When Ringo was born on July 7, 1940 in Liverpool, his parents - Richard Starkey and Elsie Gleave - decided that Ringo should be named after his father. But his parents' marriage did not last and Ringo and his mother had to move to a smaller house because of financial constraints. His mother remarried a few years later and Harry Graves became Ringo's step father. It was Harry who bought Ringo his first drum set.
In 1959, Ringo officially joined a band called Rory Storm and the Raving Texans. It was around this time that Ringo received his nick name. Since Ringo used to wear many rings on his fingers, he was urged to adopt the moniker "Ringo"; it placed a western, cowboy spin to the word ring. He also decided to shorten his last name Starkey to Starr so that his drum solo act could be billed as "Starr" time. And thus the name Ringo Starr was born.
In 1960, the group went over to Hamburg to play at the Kaiserkeller and this was where Ringo became acquainted with The Beatles. In August of 1962, Ringo was asked to join The Beatles and he jumped at the opportunity.
Five years later, Ringo married his long time girlfriend Maureen Cox and they had three children together. When The Beatles finally split in 1970, Ringo already had two solo albums under his belt. He went on to release a string of singles that were hits. Ringo also decided to act in the movies and dabbled in producing them as well.
The late nineties saw the birth of Ringo's computer art. His influences run the gamut from Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Shoenberg, Condo, Nall, & Peter Max.
Big Close Up
Big H, Two Small Heads
Chef Alamode
Delhi, 1966 (Photo #11)
Elephant Foot
Eye-Lidded Man
Face and Flowers
First US Visit, 1964 (Photo #2)
George, 1964 (Photo #4)
Hat Man
I Feel Blue
I Feel Hot
John and George, 1966 (Photo #10)
John and Paul, 1964 (Photo #3)
John, 1964 (Photo #9)
Krayzee
Liverpool, 1960 (Photo #1)
Miami Florida, 1964 (Photo #5)
New Two Okay
Night Boy
Old Hickory, USA 1964 (Photo #7)
OOO Man Two
Paul, Paris 1964 (Photo #6)
Ringo & Paul, 1964 (Photo #8)
Ringo Starr PHOTOGRAPH Portfolio
Self Portrait, Japan, 1966 (Photo #12)
Snail's Eye