He was the oldest Beatle, but he was considered younger and less experienced by Paul. Paul later admitted that and said that he regretted thinking that. He was born "Richard Starkey" but he eventually changed his name to Ringo Starr. Ringo had many problems when he was a kid. It was mainly that he was in and out of hospitals. He had to go a few times for around a month at a time, but one time he was put in the hospital for a year putting him behind in all of his classes. School became a closed door for him. He had to find something else.

He eventually got a drum set and he started to practice. It paid off when he started playing professionally with "Rory Storm and the Hurricanes." When "The Quarry Men" were in need of a replacement drummer Ringo would be there. Soon he received his new name, "Ringo", for the many rings that he wore, and "Starr" just to shorten "Starkey".

Ringo Becomes a Beatle

One day Ringo was called up and asked to audition for "The Beatles" and when he got there he played for George Martin (the producer), and he picked Ringo as the new drummer, leaving Pete Best as a former Beatle. One cannot help but wonder what it must have felt like for Pete Best when the Beatles started to gain fame and he knew he had just missed out.

At first he didn't quite feel right as a Beatle but he got used to it after time passed.

The Beatles played all over Europe and they slowly gained fame, on many of their concerts Ringo had to sit out for a disease. When they released an album to America Ringo sang lead on a song called "I Wanna Be Your Man". Now America got it's first glimpse, and feel of "The Beatles".

When around the press the Beatles used humor to make their point. Almost every answer that they gave had a punchline. Ringo had no trouble in doing this. Even though he was not asked as many questions as the others he still almost always gave a non-serious answer to the press as the others did.

During the fame of the Beatles Ringo was sick and as usual had to sit out, diseases have plagued him all his life. He only sang a few songs and they were simple, songs that were repetitive and simple. He himself said that he was not a singer, he was a drummer and would always be one. He sang songs such as these during his career with the Beatles...

A Sample of lyrics from songs penned by Ringo:

I wanna be your man: I wanna be your lover baby, I wanna be your man. Tell me that you love me baby...

With a Little Help from my friends: I get by with a little help from my friends...

Octopus's Garden: I'd like to be, under the sea in an octopus's garden in the shade...

Yellow Submarine: We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine...

Don't Pass Me By: Don't pass me by don't make me blue...

Aftermath

He was not very successful in his solo career as a singer and musician but he prevailed as a performer. He was in several movies and was also the voice of a train conductor in a cartoon. He also made music but he didn't make as many hits as the other Beatles (solo). He performed with Paul McCartney, and George Harrison on Paul's new album "Flaming Pie" which got a great review from the newspapers. He also performed drums on the two new songs released by the Beatles, "Free as a Bird", "Real Love". Both songs were found uncompleted by John Lennon, and when the anthology started they just finished them by adding drums and more lyrics to what was there.