Ringo Starr Biography

Ringo Starr, Musician

Birthdate: July 7, 1940

Birthplace: Liverpool, England

Sign: Cancer

Ringo Starr was born Richard Starkey on July 7, 1940 in Liverpool, England. The Beatles member's parents split up when he was three. His mother remarried Starr's step-father, who encouraged his interest in music.

Numerous sicknesses and hospital visits caused Starr to leave school when he was 13. Starr's musical career began in 1957, when he formed a band that would eventually be called Eddie Clayton and the Clayton Squares. Two years later, he joined Rory Storm and the Hurricanes, a band that became popular on the Liverpool club scene.

It was during Starr's time with the Hurricanes that he got the nickname "Ringo," for the rings he wore and also because it sounded "cowboyish." "Starr" was attached so that his drum solos could be called "Starr Time."

Starr was still with the Hurricanes when he met The Beatles in 1960. He sat in for Pete Best at drums for the band on several occasions, and when Best left the band in 1962, Starr was in.

Starr's drumming talent was a huge asset to The Beatles. Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn said there were less than a dozen occasions in the Beatles' long recording history where "session breakdowns" were caused by Starr making a mistake. Many consider what Starr did with drums - such as the matched grip method of holding drum sticks - to have been groundbreaking for the time.

Frustrated with the band, Starr briefly left The Beatles in 1968 and did not return until the other three Beatles urged him to return. In 1969, McCartney sent Starr a postcard that read, "You are the greatest drummer in the world. Really."

Starr typically sang at least one song on each of the band's albums as part of the Beatles effort to establish the vocal personality of each of its members. "Yellow Submarine" was specifically tailored to fit Starr's baritone vocal range.

Starr also wrote songs for the legendary band, including "Don't Pass Me By" and "Octopus's Garden". He also co-wrote on several songs. Starr's commonly used expressions like "A Hard Day's Night" and "Tomorrow Never Knows" inspired Lennon, who turned them into songs.

Starr showed off his acting chops in the band's films "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!," both of which he starred as the central character.

The Beatles broke up in 1970, but Starr was the only one who remained close to the other three former members.

Starr released solo albums following the band's demise, and had hits like "Photograph," "It Don't Come Easy" and "You're Sixteen."

In more recent years, Starr has toured with his All-Star Band. The band, which started its first rotation in 1989, has had ten versions so far. Each version has featured Starr teaming up with other well-known musicians. During the concerts, Starr sings some of his own songs and some Beatles songs, then backs up the other band members on the drums as they perform their own hits.

Starr's newest studio album, Liverpool 8, was released in early 2008. He is currently touring with the tenth edition of his All-Starr Band.