Ringo Starr was born Richard Starkey in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, on July 7, 1940. His parents divorced when he was three and he and his mother moved to another home in Liverpool. While attending Silas Infants' Schools he suffered from many afflictions that basically ruined his education: he had constant severe abdominal pains, was once diagnosed with a ruptured appendix that led to an inflamed peritoneum--which also led to one of his first surgeries--he was in a coma for a couple of months, during which more operations were performed, and he was known to be accident-prone. Shortly after he came out of the coma, he was trying to offer a toy bus to another boy in an adjoining bed, but fell and received a concussion. When he finally was able to go back to school, he learned that he was far behind in his studies. As if that weren't bad enough, at age 13 he caught a cold that turned into chronic pleurisy, necessitating another stay at another hospital in Liverpool. A few lung complications followed, which resulted in a stay in yet another children's hospital, this time until 1955. Meanwhile, Richard's mother Elise had married Harry Graves, the man who her son referred to as a "stepladder".

His first job was as a delivery boy for British Rail. His second was a barman on a ferry to New Brighton, and his next was as a trainee joiner at Henry Hunt & Sons. His stepfather bought him a new drum kit and Richard promised to be the best musician, ever. He traveled from band to band, but he eventually landed a spot with "Rory Storm & The Hurricanes", a popular band at the time, and Storm encouraged Richard to enhance his career by legally changing his name to Ringo Starr. The Hurricanes became popular in England and topped the bill at one of Liverpool's clubs, where The Beatles also featured.

Original Beatles' drummer Pete Best was not considered by the other band members to be the greatest drummer, and they were keen to recruit Ringo as his replacement. Ringo's group was now playing second-fiddle to The Beatles and Gerry and the Pacemakers. He wanted to leave The Hurricanes to join another group called "The Seniors". After considering Johnny Hutchinson of "The Big Three," The Beatles new A & R manager George Martin asked Ringo if he would be interested in filling in the position. He agreed, but when he played with The Beatles at The Cavern Club, a lot of longtime fans were still disappointed about Best's firing, and began to shout, "Pete forever, Ringo never!"

Ringo also wanted to be a professional actor, more so than the other Beatles. He received great reviews for his performance in A Hard Day's Night, and also for Help!. He had married his old girlfriend, Maureen Cox, on February 11, 1965, and they had three children. The couple broke up in July 1975 and he married actress Barbara Bach. Ringo had the same problem as George did, which was getting his songs noticed. At times John and Paul would write a song or two for him to sing on one album, such as "Boys", "I Wanna Be Your Man", "Honey Don't", and "Yellow Submarine". During his stay with The Beatles, Ringo wrote two songs, however--"Don't Pass Me By" and "Octopus' Garden".

After the breakup of The Beatles, Ringo sustained a very popular solo career, turning out 13 hit songs and eight best-selling albums. He also appeared in various TV shows, including his own special, Ringo, and a TV mini-series, Princess Daisy, with his wife Barbara. He stayed out of the limelight for years after that, however, and in 1984 he did narration for the children's series Thomas the Tank Engine. He conquered a drinking problems--his wife attended the rehabilitation clinic with him--and came back to the scene sober to do the All-Starr Band tour of America and Japan. The tour was so popular that he formed another All-Starr Band in 1992, and began an American and European tour in June of that year. While he continues to do the All-Starr Band, along with George Harrison and Paul McCartney he did a Beatles' anthology to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the breakup of the band. They sang two new songs, in addition to adding themselves to a couple of John Lennon demos. His old friend and bandmate George Harrison passed away on November 29, 2001, after a long battle against cancer, and the following year, on the anniversary of Harrison's death, Starr, McCartney and Eric Clapton appeared in a Concert For George, to raise money for the exploration of alternative life views and philosophies. It also supported charitable organizations with consideration to those who have special needs.
Drummer with the Beatles (1962-1970). Tours with group "Ringo Starr's All Starrs" Father of Zak Starkey (with Maureen), a featured drummer with the Who and daughter, Lee Starkey. Inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame as a member of the Beatles January 20, 1988. He was not the original drummer for the Beatles. He replaced Pete Best after Best was fired by the other band members. He was the oldest in age to be a member of the Beatles, and the last to join the group, technically making him both the oldest and youngest "Beatle". Fully convinced the fame of the Beatles would be short-lived, he sent large amounts of money to his aunt to deposit in a bank account while he was on tour with the band. His intention was to start a hair dressing salon once the Beatles faded from public memory. To this day, he is known to be savvy with his finances, and even appeared in a TV commercial for an investment consulting service. Is left-handed, though he plays drums right-handed. Appointed an MBE in 1965. Though McCartney is the most successful ex-Beatle, Ringo actually had more solo US Top ten hits. (McCartney performed most of his Top Tens with Wings). Born and grew up in the Dingles section of Liverpool, England. Attended St. Silas School and Dingles Secondary Modern School. A single of his, "The No-No Song", was a song against drug abuse. But in a darkly ironic note, the song was banned from several radio stations because of the drug references. Wrote the song "Octopus's Garden" while on vacation. He claims to have got the idea for the song after conversing with a chef about octopi. In the mid 1970s he dated British singer-songwriter 'Lynsey de Paul' and appeared on a single she wrote for none other than Dame Vera Lynn. Got the last name "Starr" from his birth name, Starkey. He got "Ringo" because he always wore lots of rings on all his fingers. "Ringo Starr" was a natural stage name for a young man who'd grown up loving Western movies (he particularly admired Gene Autry, the "singing cowboy"). Considered moving to Texas, before joining the Beatles. Bought Tittenhurst Park from John Lennon (Lennon's last English home), when John and Yoko decided to move to America; the deal came complete with Ascot Sound Studios, located on the grounds, and home of several albums ("Plastic Ono Band", "Imagine", and "Fly"). Got his first set of drums as a present from his stepfather, who brought them back from London. Was able to turn professional with a £25 loan from his Grandfather Starkey, to make the deposit on a better set. Missed several years of school, because of illness growing up. Learned to read and write with the help of a neighbor girl, who became his babysitter. Was the only Beatle to willingly accept Yoko Ono in John's life (and consequently theirs); he offered them the use of his London apartment, while John and Cynthia Lennon settled their divorce. Yoko tried to return Ringo's kindness over the years, and years later, when John was murdered, Ringo and future wife Barbara Bach flew to New York, to keep Yoko company. He is a strict vegetarian, and suggested that his bandmates, Paul McCartney and George Harrison should become vegetarians, as well. According to George Harrison, he unintentionally inspired a number of songs by his off-the-cuff remarks. For example, after a long session on The Beatles' first film, he was heard to say, "It's been a hard day's night." That became the title of the film and subsequently the song, "A Hard Day's Night". He is a massive fan of the comedy troupe Monty Python, and even appeared on an episode of _Monty Python's Flying Circus_(1969) . In 1985 he accepted the role of Locke Walls on Guiding Light but pulled out at the last minute. The role was recast with Jeremy Slate Was the first Beatle to "drop out" of their visit to India in the spring of 1968, to study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Despite packing some home comforts (like cans of baked beans), he couldn't handle the spicy cooking the camp offered, and was missing his family. He was the oldest member of the Beatles. Is portrayed by Michael McMurtry in The Linda McCartney Story.