[Q Factor]

I just found out that Virgil Donati was born in 1957, making him 49 years old! Did anyone know this? It came as a shock to me because I always thought that he was young and at most in his late thirties. His playing hasn't slowed down at least.

[DrummerMom]

Wow,

My husband is almost 41. I'm 35. Age is just a number. So I'm guessing you are either a teenager or in your early twenties if you think 49 is old.

Virgil Donati is an awesome drummer!

[malletjazz]

Q, check out Roy Haynes sometime - 82 (IIRC), and still one of the top jazz drummers on the planet. (One of the top drummers - period - for that matter...)

[Russ]

Has Roy Haynes been drumming all his life?

[malletjazz]

I'm not sure how young he was when he started playing, but he has been working professionally since the mid-1940s, according to this biography (and others I've found):

http://www.iaje.org/bio.asp?ArtistID=20

[Harry]

Hi Q Factor,

Most established good drummers who earn their living with drumming are 40 plus.

It is a blessing that, providing you look after yourself, you can be an old AND a very good drummer!! (I would say that would'nt I)

That is why we still have the luxury to enjoy the great ones like Simon Phillips, Steve Gadd, Joe Morello, Stewart Copeland, Bermuda, Billy Ward, etc.etc. I mean many,many more, thousands!!!

I still have a ball with the drumming, and I think the music is such a wonderful fullfilment for my never waning aspirations. I play in a couple of bands and I am by far the oldest, but nobody seems to have noticed yet

Drummers grow old, there is no doubt about it, more so than the musicians who play "the other" instruments, BUT, The Conductors of orchestras live longest!!

Cheers and Happy Drumming,

Harry

[Infero Exicution]

Old drummers know a lot more than young drummers most of the time.
More skills, wisdom, basically everything. Unless they just started.
49 is a good age for drumming. It keeps you fit!

[Damo]

49 certainly isnt old. Most people think Bozzio is in his 40's too, and they would be wrong.

And lets face it - Youd need 50 years to get to the level Virgil is at anyway!

[Infero Exicution]

Originally Posted by Damo

49 certainly isnt old. Most people think Bozzio is in his 40's too, and they would be wrong.

And lets face it - Youd need 50 years to get to the level Virgil is at anyway!

I totally agree. People think that drummers in their young twentys is good.
People need to appreciate that the drummers they hear about most like
Neil Peart are past their 20's. (obviously). Me being 12 years old, I think my 20's and
30's will be my high-point in drumming. Nope, my upper 30's through the 50's and 60's
will. No doubt about it.

[Damo]

^ You can never really know for sure, as your priorities change as you get older.
Its just as likely you wont be playing at all by age 30.