The 92-year-old drummer began playing when he was 16 and still draws a crowd at Mercy Health Bethlehem Home for the Aged in Bendigo.

He performs at least once a week.

"If I'm able to do it, I'll do it," he said.

Mr Kavanagh regularly practices in his room to perfect songs and to keep his skills in check.

"It's a matter of the versatility in your wrists. Some drummers use their arms and their wrists, but I only use my wrists," he said.

Mr Kavanagh honed his skills playing with a 10-piece Warnambool band in the 1940s.

"I mostly played at the Palais Theatre in Warrnambool, when I was 18. Most of the band members had returned from the war," he said.

"I got roped in by those old fellas and they taught me to play. One was a wonderful drummer who would play up in Sydney and he would charge me seven shillings a lesson."

Mr Kavanagh was the only person in that band who could not read sheet music.

"I was fortunate I had rhythm in my body, and still do," he said.

Mr Kavanagh ended up playing with three other bands in Warrnambool before he moved to Bendigo, where he worked as an auctioneer.

Mr Kavanagh last performed with his most recent band two years ago.

They were a fixture at Saturday night Spring Gully dances for 22 years.

Mr Kavanagh said he was lucky to have played with so many marvelous musicians and good friends.

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