At 97, Vera Lynn is set to become the oldest artist to release an album, when her new work ‘Vera Lynn: National Treasure - the Ultimate Collection’, is released. While Vera might be the oldest artist still making albums she’s not the only one to prove that advancing years is no reason to stop making music. Take these five for example.

Dame Vera LynnDame Vera Lynn

Doris Day

In 2011 Doris Day began the oldest artist ever to have a UK top 10 album of new material. The then 87 year old’s album ‘My Heart’ entered the UK chart in the number 9 spot, earning her the accolade. The album also became Doris’s first Billboard chart entry in 47 years. Doris is of course probably best remembered for her acting work, which earned her an Oscar nomination in 1959 for ‘Pillow Talk’. So far in her career she’s released 31 albums and been awarded a Grammy lifetime achievement award.

Tony Bennett

In 2006, a then 79 year old Tony Bennett collaborated with many of his favourite fellow musicians, including Bono, Sting and Michael Bublé for his album ‘Duets’, earning him the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. Then in 2011 he became the oldest living artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard chart with the follow up ‘Duets II’. This time he collaborated with contemporary artists such as Carrie Underwood and John Mayer. The album also included Amy Winehouse’s final recording, ‘Body and Soul’. Now the singer is 87 and there’s no signs of retirement, his next release is a collaboration album with Lady Gaga no less entitled, ‘Cheek to Cheek’.

Still going strong, Tony BennettFancy a 'Duet'?  Tony Bennett

Loretta Lynn

When 72 year old country legend Loretta Lynn wanted to make a comeback album, she called on Jack White to lend a hand. The result was the highly acclaimed ‘Van Lear Rose’ which won her Grammy Award for Best Country Album in 2004 and introduced her sound to a whole new generation. Now at 81 Lynn is still very much going strong and rumour is that she’s set to record a follow up to ‘Van Lear Rose’ working with Jack White once again.

Next: more of the oldest musicians.