Dynamic drummer Ringo Starr was born Richard Starkey on July 7, 1940, in Liverpool, England. Raised in the working class area of Liverpool known as Dingle, Starr spent three years in the hospital as a child and suffered a coma. Because he missed so much schoolwork, when Starr left the hospital for good at age of fifteen, he was behind in his reading and writing aptitude.
Known as Ritchie in his youth, Starr co-founded The Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group in his late teens, later joining a quartet known as The Raving Texans. It was at this time that Starr earned the nickname Ringo from all of the rings he wore. While performing with his band Rory Storm and The Hurricanes in Hamburg in 1960, Starr first met John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, who were looking for a new drummer for their group, The Beatles. Starr became the oldest member of The Beatles and the last to join the band.
The Beatles’ ascent to stardom began in the early 60s, as they swept up the rest of decade in Beatlemania with their innumerable hits. Starr contributed his vocals to at least one song on each studio album, most notably "Yellow Submarine" from Revolver (1966) and "With a Little Help from My Friends" from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967).
In 1965, Starr married Maureen Cox, with whom he had three children, Zak, Jason, and Lee. The couple divorced in 1975, and five year later, Starr met his second wife, actress Barbara Bach, on the set of their film Caveman. In 1985, the last member to join the Beatles became the first to become a grandfather, welcoming the birth of his son, Zak’s new daughter.
After The Beatles disbanded on April 10, 1970, Starr released two solo albums within that same year, including Sentimental Journey, featuring production by Quincy Jones; and Beaucoups of Blues, which demonstrated Starr’s country inflection. The following year, Starr made a foray into the furnishing industry, co-founding a furniture company which featured his own home ware designs.
In 1980, the assassination of John Lennon in New York City shocked fans worldwide, in addition to Lennon’s former band-mates. Starr, however, was the only Beatle who flew to New York to comfort Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono. McCartney and Harrison did not pay visits.
While continuing to release solo albums during the 80s, Starr also expanded into children’s projects, such as playing the mock turtle in the 1985 film Alice in Wonderland alongside Carol Channing, Shelley Winters, John Stamos, and Scott Baio. In 1984, Starr began narrating the children's television series, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. He also went on to play the character Mr. Conductor in the show’s American spin-off, Shining Time Station in 1989.
Beginning in 1989, Starr debuted his touring band, Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band. Singing a compilation of Beatles hits, Starr’s solo songs, and songs by other artists, the concert continues to be a popular summer attraction, and will celebrate its ten year anniversary in summer 2007.
Already a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 2002, Starr was also inducted into the Percussive Hall of Fame. He continues to release music; most recently appearing on the 2006 Jerry Lee Lewis duet album, Last Man Standing, in which he contributed a cover of Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen."
YUDDY
