think of one at present.

 

 

Doris Day is 90 (or 92). Vera Lynn is due to celebrate her 100th birthday on 20 March 2017.

mel brooks is 88.

 

George Burns made 49 in the US charts in 1980 aged 84 with I Wish I Was 18 Again, a classic comedian who made an entire new career for himself laughing at being old while old, then lived to be 100.

 

Chuck Berry is 89 this year.

 

Irving Berlin never had a hit in his own right, being as he was a songwriter mostly and recorded music hadn't been invented when he wrote his first hit song in 1911 - it topped the sheet music charts in many years later: Alexander's Ragtime Band. Actual US charts, and UK charts hits followed, when his many classics were covered by many singers. You may have heard of a ditty called White Christmas...? He lived to be 101 and died in 1989.

 

 

oh, and Patrick Macnee is 93 and Honor Blackman 90 later this year, those Kinky Boots obviously good for the circulation...

Sally Sweetland.

 

Number 1 with Eddie Fisher in 1953 with 'I'm Walking Behind You'. She was born on September 23rd, 1911.

 

She's still alive. :)

 

Would love to live to be over a 100!!

mel brooks is 88.

 

George Burns made 49 in the US charts in 1980 aged 84 with I Wish I Was 18 Again, a classic comedian who made an entire new career for himself laughing at being old while old, then lived to be 100.

 

Chuck Berry is 89 this year.

 

Irving Berlin never had a hit in his own right, being as he was a songwriter mostly and recorded music hadn't been invented when he wrote his first hit song in 1911 - it topped the sheet music charts in many years later: Alexander's Ragtime Band. Actual US charts, and UK charts hits followed, when his many classics were covered by many singers. You may have heard of a ditty called White Christmas...? He lived to be 101 and died in 1989.

 

Didn't Irving Berlin write most of the classic Xmas songs from the start of the 20th century?

Would love to live to be over a 100!!

So would I.

I really don't think it's as good as it sounds, you'd pretty much be a vegetable for 10-15 of those years.

 

On the plus side, you'd be able to listen to more chart shows...

I really don't think it's as good as it sounds, you'd pretty much be a vegetable for 10-15 of those years.

 

 

That's a pretty horrible thing to say, after all Dame Veral Lynn seems to have full control of her faculties closing in on her 100 years

I used to work in the care industry, and we had four 100 birthdays in the two homes in as many months.

 

Three of those, had dementia with one dying a few months after her birthday. One wanted to die, as she had no family at all and the other was blessed with a good family and popular with other residents. The other Centurian had all her facilities and loved to socalise with people and had a supportive family.

 

It's not something I'd want to accomplish sadly.

I'm 63 years (and 56 minutes) away from my hundredth birthday, so who knows what being a centenarian would be like by that time even if I do live long enough?

I really don't think it's as good as it sounds, you'd pretty much be a vegetable for 10-15 of those years.

That's a pretty sweeping statement, don't you think?

My Grandma lived to be 100 and although her short-term memory had gone she was just as lively as she ever was. She was no 'vegetable', that's for sure!

Edited March 8, 201510 yr by Col1967

That's a pretty sweeping statement, don't you think?

My Grandma lived to be 100 and although her short-term memory had gone she was just as lively as she ever was. She was no 'vegetable', that's for sure!

 

I agree. My grandma was 93 and slagging off stupid politicians and fully in control of her faculties - she was however lonely after granddad died at 86, and people in the community don't pop round like they used to in the old days. These days you're left to your own devices which is more of a condemnation of the attitude of selfish young and old people - not everyone has family when you live to a good age, and social services pop round at best for a quick 15 minutes home visit unless you have cash to pay them with.

 

As for being a vegetable, dementia isn't necessarily an older persons problem, it's affecting increasing numbers of young people too, you don't suddenly wake up and turn into a 2-year-old, it's a grinding emotional journey for the person going through it and for their loved ones, and is no different from having cancer - except with cancer you have a good chance of survival, and with dementia it's terminal 100% of the time.

 

And of course, there are plenty of walking vegetables in all walks of life of any age, they look and sound like human beings but are sadly free of things like conscience, empathy, concern, love and all the other good things that make it worthwhile being alive.

 

When I was a teenager I revered and hero-worshipped many over 65 talents, like Groucho Marx, George Burns, Bob Hope and admired older people who had accomplished stuff while remaining relevant at however old they were. Still do, just as much as I did and do admire young, exciting, new talents. Hooray!

Jimmy Young (two number ones) is 93.

Sally Sweetland.

 

Number 1 with Eddie Fisher in 1953 with 'I'm Walking Behind You'. She was born on September 23rd, 1911.

 

She's still alive. :)

 

Turns out I was out of date here, but only by a few weeks - she died in February 2015, aged a grand 103 years old. Wonder if that will ever be overtaken?

Turns out I was out of date here, but only by a few weeks - she died in February 2015, aged a grand 103 years old. Wonder if that will ever be overtaken?

Do you have a source for this? IMDB says she is dead, but I haven't been able to find any conformation.

Madonna.

 

 

 

 

 

 

:basil:

On a serious note, there's quite a few big names who are in their 70s at the moment: Dolly Parton, Cher, Tina turner, Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand. Any one of them could easily make it to 90 or 100.

Chuck Berry is already 90, isn't he?