Biography

Ringo Starr is a British musicianactordirectorwriterand artist best known as the drummer of The Beatles who also coined the title 'A Hard day's Night' for The Beatles' first movie.

He was born Richard Starkey on July 71940in a small two-storey house in the working class area of LiverpoolMerseysideEngland. His fatherRichard Starkeywas a former dockworker turned baker; his motherElsie (Gleave) Starkeywas a bakery worker. His parents divorced when he was three and he and his motherElsiemoved to another home in Liverpool. While attending Silas Infants' Schools he suffered from many afflictions that basically ruined his education: he had constant abdominal painswas once diagnosed with a ruptured appendix that led to an inflamed peritoneumwhich also led to one of his first surgeries. Ringo was in a comaand his recovery took a couple of monthsduring which more operations were performedand he was known to be accident-prone. Shortly after he came out of the comahe was trying to offer a toy bus to another boy in an adjoining bedbut fell and suffered from a concussion. When he finally was able to go back to schoolhe learned that he was far behind in his studies. At age 13 he caught a cold that turned into chronic pleurisycausing him another stay at a hospital in Liverpool. A few lung complications followed, which resulted in a treatment in yet another children's hospitalthis time until 1955. MeanwhileRichard's mother Elsie had married Harry Gravesthe man who her son referred to as a "step-ladder".

At the age of 15 he could barely read or writealthough he had aptitude for practical subjects such as woodwork and mechanics. At that time he dropped out of school and got his first job was as a delivery boy for British Rail. His second job was a barman on a ferry to New Brightonand his next was as a trainee joiner at Henry Hunt & Sons. Ringo injured his finger on the first day of his new joband then he decided to become a drummer. His dream came truewhen his stepfather bought him a new drum kitand Richard promised to be the best drummer ever.

In 1957together with Eddie Mileshe started his own band called 'Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group'. At that time he became known as Ritchie, and eventually became caught in the Liverpool's Skiffle craze. Although he was self-taughthe was a good time-keeperand developed an original beat with his signature accentuationsdue to his left-handed manner of playing on the right-handed drum set. He traveled from band to bandbut he eventually landed a spot with "Raving Texans"which was a backing band for Rory Stormlater known as "Rory Storm & The Hurricanes"a popular band at that time Liverpool. Rory Storm encouraged Richard to enhance his career by legally changing his name to Ringo Starr. The Hurricanes topped the bill at one of Liverpool's clubswhere The Beatles also had a gig. Ringo's group was at times sharing popularity with The Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers. He wanted to leave The Hurricanes to join another group called "The Seniors."

Before RingoThe Beatles tried several other drummers. At one point they were so desperatethat they even invited strangers from the audience to fill the position. Then came Pete Best who was not considered by the other band members to be the greatest drummerand they were keen to recruit Ringo as his replacement. On June 61962at the Abbey Road studiosThe Beatles passed Martin's audition with the exception of Pete Best. George Martin liked thembut recommended the change of a drummer. Being asked by John LennonPaul McCartneyand George Harrison; Epstein fired Pete Best. After a mutual decision the band was completed with Ringo Starr. Ringo contributed to their first hit in September of 1962when The Beatles recorded Love Me Dowhich charted in UKand reached the top of the US singles chart.

Ringo's steady and reliable drumming became essential in their studio sessionsas well as in their numerous and exhausting live performances across the world. Ringo's positive disposition as well as his drumming played the pivotal role in shaping the famous image and music of The Beatles as they are now known to the worldunder the management of Brian Epstein and music producer George Martin. Ringo filled the position of a drummer for The Beatles in the most critical time of the band's formation. He quickly connected with the other three members of The Beatlesand contributed to their music and creativity with his easy-going personalitylight humourreliable drumming and inventive musicianship. All four members were charismatic and individually talented artiststhey sparked each other from the beginning. Eventually they made a much better group effort under the thorough management by Brian Epstein whose coaching helped consolidate their talents and mutual stimulation into beautiful teamwork.

Starr had dreamed of becoming a professional actor since his younger years. He wanted to be in movies probably more so than the other members of The Beatles. In 1964during the first months of BeatlemaniaRingo coined the phrase 'A Hard Day's Night' which soon became the official title of the Beatles' first moviein replacement for the working title 'Beatlemania'. Ringo received great reviews for his performance in A Hard Day's Night (1964) and Help! (1965). At firstRingo did not have a songwriting careeralthough he had no problem with his name recognitionhoweverhe had a problem with getting his songs noticed. At that time he got help from his friends; John and Paul wrote a song or two for him to sing on their albumssuch as "I Wanna Be Your Man" and "Yellow Submarine". He also sang on "Boys" (by Luther Dixon and Wes Farrell) and "Honey Don't (by Carl Perkins)During his eight-year career with The BeatlesRingo wrote two original songs: "Don't Pass Me By" and "Octopus' Garden" for which he also sang the lead vocals. He is listed as co-writing "What Goes On" from Rubber Soul with Lennon and McCartney. Besides his drummingRingo's voice was recorded on many of the most popular Beatle's songscontributing to their unique sound and tight harmonies.

He had a hectic solo career during the 1970safter the breakup of The Beatles. HoweverRingo eventually emerged as a steady performerand sustained a very popular solo careerturning out a dozen chart-topping hit songs and eight best-selling albums. He made a famous appearance together with George Harrison, Ravi Shankarand other popular musicians in the landmark 'Concert for Bangladesh' in 1971. His 1973 solo release "Ringo" was the last album to feature all four living Beatlesalthough not on the same song. He also appeared in various TV showsincluding his own specialRingo (1978), and a TV mini-series, Princess Daisy (1983), with his wife Barbara. In 1984 he did narration for the children's series Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (1984). During the 1980safter having a long period of troubles with alcohol, Ringo and his wife attended a rehabilitation clinicand came back to the scene sober. He made the All-Starr Band tour of America and Japan. The tour was so popular that he formed another All-Starr Band lineup in 1992and began an American and European tour in June of that year. Since then Ringo Starr has been enjoying a continuous career as the leader of the All-Starr Band. In 1994along with George Harrison and Paul McCartneythe three surviving members of The Beatlesreunited and produced Lennon's previously unknown song 'Free as a Bird'. It was preserved by 'Yoko Ono' on a tape recording made by John Lennon in 1977. The song was re-arranged and re-mixed with the voices of three surviving membersand became an international hit. 'Free as a Bird' was also included in The Beatles Anthology TV documentary which was watched by 420 million people in 1995. RingoPaul and George sang their new songsin addition to mixing their voices and music arrangements to John Lennon demos.

Ringo's old friend and band-mate George Harrison passed away on November 292001after a long battle against lung cancer. The following yearon the anniversary of Harrison's deathRingo Starr, Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton appeared in a Concert For Georgeto raise money for the support of Harrison's legacy in exploration of alternative lifesviews and philosophies. Starr also supported charitable organizations with consideration to those who have special needs.

Ringo Starr updated the role of a drummer in popular musiche made drummer an equal partner to the lead musiciansthus changing the whole paradigm in how the public saw drummers. His original performing evolved from adjusting his natural left-handed manner of playing to the right-handed drum setand allowing his left hand lead in weaving a pattern tightly intertwined with the music of other playersand adding such enhancements as unusual accents and stops. Ringo's musical originality as well as his inventive drumming patternstime signatures and accentuations became essential to the sound of The Beatles. His on-stage presence and acting talent as well as his humor and musicianship was the essential part in formation and remarkable career of The Beatles.

He was married to his long-time girlfriendMaureen Coxfrom 1965 - 1975and they had three children: Zak StarkeyJasonand Lee. The couple broke up in July of 1975and he married actress Barbara Bach. Ringo Starr divides his time between his residences in Englandin Switzerland and his home in Los AngelesCalifornia.

- IMDb mini biography by: Steve Shelokhonov