THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC

As Tony Bennett hangs up his mic, MARION McMULLEN celebrates some vintage American singing legends

Jerry

Lee

Lewis will turn

86 next month. He began his career in the 1950s and is known for rock ‘n’ roll hits like Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On, Great Balls Of Fire and High School Confidential. He suffered a minor

stroke in 2019.

When A Child Is Born singer Johnny Mathis is also 86 next month and is back touring after his original dates were postponed because of the pandemic. The singer is also known for songs like A Certain Smile, Twelfth Of Never and, Winter Wonderland.

He says fresh fruit and vegetables help to keep him fit and healthy.

American crooner Tony Bennett, left, has retired from performing at the age of 95. He revealed earlier this year he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016, but performed two sold-out shows with Lady Gaga at New York’s Radio City Music Hall last week despite his illness. He has sold more than 50 million records during his career thanks to songs like I Left My Heart In San Francisco.

Actor and singer/ songwriter Kris Kristofferson starred with Barbra Streisand in the 1976 movie of A Star Is Born and was a member of The Outlaws with Jonny Cash, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. The 85-yearold performed on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in 2017. 2

Harry Belafonte helped make Caribbean music popular with his hit Day-O (The Banana Boat Song). His 1956 album, Calypso was the first to sell more than a million copies in the US and he starred in several films. His virtual 94th birthday party in March, in aid of his non-profit group

The Gathering

Of Justice, was attended by

Jay-Z and Usher.

Judy Collins has had numerous gold and platinum records since bringing out her debut album A Maid Of Constant Sorrow in 1961. The Grammy award winner of Send In The Clowns fame shows no signs of slowing down at the age of

82 and is still performing and recording music 3

American country music star Loretta Lynn turned 89 in April. Her story was told in the 1980 musical The Coal Miner’s Daughter and she released her 50th studio album this year, called Still Woman Enough.

Tina

Turner marks her 82nd birthday in November. The What’s Love Got To Do With It and Proud Mary singer retired after a sold-out farewell tour, which ended in 2009. She quit the United States to become a Swiss national and later unveiled Broadway and West End show, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical.

Frankie Valli, now 87, has enjoyed hits with The Four Seasons with classic songs Sherry, Walk Like A Man, December, 1963 (Oh What A Night) and Big Girls Don’t Cry. He and the band’s story is celebrated in awardwinning stage musical The Jersey Boys.

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Singer, actor, writer, composer, and motivational speaker, Pat Boone, 87, sold more than 45 million records, had 38 Top 40 hits, and appeared in TV shows and Hollywood films. Only Elvis Presley had more chart success in the late 1950s. Until the 2010s, Pat, below, held the Billboard record for spending 220 consecutive weeks on the charts with one or more songs each week.