Biography
Ringo Starr, whose birth name was Richard Starkey, served as the Beatles’ drummer between 1962 and 1970, thereby becoming one of the decade’s most recognizable performers. Although he occupied the least visible role within the quartet, he carved out a distinct identity through occasional vocal performances of lighthearted songs and through his work as an actor. After the band dissolved, he launched a solo career with two early novelty releases: Sentimental Journey, an album of pre-rock standards, and Beaucoups of Blues, a country collection. He next achieved Top Ten status with the standalone singles “It Don’t Come Easy” in 1971 and “Back Off Boogaloo” in 1972.
Working with producer Richard Perry in 1973, Starr assembled the album Ringo, which enlisted the other three former Beatles and yielded the chart-topping singles “Photograph” and “You’re Sixteen,” along with the Top Ten track “Oh My My.” The follow-up, Goodnight Vienna, arrived in 1974 and proved nearly as successful, spawning the hits “Only You” and “No No Song.”
Starr continued issuing records through 1981, yet commercial momentum steadily declined. His 1983 effort Old Wave failed to secure an American distributor. Personal excesses had also taken a toll, but he achieved sobriety by the late 1980s and assembled his first “All-Starr Band” for a 1989 tour. Signing with Private Music, he returned with the studio album Time Takes Time in 1992. Vertical Man, his Mercury debut, appeared in 1998, accompanied by a disc drawn from his VH1 Storytellers performance. The holiday project I Wanna Be Santa Claus followed in 1999.
Two further studio albums emerged in the early 2000s: Ringorama in 2003 and Choose Love in 2005. In 2006 Starr contributed to Jerry Lee Lewis’ album Last Man Standing and led another All-Starr Band lineup that included Sheila E. and Edgar Winter. Live at Soundstage, documenting a 2005 Chicago concert, was issued in 2007, as was the retrospective Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo Starr. The following year he embarked on a tenth All-Starr Band tour featuring returning members Colin Hay, Billy Squier, Hamish Stuart, and Edgar Winter, joined by keyboardist Gary Wright and drummer Gregg Bissonette.
Working with producer Richard Perry in 1973, Starr assembled the album Ringo, which enlisted the other three former Beatles and yielded the chart-topping singles “Photograph” and “You’re Sixteen,” along with the Top Ten track “Oh My My.” The follow-up, Goodnight Vienna, arrived in 1974 and proved nearly as successful, spawning the hits “Only You” and “No No Song.”
Starr continued issuing records through 1981, yet commercial momentum steadily declined. His 1983 effort Old Wave failed to secure an American distributor. Personal excesses had also taken a toll, but he achieved sobriety by the late 1980s and assembled his first “All-Starr Band” for a 1989 tour. Signing with Private Music, he returned with the studio album Time Takes Time in 1992. Vertical Man, his Mercury debut, appeared in 1998, accompanied by a disc drawn from his VH1 Storytellers performance. The holiday project I Wanna Be Santa Claus followed in 1999.
Two further studio albums emerged in the early 2000s: Ringorama in 2003 and Choose Love in 2005. In 2006 Starr contributed to Jerry Lee Lewis’ album Last Man Standing and led another All-Starr Band lineup that included Sheila E. and Edgar Winter. Live at Soundstage, documenting a 2005 Chicago concert, was issued in 2007, as was the retrospective Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo Starr. The following year he embarked on a tenth All-Starr Band tour featuring returning members Colin Hay, Billy Squier, Hamish Stuart, and Edgar Winter, joined by keyboardist Gary Wright and drummer Gregg Bissonette.
Live
