Full Name: Richard Starkey
Profession: Beatles Drummer, Singer, and Actor
Biography: Ringo Starr, a featured member of Rory Storm and The Hurricanes, became the final piece of the Beatles puzzle when he replaced drummer Pete Best in 1962.
Richard Starkey was raised in Dingle, a poor neighborhood of Liverpool. His father left the family when he was 4. A sickly child, "Ritchie" spent months at time in hospital recovering from peritonitis and tuberculosis. As part of his therapy, he started playing music. He was encouraged by his family, including his step-father, who purchased him a drum kit.
In the late 1950s he played in various rockabilly and skiffle bands before joining the Hurricanes, and becoming "Ringo Starr". He first met the Beatles when both groups were performing in Germany. When the Beatles secured a recording contract, producer George Martin expressed concern about Best, and the band opted to offer Ringo the position.
He provided a steady back-beat with a unique sound due in part to his being left-handed. Each album featured a turn as lead vocalist, with highlights being "Yellow Submarine" and "With A Little Help From My Friends". His happy-go-lucky demeanor and comic sensibilities were highlighted in the group's films; he continued working in the medium through the 1980s, including a stint on the "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends"/"Shining Time Station" children's television program.
As a solo artist, his greatest success was 1973's "Ringo" album which yielded two #1 singles - "Photograph" and "You're Sixteen". He appeared on some of the solo work of all the other Beatles - the only one to do so.
After a stint in detox for alcohol issues, he re-invigorated his career in 1989 launching the "All-Starr Band", featuring a revolving cast of musicians sharing the spotlight. They continue to tour intermittently.
In 2010, Starr was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2015 became the last Beatle to be inducted as a solo artist to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2018, as Richard Starkey, he was knighted in recognition for his service to music.
He has been married twice - to British hairdresser Maureen Cox, from 1965 to1975, with whom he had three children; and to American model and actress Barbara Bach since 1980.
Born: July 7, 1940
Birthplace: Liverpool, England, United Kingdom
Age: 84 years old
Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Dragon
Star Sign: Cancer
Articles and Photos
Acting Career
- 1957-12-25 Liverpudlian teenager Richard Starkey (later better known as Ringo Starr) receives his first drum set aged 17
- 1962-08-16 Ringo Starr replaces Pete Best as Beatles' drummer, first official concert two days later
- 1964-06-03 Ringo Starr collapses from tonsillitis and pharyngitis, just before the Beatles embark on a World Tour
- 1964-06-04 Beatles 1st (and only) "World Tour" begins with two ten-song shows at 4,400 seat KB Halle in Copenhagen, Denmark; British drummer Jimmie Nicol replaces Ringo Starr (recovering from tonsillitis) for the first five dates (10 concerts + a Dutch TV appearance)
- 1964-06-14 Drummer Ringo Starr re-unites with the Beatles in Melbourne, Australia, after recovering from tonsillitis
- 1964-09-24 Ringo Starr forms Brikley Building Company Ltd
- 1964-10-08 Ringo Starr passes his driving test
- 1964-12-02 Ringo Starr's tonsils are removed at University College Hospital, London, England
- 1969-12-05 Apple Records releases the single "Come and Get It" by the band Badfinger; track was written and produced by Paul McCartney for the dark comedy film "The Magic Christian" starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr
- 1969-12-12 Comedy film "The Magic Christian", starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr premieres in London, England
- 1970-03-27 Ringo Starr releases his 1st solo album "Sentimental Journey", a collection of pre-rock standards
- 1970-09-25 Ringo Starr releases his 2nd solo album "Beaucoups of Blues", a collection of country music recorded in Nashville, Tennessee
- 1971-04-09 Ringo Starr releases single "It Don't Come Easy", produced by George Harrison, in the UK
- 1971-08-01 George Harrison's benefit concerts for Bangladesh (2 shows) take place at Madison Square Garden, NYC; performers include Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Ravi Shankar, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, and Leon Russell
- 1971-10-29 Frank Zappa's musical mockumentary "200 Motels", starring The Mothers of Invention, Theodore Bikel, and Ringo Starr premieres in Beverly Hills, California
- 1972-03-17 Ringo Starr releases single "Back off Boogaloo" in the UK
- 1972-10-26 Ringo Starr and singer Lulu appear in non-speaking cameos on "Monty Python's Flying Circus" program
- 1973-10-19 Ringo Starr releases music single "Photograph" in the UK
- 1973-11-02 Apple Records releases "Ringo", Ringo Starr's third studio album, in the US; his biggest commercial and critical success, featuring the singles "Photograph", "You're Sixteen", and "Oh My My"
- 1973-11-09 Apple Records releases "Ringo", Ringo Starr's third studio album, in the UK - a week after its US release; his biggest commercial and critical success, featuring the singles "Photograph", "You're Sixteen", and "Oh My My"
- 1974-02-08 Ringo Starr releases a cover of "You're Sixteen" as a single in UK; originally released by Johnny Burnette in 1960
- 1974-11-15 Ringo Starr releases singles "Goodnight Vienna" and "Only You" in the UK
- 1975-04-28 Ringo Starr appears on "The Smothers Brothers Show", singing Hoyt Axton's "No No Song", and John Lennon is the guest on Tom Snyder's "Tomorrow" program, in what turns out to be his final television interview; both on NBC-TV
- 1976-01-09 Ringo Starr releases single "Oh My My" in the UK
- 1976-09-17 Polydor/Atlantic releases Ringo Starr' fifth studio album "Ringo's Rotogravure"
- 1976-10-15 Ringo Starr releases single "A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll"; peaks at 26 in US, fails to chart in UK
- 1976-11-25 The Band's farewell concert at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, California; guest performers include Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Ringo Starr, and the Staples Singers; concert film "The Last Waltz" directed by Martin Scorcese
- 1976-11-26 Ringo Starr releases single "Hey Baby"
- 1977-09-16 Ringo Starr releases single "Drowning in Sea of Love" in the UK
- 1977-09-30 Ringo Starr releases album "Ringo the 4th"
- 1978-06-16 Ringo Starr releases album "Bad Boy"
- 1981-02-06 Beatles George Harrison & Paul McCartney record vocals to a Ringo Starr track written by George, and re-worked as a tribute to John Lennon - "All Those Years Ago"
- 1981-04-17 Carl Gottlieb's movie "Caveman", starring Ringo Starr, Shelley Long, Barbara Bach, Dennis Quaid, Jack Gilford, and John Matuszak premieres
- 1981-05-15 George Harrison releases single "All Those Years Ago" in UK: the song was a tribute to John Lennon, and featured Ringo Starr on drums, and Paul and Linda McCartney on backing vocals
- 1981-10-27 Ringo Starr releases single "Wrack My Brain", written and produced by George Harrison, and album "Stop and Smell the Roses" in the US
- 1981-11-13 Ringo Starr releases single "Wrack My Brain", written and produced by George Harrison, in the UK
- 1981-11-20 Ringo Starr releases album "Stop and Smell the Roses" in the UK
- 1983-06-16 Ringo Starr releases album "Old Wave" album in West Germany; soon after releases follow in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the Netherlands, Mexico, and Brazil
- 1984-12-08 Ringo Starr hosts "Saturday Night Live"; Herbie Hancock is the musical guest
- 1987-06-05 Prince's Trust Rock Gala: Eric Clapton leads an all-star band including George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Elton John, Phil Collins, and Jeff Lynne at Wembley Stadium, London
- 1989-07-23 Ringo Starr's first All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include Joe Walsh, Nils Lofgren, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Clarence Clemons, Dr. John, Billy Preston, and Jim Keltner
- 1992-06-02 Ringo Starr's second All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include Joe Walsh, Dave Edmunds, Todd Rundgren, Burton Cummings, Timothy B. Schmit, Zak Starkey, and Timmy Capello
- 1993-04-24 Farm Aid VI held in Ames, Iowa; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Arlo Guthrie, The Jayhawks, Lyle Lovett, Johnny Cash, Ricky Van Shelton, Marty Stuart, Martina McBride, Bruce Hornsby, Bryan Adams, Ringo Starr, and Dwight Yoakam
- 1995-07-02 Ringo Starr's third All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Randy Bachman, Mark Farner, Billy Preston, Felix Cavaliere, John Entwistle, Zak Starkey, and Mark Rivera
- 1997-04-28 Ringo Starr's fourth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Peter Frampton, Jack Bruce, Gary Brooker, Simon Kirke, and Mark Rivera
- 1999-02-12 Ringo Starr's fifth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Todd Rundgren, Jack Bruce, Gary Brooker, Simon Kirke, and Timmy Cappello
- 2000-05-12 Ringo Starr's sixth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Todd Rundgren, Jack Bruce, Gary Brooker, Simon Kirke, and Timmy Cappello
- 2001-05-12 Ringo Starr's seventh All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Roger Hodgson, Ian Hunter, Howard Jones, Greg Lake, Sheila E., and Mark Rivera
- 2002-11-15 British drummer Ringo Starr inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall Of Fame
- 2002-11-29 "The Concert for George", a benefit memorial to George Harrison held at the Royal Albert Hall, London, features Eric Clapton; Paul McCartney; Ringo Starr; Jeff Lynne; Tom Petty; Joe Brown; Anoushka Shankar; Billy Preston; and members of Monty Python
- 2003-07-24 Ringo Starr's eighth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Colin Hay, Paul Carrack, John Waite, Sheila E., and Mark Rivera
- 2006-06-14 Ringo Starr's ninth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Billy Squier, Richard Marx, Edgar Winter, Rod Argent, Hamish Stuart, and Sheila E.
- 2008-06-19 Ringo Starr's tenth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Billy Squier, Colin Hay, Edgar Winter, Gary Wright, Hamish Stuart, and Gregg Bissonette
- 2010-06-24 Ringo Starr's eleventh All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Rick Derringer, Edgar Winter, Gary Wright, Richard Page, Wally Palmar, and Gregg Bissonette
- 2012-06-14 Ringo Starr's twelfth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Steve Lukather, Gregg Rolie, Todd Rundgren, Richard Page, Gregg Bissonette, and Mark Rivera, 2012-13 / Warren Ham, 2014-17
- 2015-04-18 30th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: The Paul Butterfield Blues Band; Green Day; Joan Jett and the Blackhearts; Lou Reed; Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble; Bill Withers; The "5" Royals; and Ringo Starr
- 2018-06-02 Ringo Starr's thirteenth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Steve Lukather, Gregg Rolie, Colin Hay, Graham Gouldman, Gregg Bissonette, and Warren Ham
- 2019-03-21 Ringo Starr's fourteenth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Steve Lukather, Gregg Rolie, Colin Hay, Hamish Stuart, Gregg Bissonette, and Warren Ham
- 2022-05-07 Berklee College of Music bestows honorary doctorates to Beatles drummer Ringo Starr; bassist Chuck Rainey; composer James Newton Howard; and R&B singer Lalah Hathaway
- 2022-05-27 Ringo Starr's fifteenth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Steve Lukather, Edgar Winter, Colin Hay, Hamish Stuart, Gregg Bissonette, and Warren Ham
- 2022-06-10 Ringo Starr suspends his half-completed summer All-Starr Band tour when two musicians test positive for COVID-19
- 2022-09-05 Ringo Starr resumes his All-Starr Band tour after two musicians recover from COVID
- 2022-09-16 Singing drummer Ringo Starr releases his creatively titled third EP, "EP3"
- 2022-10-01 Ringo Starr postpones two dates of his All-Starr Band tour due to illness
- 2022-10-03 Ringo Starr postpones five dates of his All-Starr Band tour in Canada due to his testing positive for COVID-19
- 2022-10-11 Ringo Starr resumes his All-Starr Band tour with a show in Seattle, Washington after his testing positive for COVID-19
- 2022-10-13 Ringo Starr cancels five remaining scheduled All-Starr Band tour concert dates in California and Mexico, after getting rebound COVID-19 infection
- 2023-07-07 NASA beams Ringo Starr’s voice wishing “peace and love" across the universe via the Deep Space Network in honor of his 83rd birthday
Personal Life
- 1965-02-11 Beatle drummer Ringo Starr (25) weds British hairdresser Maureen Cox (18) at the Caxton Hall Register Office, London; divorce in 1975
- 1975-07-17 Beatle member Ringo Starr & Maureen Cox Starkey divorce, after 10 years of marriage
- 1981-04-27 Beatle Ringo Starr (40) weds American actress Barbara Bach (33) at Marylebone Town Hall, London, England
References
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