Ringo Starr facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir Ringo Starr MBE
Starr in 2019
Born	Richard Starkey (1940-07-07) 7 July 1940 (age 85) Liverpool, England
Occupation	Musician singer songwriter actor
Years active	1957–present
Works	Discography songs filmography
Spouse(s)	Maureen Cox ​ ​ (m. 1965; div. 1975)​ Barbara Bach ​ (m. 1981)​
Children	3, including Zak Starkey
Relatives	Francesca Gregorini (stepdaughter)
Musical career
Genres	Rock pop
Instruments	Drums vocals
Labels	Parlophone United Artists Capitol Apple Swan Vee-Jay Tollie Atlantic RCA Mercury Koch Private Music Boardwalk Rykodisc Hip-O
Signature

Sir Richard Starkey (born 7 July 1940), better known as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, songwriter, and actor. He became famous worldwide as the drummer for the Beatles. Ringo also sang lead vocals on some of the band's most famous songs, like "Yellow Submarine" and "With a Little Help from My Friends".

He wrote two Beatles songs himself, "Don't Pass Me By" and "Octopus's Garden". As of 2025, Ringo is the longest-living member of the band.

As a child, Ringo had serious illnesses that kept him in the hospital for long periods. As a teenager, he became a big fan of skiffle music, a popular style in the UK at the time. In 1957, he started his first band. When the Beatles formed in 1960, Ringo was playing with another Liverpool group, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He joined the Beatles in August 1962, replacing their original drummer, Pete Best.

After the Beatles stopped making music together in 1970, Ringo had a successful solo career. He released hit songs like "It Don't Come Easy", "Photograph", and "You're Sixteen". He also acted in movies, narrated the first two series of the children's show Thomas & Friends, and played Mr. Conductor on Shining Time Station. Since 1989, he has toured with his group, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.

Ringo's drumming style was very influential. He focused on the feel of the song rather than just technical skill. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: once with the Beatles in 1988, and again as a solo artist in 2015. In 2018, he was knighted for his services to music.

Early Life and First Drums

Starr's birthplace in Madryn Street, Dingle, Liverpool, in May 2013

Richard Starkey was born on 7 July 1940, in Dingle, an area of Liverpool, England. He was the only child of Richard Starkey and Elsie Gleave. His parents separated when he was three years old, and his mother raised him.

Ringo's childhood was marked by serious health problems. At age six, he had an operation and then got a serious infection that put him in a coma. He spent a year in the hospital recovering. Because he missed so much school, he had trouble reading and writing.

When he was 13, he got another illness called tuberculosis and had to spend two more years in a special hospital called a sanatorium. To keep the patients from getting bored, the hospital staff encouraged them to form a band. This is where Ringo first played a percussion instrument. He used a small mallet to hit the cabinet next to his bed. From that moment on, all he wanted to do was play the drums.

Starr's childhood residence at 10 Admiral Grove, Dingle, Liverpool, in 2010

After leaving the sanatorium in 1955, Ringo worked a few different jobs. His stepfather, Harry Graves, was a big music fan and introduced Ringo to many new artists. On Christmas Day in 1957, his stepfather gave him a used drum kit. It was a simple kit, but it helped him become a better musician.

Career Journey

First Bands

A friend at work introduced Ringo to skiffle music, a type of folk music with a rock and roll beat. Ringo loved it. He and his friends started a band called the Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group. They played at local events before rock and roll became more popular.

In 1959, Ringo joined a band called Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. This was a big step because they were a professional rock and roll band. It was around this time that he started using the stage name Ringo Starr. "Ringo" came from the rings he wore, and "Starr" was chosen so his drum solos could be called "Starr Time."

The Hurricanes became very popular in Liverpool and also played in Hamburg, Germany. It was in Hamburg that Ringo first met John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison of the Beatles.

Joining The Beatles

Starr performing with the Beatles in 1964

In August 1962, John Lennon asked Ringo to join the Beatles. The band's manager, Brian Epstein, then told the original drummer, Pete Best, that he was being replaced. Ringo's first performance with the Beatles was on 18 August 1962. Some of Pete Best's fans were upset at first, but soon everyone came to love Ringo.

When the Beatles went to the studio to record their first single, "Love Me Do", the producer, George Martin, wasn't sure about Ringo's drumming yet. He had a session drummer, Andy White, play on the track. Ringo played the tambourine instead. Ringo was worried he might be fired, but Martin later said he just "wasn't prepared to take any risks." The version of "Love Me Do" with Ringo on drums was the one that became a hit.

Ringo quickly became a popular member of the band. He was known for his easy-going personality and good sense of humor. He felt lucky to get along so well with the other Beatles. "I had to join them as people as well as a drummer," he said.

Beatlemania and Worldwide Fame

Starr at New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport on 7 February 1964

By 1963, the Beatles were huge stars in Britain. This excitement was called Beatlemania. In February 1964, they became famous in America after performing on The Ed Sullivan Show for 73 million people. Ringo was a fan favorite.

The band starred in their first movie, A Hard Day's Night, in 1964. Critics loved Ringo's acting and his funny one-liners. He also played a central role in their second film, Help!, in 1965.

On 11 February 1965, Ringo married Maureen Cox, whom he had met a few years earlier. The pressure of being a Beatle was intense. The constant touring was tiring, and Ringo felt that their music was suffering. "We were turning into such bad musicians," he said.

The Studio Years

In 1966, the Beatles decided to stop touring and focus on making music in the studio. This led to some of their most creative albums. On the 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Ringo sang the lead vocal on "With a Little Help from My Friends".

During the making of The Beatles (also known as the "White Album") in 1968, Ringo felt like he wasn't contributing as much. Feeling frustrated, he briefly left the band and went on a holiday. While on a boat in Sardinia, he was inspired to write his famous song "Octopus's Garden". He returned to the studio two weeks later to find his drum kit covered in flowers as a welcome-back gift from George Harrison.

The Beatles made their last public performance together on a rooftop in London in January 1969. They officially broke up in 1970.

Solo Career and the All-Starr Band

Starr (rear centre) drumming with Bob Dylan and the Band in November 1976, from the concert film The Last Waltz

After the Beatles, Ringo started a successful solo career. His first album was Sentimental Journey. He had several hit singles in the 1970s, including "It Don't Come Easy", "Photograph", and "You're Sixteen". His 1973 album Ringo was a big success and featured songs from all three of his former bandmates.

In the 1980s, Ringo found a new audience as the narrator for the popular children's television show Thomas & Friends. He also played the character Mr. Conductor on the American spin-off, Shining Time Station.

In 1989, Ringo decided to start touring again with a new group called Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. The band is made up of Ringo and a changing lineup of famous musicians. Each member gets to perform their own hits, with Ringo on drums. This has been a successful formula for over 30 years.

Throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century, Ringo has continued to release albums and tour the world. He reunited with Paul and George in the mid-1990s for The Beatles Anthology project, where they recorded two new songs. He often celebrates his birthday on July 7th with a "Peace and Love" event, asking fans everywhere to say "peace and love" at noon.

Artistry and Influence

Drumming Style

Starr with his All-Starr Band in Paris, 26 June 2011

Ringo is known for his unique and creative drumming. He is left-handed but plays a right-handed drum kit, which contributed to his one-of-a-kind style. He always played what was best for the song, rather than showing off with flashy solos.

Many famous drummers have called Ringo a major influence. Phil Collins of Genesis said, "I think he's vastly underrated. The drum fills on 'A Day in the Life' are very, very complex things."

Drummer Steve Smith said, "Before Ringo, drum stars were measured by their soloing ability... Ringo's popularity brought forth a new paradigm... We started to see the drummer as an equal participant in the compositional aspect."

Vocals and Songwriting

As part of the Beatles, Ringo usually sang lead on one song per album. John Lennon and Paul McCartney often wrote songs specifically for him, like "Yellow Submarine".

Ringo also wrote songs himself. His most famous Beatles songs are "Don't Pass Me By" and "Octopus's Garden". He was also known for his funny sayings, which the band sometimes used as song titles, like "A Hard Day's Night" and "Tomorrow Never Knows".

Personal Life

Barbara Bach in 1978

Ringo married Maureen Cox in 1965, and they had three children: Zak, Jason, and Lee. Their son Zak is also a professional drummer. Ringo and Maureen divorced in 1975.

In 1980, Ringo met actress Barbara Bach on the set of the movie Caveman. They married in 1981 and are still together. They split their time between homes in London, Los Angeles, and Monte Carlo.

Ringo is a vegetarian and meditates every day. His personal motto, which he shares with the world, is "peace and love." He is a grandfather and became the first Beatle to become a great-grandfather in 2016.

Awards and Honours

• 1965: Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) with the other Beatles.
• 1971: Won an Academy Award with the Beatles for the movie Let It Be.
• 1988: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Beatles.
• 2010: Honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• 2015: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist.
• 2018: Knighted by Prince William for his services to music, officially becoming Sir Richard Starkey.
• 2022: Received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the Berklee College of Music.

Discography

Since the breakup of the Beatles, Starr has released 21 solo studio albums:

See also

In Spanish: Ringo Starr para niños

• Outline of the Beatles
• The Beatles timeline