The title says it all....looking for some inspiration and wisdom...'made it' is intentionally vague ; )

Lecil Travis Martin (Boxcar Willie) born 1931 and had his first record to chart in 1981 when he was 50. He did not begin his professional career until the age of 45 according to Wikipedia. He served in the Air Force from 1949 until retirement in 1976. He won the Gong Show in 1976 to launch his professional career.

I don't really know though I would say, it probably was more down to the era than the age.

Susan Boyle started her career at the age of 47.

Check her first preformance here

50 years old is pushing it, but for musicians who rose to prominence relatively late I can name a small handful.

I don't expect people in this forum to know who he is, but James Murphy (known for his electronic dance rock project, LCD Soundsystem) didn't release his debut album until he was 35. He didn't blow up with his music career until a year later when it got worldwide attention. In the electronic music world, that is quite late.

Although he composed the immortal jazz standard "'Round Midnight" before turning 30 and was a well-respected sideman, Thelonious Monk didn't make much of an impact as a top-billed artist with mainstream audiences until his album Brilliant Corners in 1957, which was released when he was 40. We all know how that went down following.

Another one that comes to mind is Andrea Bocelli, who didn't get his big break until 1992, when he was in his early 40's.

Mississippi John Hurt was “rediscovered” at around 70. He was found by some musicologists while working as a share cropper. He went on to have a very successful folk career in the early 60’s.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_John_Hurt

I had a brief exposure to guitar with a couple lessons in grammar school (age 12). After that, Music went dormant in me until I wondered into a music store at age 40, rented an acoustic guitar and signed up for lessons. That was 25 years ago and since that time, the flame has kindled, simmered, burned hot and flickered at bit at times, but never gone out.

So, since you have defined 'made it' as intentionally vague, while you have likely never heard of me, I do put myself on the list.

Excellent example, B&J!

I've heard Chet Atkins and Doc Watson both credit John Hurt for his influences on their guitar styles. Unfortunately, the recording quality of John's surviving music is quite poor but well worth a YouTube search.

It seems to me that many of Mississippi John's surviving tunes were live recordings in friends' homes. They certainly have a 'homebrew' flavor that I love.

This is a good sampler of John's music. I refer to John as "The Father Of Delta Blues".

https://youtu.be/tvJrkQf-w-c

BTW, John wrote, "Palette On The Floor" which has been covered by many popular artists including our very own Joanne Wilson-Cooper. Doc Watson and many guitarists play John's "Spike Driver Blues".

Here's Doc's version:

https://youtu.be/GLdhZ7bzbIg

What does ‘made it’ mean? Get famous? Have a life changing delta in income?

Every time I get goosebumps at my hobby I think I’ve made it. I’m over 50. Bought EZ Drummer in the past year, and it has provided many of those experiences in ‘playing’ exactly what I would want from a real drummer. I get to have drums on my songs like I used to have in a band way way back when. Feels like making it to me.

I like that definition of "makin it" after 50.

[list]Mississippi John Hurt
Music_Student
Rockstar_not[*]



By the way, EZDrummer 1 is pretty old. I assume you are referring to EZDrummer 2?

I have missed the canoe headed for fame and celebrity. Apparently close doesn't count except in horseshoes and hand grenades. I am enjoying my freedom to explore my journey with the time I have left. I content myself in thinking that I could never be happy in that world.

That's my story and I am sticking with it!

Much like my chances of winning the lottery - my odds are roughly the same whether I buy a ticket or not, so I'll just pass.

Yes, sorry - EZ Drummer 2. Wish I hadn't waited so long! I tried Jamstix for years, but EZ Drummer works way better IMO.

I'm a big JS fan, but you are absolutely right about EZD2. But I am sure I shared that with the forum years ago, where were you?

Been several years since a "...this changes everything" music app can along. EZD2 was one of those apps.

Define "Make it" in the music biz.

Generally, if you haven't "made it" by 25...... you aren't going to "make it" as a lucrative main career.

I know tons of old guys still gigging the clubs and events.... but playing the local clubs isn't "making it" in my definition. Of course, they love it and do it for that reason so it's all good.

What is the definition of "make it" in this particular case? Are we talking about making millions of dollars, or just having a following and fans that generally enjoy your music?

In response to an interviewer calling him an 'overnight success,' Willie Nelson retorted: "It only took me fifty years to become an overnight success!"

I have to admire Willie's attitude; he appeared on Oprah in his bathrobe and pink fuzzy slippers.

Doc Watson, the blind guitarist, was famous on the Bluegrass circuit for many years but didn't 'make it' until the Folk revival of the 60s with Pete Seger, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, PP&M, etc.

I intentionally worded the question so that each person could - effectively, share whether they're happy where they are now, or still a bit frustrated by their current musical "career and/or hobby" stature ; )

That's fair! I was mostly just curious what context we were working within. I don't know anybody personally, but I've heard of a guy who used to work at PG Music who had someone pretty big play a remix of one of their songs, and that this person is doing pretty well with their music, but they were not over 50. I'm not sure who it is or what genre they play, but it's cool to hear that people are getting well-deserved attention for their stuff. But, yah. I don't know anybody personally. My circle is mostly authors trying to get agents and books signed with publishing houses. Same idea, but just a different creative medium. Both require a lot of hard work and dedication to the craft, that is for sure!