Photo Gallery: What 70 (and 80) Looks Like

New Orleans, Louisiana
Jazz Composer

I lost my hair when I was a teen. I had a disease called alopecia — it never bothered me. I grew my beard when I was in my 30s. When it turned gray, it seemed like an asset; it made me feel outstanding. I got involved with my African heritage and started dressing in African designs. It's important to express that part of my identity. Twenty years ago I had a stroke and recently I started using a walker. I began to fall down a lot and wound up in the hospital. I hope I seem happy, What's important to me is making music. I like the song "Do Watcha Wanna." You gotta do watcha wanna do — if you've got the nerve!
— Photo by Ben Baker