Hitting the 40 for the first time after 40

[woolebull]

This week, "Handclap" by Fitz and the Tantrums debuted on American Top 40. This is the first time Fitz and The Tantrums have hit AT 40. The lead singer, Michael Fitzpatrick, is 46. I was wondering how many acts (lead singer of a group or solo) have hit American Top 40 for the first time after hitting their 40th birthday. I want to throw one caveat on the answer: I'm not including acts who hit American Top 40 after 40 that had top 40 hits before 7/4/70 (i.e. Frank Sinatra). I'm curious about artists who had their first top 40 hit after they turned 40.

So far, I have one that I can think of: Gordon Sinclar who was like 74 or so when he hit with "The Americans". I'm betting it doesn't happen too much, but would love to know how many artists have done it!

[woolebull]

Here are a couple, both in featured roles:

Loleatta Holloway, who was 44/45 when "Good Vibrations" went to number one in 1991 (Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch)

Wanz, who was 51 when "Thriftshop" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis went to number one in 2013.

[dukelightning]

Loleatta was not the only one in 1991. Bonnie Raitt did it at age 41 not with that hit (in italics) which was her third but with "Something to Talk About". Has to be someone else who did it between Gordon Sinclair and those 2 women. (the 80s)

And there is! Larry Elgart was 60 when he hit with the "Hooked on Swing" medley in 1982!

[woolebull]

Feb 14, 2017 20:19:02 GMT -5 dukelightning said:

Loleatta was not the only one in 1991. Bonnie Raitt did it at age 41 not with that hit (in italics) which was her third but with "Something to Talk About".

Your emphasis on 1991 tripped my mind to another act to do it in 1991:Iggy Pop with "Candy". He was 43 at the time.

Also, Julio Iglesias was 40 when he and Willie hit with "To All The Girls I've Loved Before".

[dukelightning]

Hmm, another for 1991 from you and another for 1982 from me...Frank Zappa. Was 41 when he and his daughter hit with "Valley Girl".

Tom Clay might be the first in AT40 history. Was 42 when he hit with his spoken word hit in 1971.

[pb]

Most of the Grateful Dead were over 40 when "Touch of Gray" was a hit in 1987.

[at40petebattistini]

C.W. McCall was 46 when he first hit the Top 40 in 1975 with "Wolf Creek Pass".

Donald Byrd of the Blackbyrds was 42 when "Walking In Rhythm" hit the Top 40 in 1975.

And staying with 1975, Benny Bell was 69 when "Shaving Cream" hit the Top 40.

[woolebull]

Almost, but not quite...and I add it just because it blew my mind when I did the math and figured it out some years back. Toni Basil was 39 when "Micky" topped the charts in 1982.

[woolebull]

Interesting one that was the first song Casey counted down on the resurrected American Top 40 on March 28, 1998. 44 year old James Horner started off the second Casey era of AT40 with, "Southampton".

[freakyflybry]

Ozzy Osbourne: "Close My Eyes Forever" (age 40)
Al Jarreau: "We're In This Love Together" (age 41)
David Guetta: "When Love Takes Over" (age 41)
James Last: "The Seduction" (age 51)
Michael Franti: "Say Hey (I Love You)" (age 43)
Shawn Colvin: "Sunny Came Home" (age 41)
Bob Carlisle: "Butterfly Kisses" (age 40)
James Newton Howard: "The Hanging Tree" (age 63)
Tiesto: "Red Lights" (age 45)

Los Del Rio were in their late 40's when "Macarena" hit the top 40.

[giannirubino]

at40petebattistini, was that Benny Bell on Shaving Cream or Phil Winston, or Paul Wynn?

[freakyflybry]

Found another - Loreena McKennitt was 41 when she hit with "The Mummer's Dance".

Another 70's example - Hurricane Smith was 49 when he hit with "Oh, Babe, What Would You Say".

[freakyflybry]

Another big one - John Williams was 43 when he first hit the top 40 with the theme from "Jaws".

[at40petebattistini]

Feb 15, 2017 0:11:45 GMT -5 giannirubino said:

at40petebattistini, was that Benny Bell on Shaving Cream or Phil Winston, or Paul Wynn?

Good question. I attempted to research this and ended up using Whitburn as a source. Even if you credit Phil Winston or Paul Winn in some capacity, you're still likely looking at someone who's 40+ and fitting the criteria.

[pb]

Feb 14, 2017 21:42:13 GMT -5 woolebull said:

Almost, but not quite...and I add it just because it blew my mind when I did the math and figured it out some years back. Toni Basil was 39 when "Micky" topped the charts in 1982.

Also in the ballpark that year...Bertie Higgins, 37 when "Key Largo" hit.