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HUNTLEY, IL - September 2008 - Whatever age they happen to be, they're not afraid to try something new, that's the mantra of Huntley’s LIFE's members. At first, that meant learning to play an instrument for the first time well past retirement.  Now it means entertaining hundreds of people in mall shopping centers, at restaurants and stores like Wal-mart and Kroger, at senior centers and yes, even among those who technically are their 'peers' at nursing homes and senior centers.

The group is part of the latest national music buzz - seniors who rock.  Think of them as the 'acoustical version' of the world touring sensation The Young@Heart Chorus, a group of octogenarians who've traveled the globe spreading their voices and touching hearts with a repertoire of songs that include Cold Play, Outkast and Sonic Youth among others.  Prairie State LIFE members are part of a trend that is now seeing dozens of 'senior' musicians popping up on You Tube.  In fact, in a recent Gallup Pole, 82 percent of Americans who don't currently play an instrument wish they had learned to play one.

That statistic comes as no surprise to Dennis Kaplan, LIFE's National Chapter President, who relates to it generationally, "Getting to a certain age doesn't mean you stop being interesting, or being interested in new things.  It doesn't mean you have to age according to the rules. Who says we can't pick up something new and get out there and do something with it?  Retirement is the time to make up for all the things you wished you'd had time for earlier."

But members of Prairie State LIFE prefer instead to keep it closer to home rather than crossing the country.  They take every opportunity to fire up the keyboard for those in need and for those in their community.  What's astonishing is that for the most part, not a one of them has ever played an instrument before, and only took up making music after they retired.  Now this group is having the time of their lives. Not content to retire in front of the TV, this active set of budding entertainers see music as a way to participate in local and national activities and to give something back

Musical talent isn't the defining criterion of the group, in fact, their instrument of choice -  a Lowrey - requires only 'one-touch' to play it.  With just one finger they have an entire orchestra at their disposal.  What does characterize a Prairie State LIFE member is their deep desire to do more with their retired years.
  
Prairie State LIFE and their fellow LIFEer's are following a growing trend of mature adults who are reinventing the 'third act' of their lives.   Lowrey, the leader in the recreational music industry, recognized the growing trend toward the 55+ sets need to reinvent retirement several years ago and created the L.I.F.E. Club (Lowrey Is Fun and Easy) to help build and support music communities at their local Dealers across the country.  The network group gives retirees a new outlet for channeling their new found music hobby into worthwhile causes like fundraisers for The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, Homes For Our Troops and national music advocacy campaigns to increase arts funding in schools that reach to the White House.  Today, L.I.F.E. is the largest music club in the country with over 65 chapters and thousands of 55+ members, many of whom are first time musicians.