Long-Playing

When you get to be the age of Buck Page, founding member of the original Riders of the Purple Sage, birthdays take on a special meaning.

But for this legendary local guitarist, who turns 78 on Sunday, another big treat is that he can still make crowds cheer with such western favorites as “Ghost Riders in the Sky,” “Don’t Fence Me In” and “Cool Water.”

Sure his birthday is a big deal, said the western musician and former cowboy. But it’s still great to be able to work with the band he formed 64 years ago. Actually, Page will spend the first few minutes of his birthday finishing up a gig tonight with his band at a saloon in the San Fernando Valley.

Page is one of a small but feisty group of veteran musicians who have played longer than many people have lived. With a dozen million-selling hits, Page has performed in more than 200 movies, mostly westerns but including “The Glenn Miller Story” with Jimmy Stewart and “A Star Is Born” with Judy Garland.

And the Oxnard resident has played everywhere from smoky bars and USO facilities to posh country clubs and private parties at President Reagan’s home.

“I’m not about to quit,” Page said. “As long as I can entertain, I’ll do it.”

The American Federation of Musicians local in Ventura County has on its rolls 17 artists who are 70 or older. And there are numerous older musicians who live and work in the county, whose union affiliations are with other locals.

“When you get older you appreciate people and applause more,” Page said. “Standing ovations just knock me out.”

Page said the adrenaline rush from standing before a cheering audience can’t be matched.

“Once it gets in your blood, you can’t get it out,” said Page, who still performs about 150 times each year and is planning to cut his fourth CD in December.

But compared to some, Page is still considered a youngster.

Accordionist Frank Umbro, who performed with the Riders for 35 years until 1991, said he has played more than 21,000 gigs during his 70-year career.

“I just love music,” said Umbro, 87. “If it was like work, I wouldn’t do it.”

The Ojai resident said he plays about 15 times a month and has memorized more than 750 tunes. Because some of the music he plays dates back more than 80 years, he and his partner--three-time national fiddle champion Marvin Johnson--keep busy performing at 50th wedding anniversaries, fairs and hotel appearances.

“I love the challenge of learning new material” said Johnson of Port Hueneme, who played first violin with the Ventura Symphony.

“When the time comes that I can’t play the fast notes, I’ll have to give it up,” said the 87-year-old Johnson, who suffers from arthritis in his fingers.

Although many of the older musicians play for their peers, some senior artists find themselves performing for a younger crowd.

Don Tanner, an 81-year-old percussionist from Ventura, and his dance band, the Tanner Brothers, have a weekly gig playing swing music at the Mayflower Ballroom in Inglewood for people who are in their 20s and 30s.

“Just a smattering of people are in their 40s and 50s and some are in their late 80s,” said the drummer, who often jammed with Harry Truman on piano when he was vice president and played for Dwight Eisenhower when he was in the White House.

Tanner’s band includes his older brother, Slim, who is 84, and other senior musicians, one of whom was a Grammy-award winner; the other was once a nominee.

“It doesn’t matter what famous bands you’ve been with,” said 70-something Westlake trombone player Barney Lidell, leader of a Dixieland band who performed with Lawrence Welk for 35 years. “It matters how you sound the last eight bars.”

In music, advanced age is not the barrier it is with many other entertainment professions, according to Michael J. Smith, president of the musicians union local in Ventura County.

“In an era of rampant ageism, the ageism at the music level is at the top 40s level. As far as performing, if your music is good and you can draw [a crowd] then you can work. These guys will not be on MTV, but you can make a decent living.”

These older musicians adhere to the belief that taking good care of themselves forestalls the effects of aging

“There’s a trend of people living longer, healthier and productive lives,’ Smith said.

In addition to staying youthful through music, Page relies on vitamins and nutritional supplements. His commitment to certain health products is so strong that he has become a distributor in his spare time.

Lidell added, “What keeps you going is a balanced life and realizing what you’re trying to do and your values.”

“Unfortunately, a lot of musicians have gotten caught up in substance abuse,” said Smith of the musicians union.

“Most of the people that I knew--it was drinking that usually put them away,” Tanner said. “Some guys really abuse themselves.”

Smith referred to the drug-overdose death of Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia, who in the late ‘70s formed a western rock group named after Page’s group.

“Jerry Garcia of the New Riders of the Purple Sage would have been 58 this year, but the Old Riders are still going strong.”

“The ultimate lesson is to take care of yourself and you’ll have a long, fruitful career,” Smith said.