And of course outside of narrow “rock and roll” confines which really should be called “youth music” there are a ton of critically important musicians who peaked after 40.
The Astor Piazzolla cd I am listening to is from when he was about 65.
What about Cesaria Evora who by most accounts was working as a maid and by some as a prostitute until discovery in her late 40s?
Miles Davis?
The greatest Spanish lyricist, Joaquin Sabina, peaked in his 40s
Jorge Ben was certainly peaking past 30
It’s a bit of a tautology to argue youth music made by young people for young people is considered to peak when they are young… like, obviously, if young people get old and stop being able to absorb new music then the music made by young people is the only one that can be good to them
I think there are studies that demonstrate that there is a certain age where music really hits you hard
