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 |
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