Ringo (Starkey) Starr MBE

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Ringo Starr (born Richard Starkey) is an English musician, songwriter, singer, and actor. He is best known around the world as the drummer for The Beatles.

Biography

Ringo (Starkey) Starr MBE is Notable.

Richard Starkey was born on 7 July 1940 in Liverpool, Lancashire , England to Richard Starkey and Elsie Gleave, ^[1] both of whom enjoyed singing and dancing. His parents nicknamed him 'Ritchie'.

In 1944, the family moved to Admiral Grove, in the Dingle, Liverpool, Lancashire, England. ^[2] His parents divorced soon afterwards. ^[3]

When 'Ritchie' was six, he developed appendicitis, followed by peritonitis and coma. ^[2] A lengthy recovery plus missing school left him illiterate at age 8. In 1953 he caught tuberculosis and there followed a stay in a sanatorium for two years, during which the staff encouraged him to participate in the hospital band - which is where his interest in drumming began. Another recovery period meant he did not return to school. He stayed at home, beating biscuit tins with sticks in time to the music he listened to. ^[4]

Various short-lived jobs followed, including railway worker, waiter, and apprentice machinist. It was in his machinist job that he learned about skiffle, practising with biscuit tins again. then graduating to a thimble across a washboard. ^[4]

In 1957, his new stepfather gave him his first 'real' drum kit - a snare drum, bass drum, and makeshift cymbal. This kit made it possible for 'Ritchie' to join the band later named Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, who were one of Liverpool's most popular bands. Richard Starkey became Ringo Starr. The Hurricanes accepted a gig in Hamburg, Germany in 1960, where Ringo first met the members of The Beatles, who received less pay and a lower billing than the Hurricanes. ^[2]

In 1962, Ringo left the Hurricanes and joined the Beatles, after being asked by John Lennon to do so. He replaced Pete Best as drummer - a move which distressed a lot of fans.

The Beatles became more and more popular in Britain, so much so that the phenomenon 'Beatlemania' flooded the country, and spread to the US when the Beatles toured there. "I love Ringo" lapel pins became the Beatles bestselling merchandise in 1964. They also included "Starr Time" in their shows - a drum solo spot for Ringo.

In 1965, Ringo and the other members of the Beatles were appointed MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire). He was listed as 'Ringo Starr', but in brackets he was named (Richard Starkey Esq). ^[5]

Also in 1965, Ringo married hairdresser Maureen Mary Cox. ^[6] The couple had three children: two sons (one also a drummer) and a daughter, but divorced in 1975. Maureen remarried, but eventually died in 1994 in the US, aged only 48.

1967 saw the release of the Beatles' album 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band', with Ringo singing lead vocals on one track. However, he was increasingly feeling like a session musician, producing only minor percussion effects when required. Relations within the Beatles began to deteriorate. Ringo intensely disliked Yoko Ono's continual presence and McCartney's bossiness. The band eventually split when John Lennon announced he was leaving in 1969, followed by Paul McCartney in 1970.

Ringo continued to produce hit songs and albums - many selling millions - in the UK and the US. He started his own record label in 1975, but his own career took a downturn. Many of his albums failed to chart. Collaborations with other musicians, however, have ensured that Ringo's career and fame continue.

In 1981, Ringo married Barbara Goldbach, and then became a grandfather from his first marriage. He was the first of the Beatles to become a grandfather.

In 2002, Ringo was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame, despite saying in one interview ""I'm no good on the technical things ... I'm your basic offbeat drummer with funny fills ... because I'm really left-handed playing a right-handed kit. I can't roll around the drums because of that." Bill Harry, 2004 ^[7]

"All-Starr-Band Paris 2011

In 2010, Ringo was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (the final Beatle to receive such an award),while in 2011, he was voted as the fifth greatest drummer of all time by readers of Rolling Stone (a US magazine which centres on music, politics, and popular culture).

"One of Ringo's great qualities was that he composed unique, stylistic drum parts for the Beatles' songs. His parts are so signature to the songs that you can listen to a Ringo drum part without the rest of the music and still identify the song." Steve Smith, quoted by Robyn Flans, Percussive Arts Society ^[8]

He was appointed Knight Bachelor in 2018 ^[9] and knighted by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.

Ringo Starr has eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. He and his wife live in Cranleigh (Surrey, England), London, Los Angeles, and Monte Carlo. Ringo has an estimated wealth of £150 million.

Ringo is a vegetarian and meditates daily. His catchphrase and motto for life is "peace and love".

Bibliography

• Postcards from the Boys (2004)
• Octopus's Garden (2014)
• Photograph (2015)

Discography (Solo Albums)

• Sentimental Journey (1970)
• Beaucoups of Blues (1970)
• Ringo (1973)
• Goodnight Vienna (1974)
• Ringo's Rotogravure (1976)
• Ringo the 4th (1977)
• Bad Boy (1978)
• Stop and Smell the Roses (1981)
• Old Wave (1983)
• Time Takes Time (1992)
• Vertical Man (1998)
• I Wanna Be Santa Claus (1999)
• Ringo Rama (2003)
• Choose Love (2005)
• Liverpool 8 (2008)
• Y Not (2010)
• Ringo 2012 (2012)
• Postcards from Paradise (2015)
• Give More Love (2017)
• What's My Name (2019)

Sources

1. ↑ England & Wales birth registration: Liverpool S [district], Volume 8b, Page 271, September quarter 1940, mother's maiden name GLEAVE
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Clayson, Alan (2005) [2001]. Ringo Starr: A Life (2nd ed.). Sanctuary.
3. ↑ Davies, Hunter (2009) [1968]. The Beatles: The Authorized Biography (3rd revised ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Spitz, Bob (2005). The Beatles: The Biography. Little, Brown and Company.
5. ↑ MBE:London Gazette
6. ↑ England & Wales marriage registration: Westminster [district], Volume 5c, Page 733, March quarter 1965, Richard STARKEY and Mary COX
7. ↑ Harry, Bill (2004). The Ringo Starr Encyclopedia. Virgin Books.
8. ↑ "PAS Hall of Fame", Robyn Flans, Percussive Arts Society
9. ↑ Knight Bachelor: London Gazette

See Also:

• Wikipedia:Ringo_Starr
• http://www.ringostarr.com