Could I ask a question of Jason Cherkis? Why did he feel that it was so important to disclose everybody’s age in his article (“Beats Working,” 3/5)? Is musical talent in some way linked to the number of times you have celebrated the new year? Billie Holiday was great at 17 and at 40. No one cared about her age, only her music ability. Besides, my upbringing and the consensus of all in this room is that a woman’s age is her own business. What was it that Cherkis wanted to point out? Perhaps he does not know how chauvinistic the music industry is about an artist’s age? I notice that he did not put his own age on the article!

Adamstown, Md.

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