- Who
- Colin Thackery
- What
- 89:272 year(s):day(s)
- Where
- United Kingdom ()
- When
The oldest person to release a debut album was 89 years 272 days old, and was achieved by Colin Thackery (UK, b. 9 March 1930) when his debut album, Love Changes Everything, was released on 6 December 2019.
The singing octogenarian’s renditions of “Wind Beneath My Wings”, “We’ll Meet Again” (made famous by “forces’ sweetheart” Dame Vera Lynn) and “Love Changes Everything” on Britain’s Got Talent brought him to the public’s attention and he won the final of the TV talent show with a 25.3% share of the vote, walking away with the £250,000 first prize and an opportunity to sing for Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, at the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium on 18 November 2019.
Love Changes Everything was released to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II in September 1939.
Colin previously became the oldest solo artist to sign their first recording contract, penning a deal with Decca Records/Syco Entertainment on 3 July 2019 at the age of 89 years 116 days old.
Love Changes Everything debuted at its peak position, No.13, on the UK's Official Albums Chart dated 19 December 2019. If the album had reached No.1 in the UK, Colin would have comfortably beaten Bob Dylan’s record – 73 years 266 days – for the oldest UK chart-topper (male). The female – and absolute – record is held by his new label-mate, Dame Vera Lynn, who was 92 years 183 days old when The Very Best of Vera Lynn – We’ll Meet Again went to No.1 on the Official Albums Chart on 19 September 2009.
Other musicians who released debut albums later in life include bluesman T-Model Ford (b. 1923; debut album released in 1997), Canadian "grindcore" exponent Grindmother (debut album released in 2016, aged 67), soul singer Charles Bradley (b. 1948, debut album released in 2011) and Seasick Steve (b. 1951, debut album released in 2004).
