 Ringo Starr Biography Navigation
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 Born Richard Starkey on July 7, 1940, the Liverpudlian went from very humble beginnings to become a member of the greatest popular music act of all time, the Beatles. Spending most of his childhood moving in and out of hospitals, where he learned to play the drums, Starkey's health slowly improved, and as a teenager he played the English holiday camps known as Butlins. Here, he developed the eclectic skills and diverse musical knowledge that would serve him well in years to come. Playing in various "beat" groups of late-'50s Liverpool, Starkey, using the show name Ringo Starr (due to his penchant for gaudy rings) became a local favorite with the band, Rory Storm & the Hurricanes.
Through guitarist George Harrison, Ringo was invited to join the Beatles just as their fame began its inexorable rise. His drumming, a perfect combination of great feel, inventive grooves and nonchalant good taste, was matched by his good nature and quick wit. With Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Harrison, Ringo became one of the most recognizable, quoted and influential musicians of the 1960s. Not a singer or songwriter per se, he did put his vocal stamp on a handful of Beatles songs: "Matchbox," "I Wanna Be Your Man," "Act Naturally," "Yellow Submarine," "With A Little Help From My Friends," "Octopus's Garden" and "Good Night."
After the Beatles disbanded in 1970, Ringo's solo career did surprisingly well. His hits included the partly Harrison-penned "It Don't Come Easy," as well as "Photograph," "Back Off Boogaloo," "You're Sixteen," "Oh My My," "Only You" and "No No Song." He also did session work with each of the former Beatles, plus Harry Nilsson and Stephen Stills.
Ringo's albums faded from public view toward the end of the '70s, but his career was resurrected through clever "All-Starr" touring packages that banded Ringo with talented warhorses like Joe Walsh, Mark Hudson, Peter Frampton, Jack Bruce, Gary Brooker and Simon Kirke. His 1998 album, Vertical Man, featured guest appearances by his former bandmates McCartney and Harrison, and well as Alanis Morissette, Scott Weiland and Tom Petty.
After appearing at the tribute concert for Harrison in late 2002, Ringo honored his late one-time bandmate with "Never Without You." The song from Starr's 2003 album Ringo Rama, features Eric Clapton guesting on guitar
This Biography was written by Ken Micallef
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