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.


Cheers,
Deryk