Ringo Starr

Early Life 

Ringo Starr was born Richard Starkey on July 7th, 1940 in Liverpool, England. His parent s divorced when he was only three years old. His mother then married Harry Graves, who encouraged his interest in music. Starr was a sickly child, at six years old he contracted appendicitis and fell into a coma. At 13 Starr developed chronic pleurisy and was admitted to a sanatorium for two years. When he was released he never returned to school, the two year absence had set him back too far. Like John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison Ringo got caught up in Liverpool's skiffle (a type of folk music with Jazz, Blues and Country influences, usually using homemade or improvised instruments.) craze. In 1957 Ringo Starr and Eddie Miles formed the Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group. In 1959 he joined the Raving Texans and adopted the stage name Ringo Starr. While performing with the band in Hamburg, Ringo met The Beatles. After returning to the UK he was asked to sit in for Pete Best(The Beatles's drummer at the time). When The Beatles dropped Best they asked Ringo to join the group. 
 

Musical Role in The Beatles

Drumming Ability and General Reception

Ringo admits he has technical limitations as a drummer but, the overall effect of his drumming has garnered high praise from notable drummers. Ringo said, "Whenever I hear another drummer I know I'm no good. I'm no good on the technical things ... I'm your basic offbeat drummer with funny fills. The fills were funny because I'm really left-handed playing a right-handed kit. I can't roll around the drums because of that. "  George Martin's explanation was "Ringo hit good and hard and used the tom-tom well, even though he couldn't do a roll to save his life" . When John Lennon was asked if Ringo was the best drummer in the world he jokingly replied, "He's not even the best drummer in The Beatles! " but, also said "Ringo's a damn good drummer. He always was a good drummer. He's not technically good, but I think Ringo's drumming is underrated the same way as Paul's bass playing is underrated." 

 
Vocals

 While with The Beatles Ringo generally sang lead vocals one at least one song per studio album. In some cases Lennon or McCartney wrote the lyrics and melody especially for him. This is the case in "Yellow Submarine" and "With a Little Help from my friends". These songs were tailored to Ringo's baritone vocal range. Ringo also did backing vocals for sever songs including "All Together Now", "Carry that Weight", and "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill".
 

Solo Career

 

After the breakup of The Beatles Ringo released several solo albums with mixed responses. He has had a couple of successful hits in his solo including "Photograph" and "You're Sixteen". Starr toured extensively in 2008 but has not toured so far in 2009 and has tour tours planned for the future alone or with his band, Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band.
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

Discography

The Beatles

 

Album	Year
Please Please Me	1963
With The Beatles	1963
A Hard Day's Night	1964
Beatles For Sale	1964
Help!	1965
Rubber Soul	1965
Revolver	1966
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band	1967
The Beatles (White Album)	1968
Yellow Submarine	1969
Abbey Road	1969
Let It Be	1970

Solo Career

Album	Year
Sentimental Journey	1970
Beaucops 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
Ringo Rama	2003
Choose Love	2005
Liverpool 8	2008
Y Not	2010