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04-14 Ringo Starr cancels NC Show
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Richard Starkey Jr, MBE (born 7 July 1940 in Liverpool, England), known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer,
songwriter and actor, best known as the drummer of The Beatles. He was the oldest member of the band, and the last to join the now familiar
âFab Fourâ line up.
While he was sometimes the least visible member of the band, Ringoâs drumming style played a pivotal role in the music played and recorded
by The Beatles. He filled the role he was hired for in 1962, then went on to establish a new approach to rhythm in popular music that some
claim cont ...read more
Richard Starkey Jr, MBE (born 7 July 1940 in Liverpool, England), known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer,
songwriter and actor, best known as the drummer of The Beatles. He was the oldest member of the band, and the last to join the now familiar
âFab Fourâ line up.
While he was sometimes the least visible member of the band, Ringoâs drumming style played a pivotal role in the music played and recorded
by The Beatles. He filled the role he was hired for in 1962, then went on to establish a new approach to rhythm in popular music that some
claim continues to grow in its significance and influence with every decade since The Beatles recorded their music. Ringo is left-handed yet
plays a right-handed kit; his tendency to lead with his left hand contributes to his distinctive drumming style.
Lennon said of Starr:
â Ringo was a star in his own right in Liverpool before we even met. He was a professional drummer who sang and performed and had Ringo
Starr-time and he was in one of the top groups in Britain but especially in Liverpool before we even had a drummer ⌠Ringoâs a damn good
drummer.â
Drummer Steve Smith said:
â Before Ringo, drum stars were measured by their soloing ability and virtuosity. Ringoâs popularity brought forth a new paradigm in how the
public saw drummers. We started to see the drummer as an equal participant in the compositional aspect. One of Ringoâs great qualities was
that he composed unique, stylistic drum parts for the Beatles songs. His parts are so signature to the songs that you can listen to a Ringo
drum part without the rest of the music, and still identify the song.â
Many drummers list Starr as an influence, including Max Weinberg of the E Street Band, Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters/Nirvana, Danny Carey of
Tool, Liberty DeVitto of Billy Joelâs band, Phil Collins, Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater and others. According to Collins, âStarr is vastly
underrated. The drum fills on the song âA Day in the Lifeâ are very complex things. You could take a great drummer today and say, âI want it
like that.â They wouldnât know what to do.â
Lennon, McCartney and Harrison have all said that Starr was the best rock drummer in the world. McCartney took over the drums on âBack
in the U.S.S.R.â and âDear Prudenceâ, the first two tracks on the White Album (1968) after Starr had walked out, disgusted with the bandâs
tensions and bored with waiting around to contribute. He did not return for two weeks until the other three Beatles urged him to come back.
He spent the fortnight with actor Peter Sellers on his yacht in Piraeus, where he wrote âOctopusâ Gardenâ. Lennon sent telegrams to Starr,
and Harrison set up flowers all over the studio for Starrâs return saying âWelcome homeâ. McCartney sent Starr a postcard on 31 January
1969 (the day after the bandâs performance on the roof of Apple Studios) stating: âYou are the greatest drummer in the world. Really.â
Starr generally sang at least one song on each studio album, as part of establishing the vocal personality of all four members. In some
cases, Lennon or McCartney would write the lyrics and melody especially for him, as Lennon did with âGood Nightâ from the White Album,
and as he and McCartney did for âYellow Submarineâ from Revolver (1966). Often these melodies would be tailored to Starrâs baritone vocal
range. Although some have criticised Starrâs vocal range when comparing him to his band mates, he turned in strong performances on par
with other baritone pop stars, making an invaluable vocal and marketing contribution to the group. Starrâs backing vocals can be heard on
songs such as âAll Together Nowâ, âCarry That Weightâ, and âThe Continuing Story of Bungalow Billâ.
After the breakup of The Beatles on 10 April 1970, Starr released two albums before the end of that year. Sentimental Journey featured
Starrâs renditions of many pre-rock standards and included the production talents of Quincy Jones, George Martin and McCartney, among
others. His next album, Beaucoups of Blues, put Starr in a country context, and included renowned Nashville session musician Pete Drake.
He scored hit singles with âIt Donât Come Easyâ (1971) and âBack Off Boogalooâ (1972), the latter of which was his biggest UK hit, peaking
at #2. He achieved two #1 hits in the US, with âPhotographâ (co-written with Harrison) and âYouâre Sixteenâ, both in 1973.
He also participated in The Concert For Bangladesh organised by Harrison in 1971, as well as drumming on Harrisonâs All Things Must Pass
and Living in the Material World, Lennonâs John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, and Yoko Onoâs early solo work. Indeed, his song âEarly 1970â
(the B-side of âIt Donât Come Easyâ) voiced a hope that he could remain friendly and play music with all three of his former Beatles band
mates.
Starr remains the only Beatle to have failed to top the UK singles charts as a solo artist, although he did chart two number one singles in the
US. He is also the only Beatle to have failed to top the UK album listings, his highest position being #7, achieved in the UK with both
Sentimental Journey and Ringo; the latter reached #2 in the US charts, giving Starr his highest album position there.
Ringo, now age 70, continues to perform and release music, his most recent album being 2010's Y Not. « hide |
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