Today, Ringo Starr has turned 82 years young. I say “young” even though he’s not just seventeen, you know what I mean. But while the man may be an octogenarian, to me, he remains young at heart and full of amazing energy. I can tell you one thing: If I make it to 82, I’d be happy to have 50% of Ringo’s vitality!
I also like Ringo’s simple message of peace and love. During a time of significant change and deep division in this country and when much of the rest of the planet is pretty messed up as well, we need peace and love more than ever. Yes, you may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.

As Ringo usually does, today, he’s celebrating his birthday and peace and love message with a little help from his friends. According to a recent statement on Ringo’s website, he and his wife Barbara Starkey will be joined…by family and friends, including current All Starrs Steve Lukather, Edgar Winter, Colin Hay, Warren Ham and Gregg Bissonette, as well as friends Benmont Tench, Jim Keltner, Richard Marx, Matt Sorum, Ed Begley Jr, Linda Perry, Diane Warren, Roy Jr and Alex Orbison.
They will gather together in Los Angeles for Ringo’s annual Peace & Love Birthday event, and at Noon give the traditional “Peace and Love” exclamation. This year Artemis Music Space Network, through the International Space Station (ISS) will amplify that message not only to the entire planet but up into Earth’s orbit and to the stars. That’s certainly a remarkable effort!
I’d like to acknowledge today’s happy occasion by celebrating Ringo’s music, borrowing from a post I published a year ago. I’m adding a Spotify playlist at the end.
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
Let’s Change the World – Change the World (EP), September 2021
Here’s the aforementioned Spotify playlist, which includes both the above tunes, as well as some additional songs.
And, remember, wherever you are at noon today, Peace and Love!
Sources: Wikipedia; Ringo Starr website; YouTube; Spotify