Ringo Star
Richard Starkey, or most commonly known as Ringo Starr was born on July 7, 1940. He is an English musician, song writer, actor as well as the drummer of The Beatles. He was the last to join the band, replacing Pete Best and is also the oldest among the other members. Starr was also credited for the songs, “Don’t pass Me By” and “Octopus’ Garden”, served in vocals in “Yellow Submarine”, “With a Little Help From My Friends”, “What Goes on” and “Good Night”.
Starr was hospitalized as a child due to a coma and pleurisy, making him fall behind school. At the age of 13, he left school. He was encouraged into music by Harry Graves, his mother’s second husband.
In 1957, Starr formed his own band “Eddie Clayton and the Clayton Squares”. In 1959, he joined Raving Texans, the quartet behind Rory Storm. This is where he got his nickname, “Ringo” for his many rings.
Although in 1960, Ringo Starr sometimes played for Pete Best in some of the Beatles’ songs; it was after Pete was removed in 1962, that the Beatles officially replaced him with Starr. This upset fans of Best and held chants saying “Pete Forever, Ringo Never”. In the same way, fans of Starr chanted “Ringo forever, Pete never!”
After temporarily leaving Beatles, he returned when the Beatles finally had a record contract. He not only worked as a drummer in the Beatles but was also able to perform for himself, making him “a star in his own right,” as Lennon has said.
When the Beatles broke up in 1970, Starr continued on, producing his best album “Ringo” and his touring festival called Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band. Aside from this he was also known to write, perform and play for numerous other projects with other bands and with his son Zak Starkey.
In 1981, he recorded Stop and Smell the Roses, another of his most critically acclaimed record, Old Wave in 1983 with producer Joe Walsh and in 1989, a collection of all his best songs in Starr Struck: The Best of Ringo Starr, Vol. 2 in 1989.
Starr’s drumming technique is famous for being modern and advanced as he likes to experiment while playing the drum. He was known to experiment with match grip, placing his drums on high risers for visibility, tuning the drums lower and using muffling devices on tonal rings. Aside from this, he was also known to play specific drum parts for the Beatles in signature fashion.
He has won an Oscar and a Diamond Award with the Beatles, a Grammy for the Best Compilation Soundtrack for “Love” and was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. He also had a minor planet, 4150 Starr named after him.
Check out our music rehearsal studio
Tags: Ringo Star