Biography:Ringo Starr, a featured member of Rory Storm and The Hurricanes, became the final piece of the Beatles puzzle when he replaced drummer Pete Best in 1962.
Richard Starkey was raised in Dingle, a poor neighborhood of Liverpool. His father left the family when he was 4. A sickly child, "Ritchie" spent months at time in hospital recovering from peritonitis and tuberculosis. As part of his therapy, he started playing music. He was encouraged by his family, including his step-father, who purchased him a drum kit.
In the late 1950s he played in various rockabilly and skiffle bands before joining the Hurricanes, and becoming "Ringo Starr". He first met the Beatles when both groups were performing in Germany. When the Beatles secured a recording contract, producer George Martin expressed concern about Best, and the band opted to offer Ringo the position.
He provided a steady back-beat with a unique sound due in part to his being left-handed. Each album featured a turn as lead vocalist, with highlights being "Yellow Submarine" and "With A Little Help From My Friends". His happy-go-lucky demeanor and comic sensibilities were highlighted in the group's films; he continued working in the medium through the 1980s, including a stint on the "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends"/"Shining Time Station" children's television program.
As a solo artist, his greatest success was 1973's "Ringo" album which yielded two #1 singles - "Photograph" and "You're Sixteen". He appeared on some of the solo work of all the other Beatles - the only one to do so.
After a stint in detox for alcohol issues, he re-invigorated his career in 1989 launching the "All-Starr Band", featuring a revolving cast of musicians sharing the spotlight. They continue to tour intermittently.
In 2010, Starr was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2015 became the last Beatle to be inducted as a solo artist to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2018, as Richard Starkey, he was knighted in recognition for his service to music.
He has been married twice - to British hairdresser Maureen Cox, from 1965 to1975, with whom he had three children; and to American model and actress Barbara Bach since 1980.
1965-02-11 Beatle drummer Ringo Starr (25) weds British hairdresser Maureen Cox (18) at the Caxton Hall Register Office, London; divorce in 1975
1975-07-17 Beatle member Ringo Starr & Maureen Cox Starkey divorce, after 10 years of marriage
1981-04-27 Beatle Ringo Starr (40) weds American actress Barbara Bach (33) at Marylebone Town Hall, London, England
Historical Events
1957-12-25 Liverpudlian teenager Richard Starkey (later better known as Ringo Starr) receives his first drum set aged 17
1962-08-16 Ringo Starr replaces Pete Best as Beatles' drummer, first official concert two days later
1964-06-03 Ringo Starr collapses from tonsillitis and pharyngitis, just before the Beatles embark on a World Tour
1964-06-04 Beatles 1st (and only) "World Tour" begins with two ten-song shows at 4,400 seat KB Halle in Copenhagen, Denmark; British drummer Jimmie Nicol replaces Ringo Starr (recovering from tonsillitis) for the first five dates (10 concerts + a Dutch TV appearance)
1964-06-14 Drummer Ringo Starr re-unites with the Beatles in Melbourne, Australia, after recovering from tonsillitis
1964-09-24 Ringo Starr forms Brikley Building Company Ltd
1964-12-02 Ringo Starr's tonsils are removed at University College Hospital, London, England
1969-12-05 Apple Records releases the single "Come and Get It" by the band Badfinger; track was written and produced by Paul McCartney for the dark comedy film "The Magic Christian" starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr
1969-12-12 Comedy film "The Magic Christian", starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr premieres in London, England
1970-03-27 Ringo Starr releases his 1st solo album "Sentimental Journey", a collection of pre-rock standards
1970-09-25 Ringo Starr releases his 2nd solo album "Beaucoups of Blues", a collection of country music recorded in Nashville, Tennessee
1971-10-29Frank Zappa's musical mockumentary "200 Motels", starring The Mothers of Invention, Theodore Bikel, and Ringo Starr premieres in Beverly Hills, California
1972-03-17 Ringo Starr releases single "Back off Boogaloo" in the UK
1972-10-26 Ringo Starr and singer Lulu appear in non-speaking cameos on "Monty Python's Flying Circus" program
1973-10-19 Ringo Starr releases music single "Photograph" in the UK
1973-11-02 Apple Records releases "Ringo", Ringo Starr's third studio album, in the US; his biggest commercial and critical success, featuring the singles "Photograph", "You're Sixteen", and "Oh My My"
1973-11-09 Apple Records releases "Ringo", Ringo Starr's third studio album, in the UK - a week after its US release; his biggest commercial and critical success, featuring the singles "Photograph", "You're Sixteen", and "Oh My My"
1974-02-08 Ringo Starr releases a cover of "You're Sixteen" as a single in UK; originally released by Johnny Burnette in 1960
1974-11-15 Ringo Starr releases singles "Goodnight Vienna" and "Only You" in the UK
1975-04-28 Ringo Starr appears on "The Smothers Brothers Show", singing Hoyt Axton's "No No Song", and John Lennon is the guest on Tom Snyder's "Tomorrow" program, in what turns out to be his final television interview; both on NBC-TV
1976-01-09 Ringo Starr releases single "Oh My My" in the UK
1976-09-17 Polydor/Atlantic releases Ringo Starr' fifth studio album "Ringo's Rotogravure"
1976-10-15 Ringo Starr releases single "A Dose of Rock 'n' Roll"; peaks at 26 in US, fails to chart in UK
1976-11-25 The Band's farewell concert at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, California; guest performers include Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Ringo Starr, and the Staples Singers; concert film "The Last Waltz" directed by Martin Scorcese
1981-10-27 Ringo Starr releases single "Wrack My Brain", written and produced by George Harrison, and album "Stop and Smell the Roses" in the US
1981-11-13 Ringo Starr releases single "Wrack My Brain", written and produced by George Harrison, in the UK
1981-11-20 Ringo Starr releases album "Stop and Smell the Roses" in the UK
1983-06-16 Ringo Starr releases album "Old Wave" album in West Germany; soon after releases follow in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the Netherlands, Mexico, and Brazil
1989-07-23 Ringo Starr's first All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include Joe Walsh, Nils Lofgren, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Clarence Clemons, Dr. John, Billy Preston, and Jim Keltner
1992-06-02 Ringo Starr's second All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include Joe Walsh, Dave Edmunds, Todd Rundgren, Burton Cummings, Timothy B. Schmit, Zak Starkey, and Timmy Capello
1995-07-02 Ringo Starr's third All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Randy Bachman, Mark Farner, Billy Preston, Felix Cavaliere, John Entwistle, Zak Starkey, and Mark Rivera
1997-04-28 Ringo Starr's fourth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Peter Frampton, Jack Bruce, Gary Brooker, Simon Kirke, and Mark Rivera
1999-02-12 Ringo Starr's fifth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Todd Rundgren, Jack Bruce, Gary Brooker, Simon Kirke, and Timmy Cappello
2000-05-12 Ringo Starr's sixth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Todd Rundgren, Jack Bruce, Gary Brooker, Simon Kirke, and Timmy Cappello
2001-05-12 Ringo Starr's seventh All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Roger Hodgson, Ian Hunter, Howard Jones, Greg Lake, Sheila E., and Mark Rivera
2002-11-15 British drummer Ringo Starr inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall Of Fame
2003-07-24 Ringo Starr's eighth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Colin Hay, Paul Carrack, John Waite, Sheila E., and Mark Rivera
2006-06-14 Ringo Starr's ninth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Billy Squier, Richard Marx, Edgar Winter, Rod Argent, Hamish Stuart, and Sheila E.
2008-06-19 Ringo Starr's tenth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Billy Squier, Colin Hay, Edgar Winter, Gary Wright, Hamish Stuart, and Gregg Bissonette
2010-06-24 Ringo Starr's eleventh All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Rick Derringer, Edgar Winter, Gary Wright, Richard Page, Wally Palmar, and Gregg Bissonette
2012-06-14 Ringo Starr's twelfth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Steve Lukather, Gregg Rolie, Todd Rundgren, Richard Page, Gregg Bissonette, and Mark Rivera, 2012-13 / Warren Ham, 2014-17
2015-04-18 30th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: The Paul Butterfield Blues Band; Green Day; Joan Jett and the Blackhearts; Lou Reed; Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble; Bill Withers; The "5" Royals; and Ringo Starr
2018-06-02 Ringo Starr's thirteenth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Steve Lukather, Gregg Rolie, Colin Hay, Graham Gouldman, Gregg Bissonette, and Warren Ham
2019-03-21 Ringo Starr's fourteenth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Steve Lukather, Gregg Rolie, Colin Hay, Hamish Stuart, Gregg Bissonette, and Warren Ham
2022-05-07 Berklee College of Music bestows honorary doctorates to Beatles drummer Ringo Starr; bassist Chuck Rainey; composer James Newton Howard; and R&B singer Lalah Hathaway
2022-05-27 Ringo Starr's fifteenth All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include: Steve Lukather, Edgar Winter, Colin Hay, Hamish Stuart, Gregg Bissonette, and Warren Ham
2022-06-10 Ringo Starr suspends his half-completed summer All-Starr Band tour when two musicians test positive for COVID-19
2022-09-05 Ringo Starr resumes his All-Starr Band tour after two musicians recover from COVID
2022-09-16 Singing drummer Ringo Starr releases his creatively titled third EP, "EP3"
2022-10-01 Ringo Starr postpones two dates of his All-Starr Band tour due to illness
2022-10-03 Ringo Starr postpones five dates of his All-Starr Band tour in Canada due to his testing positive for COVID-19
2022-10-11 Ringo Starr resumes his All-Starr Band tour with a show in Seattle, Washington after his testing positive for COVID-19
2022-10-13 Ringo Starr cancels five remaining scheduled All-Starr Band tour concert dates in California and Mexico, after getting rebound COVID-19 infection
2023-07-07 NASA beams Ringo Starr’s voice wishing “peace and love" across the universe via the Deep Space Network in honor of his 83rd birthday
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