'''Richard Starkey''', MBE (born July 7, 1940), known by his stage name '''Ringo Starr''', is a popular English musician, singer, and actor, best known as the drummer for The Beatles. Starr is known for his reliable, innovative drumming and unique fills. He was the oldest member of the band, and the last one to join the now familiar "Fab Four" line-up.
Starr married Maureen Cox in 1965, and they had three children, Zak, Jason, and Lee. The couple divorced in 1975, and in 1981 Starr married actress Barbara Bach, most famous for her role as Major Anya Amasova (female lead and main 'Bond Girl') in ''The Spy Who Loved Me''.
Early years
Born in Liverpool, England, Starr's parents split up when he was young; his mother remarried 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 the age of 15, he could barely read or write.
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. He then 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' (probably a reference to John Wayne's character in ''Stagecoach'', who is named "The Ringo Kid"), and the last name Starr so that his solo spot, when he sang lead for two or three tunes, could be billed as 'Starr Time'. http://www.beatlesagain.com/bringo.html
Starr first met The Beatles in Hamburg, in October 1960, while he was performing with Rory Storm and The Hurricanes. He also sat in for Pete Best on several occasions. When The Beatles removed Best as their drummer on August 16, 1962, Starr was their choice to replace him.
Although Storm was magnanimous about losing Starr, http://www.beatlesagain.com/bringo.html Best fans were upset, holding vigils outside Best's house and fighting at the Cavern Club, shouting "Ringo never! Pete Best forever!"
Role in The Beatles
Starr's drumming style played a pivotal role in the music played and recorded by The Beatles. He filled
