Richard Starkey

was born in a small two-story terraced house in the Dingle area of Liverpool, on July 7, 1940, making him the oldest Beatle, three months older than John.

Like the other Beatles, young Ritchie also eventually became caught up in Liverpool's Skiffle craze.

After starting his own group with Eddie Miles called "The Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group" in 1957, he joined "The Raving Texas" in 1959, a quartet played, while Rory Storm sang.

During this time, he got the nickname Ringo, because of the rings he wore, and the last name Starr so that his drum solos could be billed as "Starr Time".

Ringo first met the Beatles in Hamburg in October 1960, while performing with what had become "Rory Storm and The Hurricanes".

Ringo joined the Beatles on August 18, 1962.

Rory Storm was magnaimous about the theft of his drummer, but Pete Best fans were upset, holding vigils outside Pete's house and rioting at the Cavern Club, shouting "Pete Best forever! Ringo never!".

The Beatles first movie, originally to be called "Beatlemania" became to be called "A Hard Day's Night" because it was something Ringo had said one evening after a long and particulary grueling session.

Ringo married his long-time girlfriend Maureen Cox on February 11, 1965, and they had three children - Zak, Jason and Lee.

After the badsplitt, Ringo continiued making music and began a longlasting solocarrier.