Some, like George Burns, kept at it too long, but it really wasn't singing. I wouldn't dare say anything about Marlene Dietrich, though. I never thought Gene Kelly had that great a voice, if you want criticism. Like Dietrich, some other performers just keep racking up the miles, sometimes literally. Mireille Mathieu is still at it, I believe.
One of my favorite songs, no matter who sings it, is J'attendrai. Lucienne Delyle does a nice version and it's also in the movie Das Boot (as Komm Zuruck). I happened to run across a YouTube voice of a little backyard performance of the song by three musicians who happen to be semi-professionals. The singer in that one, who I believe is Sarah Quintana, has one of those rough voices. Another performer on that same video, Leyla McCalla, turns out to be an accomplished (mostly) blues performer, if not exactly a professional, though she has done an album.
There is so much out there these days and so easy to access that I'm spoiled. These days my tastes, such as it is, runs to German and Slovenian pop and Volksmusik. I don't know why.
One of my favorite songs, no matter who sings it, is J'attendrai. Lucienne Delyle does a nice version and it's also in the movie Das Boot (as Komm Zuruck). I happened to run across a YouTube voice of a little backyard performance of the song by three musicians who happen to be semi-professionals. The singer in that one, who I believe is Sarah Quintana, has one of those rough voices. Another performer on that same video, Leyla McCalla, turns out to be an accomplished (mostly) blues performer, if not exactly a professional, though she has done an album.
There is so much out there these days and so easy to access that I'm spoiled. These days my tastes, such as it is, runs to German and Slovenian pop and Volksmusik. I don't know why.