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.

Early years

Starr's parents split up when he was young; and his mother re-married (to Harry Graves). He was raised in the working class Dingle area of Liverpool. He went through two serious illnesses as a child and spent a total of three years in hospital, thereby falling considerably behind in school; after his last visit to the hospital, at age 15, he could barely read and write.

Related Topics:
Dingle - Liverpool

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Like the other Beatles, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison, young Ritchie (as he was known in those days) also eventually became caught up in Liverpool's Skiffle craze. In 1957, he started his own group with Eddie Miles called The Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group; then he joined the Raving Texans in 1959, a quartet that played while Rory Storm sang. During this time, he got the nickname Ringo, because of the rings he wore, and because it sounded "cowboyish", and the last name Starr so that his drum solos could be billed as "Starr Time".

Related Topics:
John Lennon - Paul McCartney - George Harrison - Skiffle - 1957 - Eddie Miles - 1959 - Rory Storm - Ring

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Starr first met the Beatles in Hamburg, in October 1960, while he was performing with Rory Storm & the Hurricanes. When the Beatles removed Pete Best as their drummer on August 16, 1962, Starr was their choice to replace him.

Related Topics:
Hamburg - 1960 - Pete Best - August 16 - 1962

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Although Storm was magnanimous about losing to Starr, Best fans were upset, holding vigils outside Best's house and fighting at the Cavern Club, shouting "Pete Best forever! Ringo never!"

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