Ringo Starr

The Beatles drummer, Ringo Starr, was born Richard Starkey on July 7th, 1940, in Liverpool. Starr’s childhood was traumatic, his parents separated when he was young, and he suffered from appendicitis aged six, a situation which caused him to enter a coma. However, his childhood illnesses were the catalyst for him starting to play the drums and, subsequently, joining The Beatles along with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and John Lennon.

Before Ringo joined the group, the band was already active, with Pete Best at the helm on drums. However, Best’s relationship with the group had grown fractious, and Starr was the obvious candidate to complete the line-up for The Fab Four, having developed a reputation for himself in Merseyside and beyond.

With The Beatles, Starr helped change the fabric of popular culture with their 13 albums, which concluded with ‘Let It Be’ in 1970. Inventive records such as ‘Revolver’, ‘Rubber Soul’, and ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ made them the most important group on the planet, envied the world over by their peers. The Beatles have sold over 183 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling artist of all time.

Following the band’s split, Ringo continued collaborating with his former bandmates in The Beatles, namely Harrison. Starr also launched a successful solo career, with ‘Photograph’ and ‘You’re Sixteen’ becoming number-one singles. He is reportedly the wealthiest drummer in the world, with a net worth in excess of $350 million.

Furthermore, Starr is one of the only musicians inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on two occasions. He was first accepted into the club in 1987 with The Beatles and was later honoured for his solo work in 2015. Since 1989, he’s been on tour with his All-Star Band, which has gone through 13 incarnations. Outside of music, Starr has also appeared in many films throughout the 1970s. The former Beatle also narrated the first two series of Thomas & Friends and played the character of ‘Mr. Conductor’ in the first season.