Ringo Starr

Richard Starkey, MBE (born July 7, 1940), known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is a popular British musician, best known as drummer for The Beatles. Ringo is known for his reliable, steady drumming and innovative fills. His everyman personality made him an easy fit with the other Beatles. He was the eldest member of the band.

After the Beatles

After the breakup of the Beatles on April 10, 1970, Starr scored hit singles with "It Don't Come Easy" and "Back Off Boogaloo". The latter has been his biggest UK hit at #2, although he has achieved two #1 hits in the US with "Photograph" (co-written with Harrison) and "You're Sixteen".

Related Topics:
It Don't Come Easy - Photograph - You're Sixteen

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He also participated in The Concert For Bangla Desh organised by Harrison in 1971, as well as drumming on Harrison's All Things Must Pass, Lennon's John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, and Yoko Ono's early solo work. Indeed, his song "Early 1970" (the B-side of "It Don't Come Easy") voiced a hope that he could remain friendly with and play music with all three of his former Beatles bandmates.

Related Topics:
The Concert For Bangla Desh - 1971 - All Things Must Pass - John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band - Yoko Ono - B-side - It Don't Come Easy

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In 1973 the Ringo album came out, lushly produced by Richard Perry and with participation by all three former bandmates on different tracks. It was a major triumph and Starr became the most commercially successful ex-Beatle at that time. The Goodnight Vienna album followed the next year and was also successful. Hits and notable tracks from these two collections included "Photograph", "You're Sixteen", "I'm the Greatest" (written by Lennon), "Only You (And You Alone)", and "No No Song".

Related Topics:
1973 - Ringo - Richard Perry - Goodnight Vienna - Photograph - Only You (And You Alone)

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Starr's recording career subsequently diminished in impact, although he continued to sporadically release albums. Beginning in 1989 he became a visible presence on the summer touring scene, organizing a series of concert tours under the name Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band, teaming with well-known musicians from various different rock eras. The format of the concerts has Ringo singing a couple of his Beatles or solo songs, then each of the other musicians taking a turn to sing one of their songs with Ringo behind the drums, then Ringo singing a couple more, then another go around, and so on. In this way Ringo is relieved from having to carry the full burden of the show and the audience gets to hear a variety of music. The eighth such All-Starr Band tour took place in 2003.

Related Topics:
1989 - 2003

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Other than the films Ringo did with the Beatles, (A Hard Day's Night (1964), Help (1965), Magical Mystery Tour (1967), Yellow Submarine (1968), Let It Be (1970), he has acted in several films such as, Candy (1968), The Magic Christian (1969) (alongside Peter Sellers), Son of Dracula (1974) and Caveman (1980). He starred as Larry the dwarf in Frank Zappa's 200 Motels (1971). His voice is featured in Harry Nilsson's animated film The Point! (1971). He was especially well-received in the British film That'll Be the Day (1973) where he co-starred as a Teddy boy. He also played the Pope in Ken Russell's Lisztomania (1975).

Related Topics:
A Hard Day's Night - Help - Magical Mystery Tour - Yellow Submarine - Let It Be - Candy - The Magic Christian - 1969 - Peter Sellers - Son of Dracula - 1974 - Caveman - 1980 - Frank Zappa - 200 Motels - 1971 - Harry Nilsson - The Point! - 1973 - Teddy boy - Ken Russell

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In 1978, he started a furniture company with Robin Cruikshank and sold $4,000 coffee tables and a donut-shaped fireplace designed by Starr. short article and picture

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In 1984, he narrated on the children's television series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends and portrayed the character Mr. Conductor on that program's American spinoff Shining Time Station, which debuted in 1989.

Related Topics:
1984 - Television - Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends - Shining Time Station - 1989

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In 1985, he played the Mock Turtle in the film version of "Alice in Wonderland."

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In 1991, he appeared as himself on the cartoon The Simpsons. In 1996, he appeared in a Japanese advertisement for apple sauce; coincidentally, ringo (林檎) and sutta are Japanese for apple and grated respectively, implying grated apple.

Related Topics:
1991 - The Simpsons - 1996 - Japan - Apple sauce - Japanese

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In 2002 Starr was inducted into the Percussive Hall of Fame joining the elite group of percussive inductees, which includes Buddy Rich and William F. Ludwig, Sr. and his son.

Related Topics:
2002 - Buddy Rich - William F. Ludwig, Sr. and his son

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On November 29, 2002, Starr performed "Photograph" at the Concert For George held in the Royal Albert Hall, London on the first anniversary of Harrison's death. According to the official website, "Ringo Starr caught everyone with a tear in their eye with a rendition of Photograph, a composition he wrote with George, which seemed to sum up how everyone felt."

Related Topics:
November 29 - 2002 - Concert For George - Royal Albert Hall - London

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In 2003 Starr began recording for the independent label Koch Records, releasing Ringo Rama that year and Choose Love in 2005; the former includes his stylish tribute to Harrison called "Never Without You", and the latter features appearances by Billy Preston and Chrissie Hynde.

Related Topics:
2003 - Koch Records - Ringo Rama - Choose Love - 2005 - Never Without You - Billy Preston - Chrissie Hynde

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In January of 2005, it was announced that comic book creator Stan Lee would be working with Starr to produce a new animated musical superhero based on Starr.

Related Topics:
2005 - Comic book - Stan Lee - Animated - Music - Superhero

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In September 2005 Liverpool City Council decided they would bulldoze Starr's birthplace as it had "no historical significance". http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/4229068.stm

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, despite a previous reprieve back in July. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/4676121.stm. The LCC later announced that the building would be taken apart brick by brick and preserved after all. http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/09/19/nringo19.xml

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