Today, Ringo Starr has turned 81 years old. It’s so great to see he’s still going strong! I just love the man and not only because he was the drummer of my all-time favorite band The Beatles. Ringo strikes me as a genuinely nice guy with a great sense of humor, who despite his fame comes across as a fairly regular person. A guy you’d love to hang out with. And somebody every band would want to have as a member since it always seems to be about the group, never about him.
Ringo is no technical virtuoso, which I’ve seen him acknowledge in interviews. I think his honesty and humbleness say a lot about him. And yet he’s held in high esteem by other professional drummers for his creative drumming style. That’s especially the case when it comes to certain Beatles songs where you can figure out the tune just by listening to Ringo’s drum part. When you think about it, that’s pretty cool!
But it’s perhaps the concept of Ringo’s All-Starr Band, which best illustrates what he’s all about. Yes, they play some songs from his solo period and his time with The Beatles, but they also perform tunes from the other members. It’s the “all” in the band’s name that matters. I so much hope I’ll finally see Ringo for the first time with the latest incarnation of the All-Starr Band at New York’s Beacon Theatre in June 2022. Meanwhile, let’s celebrate his 81st birthday with a selection of tunes spanning his 50-year-plus solo career.
It Don’t Come Easy – non-album single, April 1971
Photograph – Ringo, November 1973
No No Song – Goodnight Vienna, November 1974
Wrack My Brain – Stop and Smell the Roses, October 1981
In My Car – Old Wave, June 1983
Drift Away (featuring Tom Petty, Steven Tyler and Alanis Morissette) – Vertical Man, June 1998
Walk With You (duet with Paul McCartney) – Y Not, January 2010)
Postcards From Paradise – Postcards From Paradise, March 2015
We’re on the Road Again – Give More Love (September 2017)
Waiting for the Tide to Turn – Zoom In (EP), March 2021
And, remember, wherever you are at noon today, Peace and Love!
Sources: Wikipedia; YouTube
Christian's Music Musings 
Ringo was a sickly kid- a lot of time in the hospital- at times they didn’t think he’d live- wouldn’t it be something if he outlives all the 60’s rockers- [not counting Keith Richards who is immortal ]
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Ringo gives people their moneys worth probably more than just about anyone touring today…and he is 81!
Probably my favorite song by him besides It Dont’ Come Easy is “Early 1970.”
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Thanks, Max. Great tune that wasn’t on my radar screen!
On my way to Atlantic City for my first music festival in ages. Will check in again tonight or tomorrow morning!
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Have a great time Christian!!!!
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😎
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Yeah, Ringo was always a cool dude. If you read about the early years, it was as much Ringo’s chemistry with the other three that made him mesh with the band as much as anything else. And then when he played with them, the difference between him and Pete Best was dramatic. Have fun. And meet me tonight in Atlantic City.
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I’m actually considering to return, believe it or not. Really had a ball there yesterday!
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Looking forward to hearing about the tribute bands! {snort}
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