And Say It Ain’t So! A Beatle Turns 80-Years Old?
A Brief One by unabashed Beatles fan Doug Draper
Posted July 7th, 2020 on Niagara At Large
A relatively recent photo of Ringo Starr, flashing his famous peace signs.
I don’t know why I never thought the day would come when one of The Beatles turned 80 years old.
After all, if you live long enough, and the guy who always was the oldest member of The Beatles lives long enough, it is bound to one day happen. Yet it is still a bit of a mind blower.
Time sure does fly when you have spent the past more than 50 years buying up every record they ever made, first on vinyl, then on tape, then on CD, and then again on vinyl and CDs boasting higher quality sound and never-before-released bonus tracks. (Never tell me I haven’t done my part to keep these boys from Liverpool and members of their families out of the poor house.)
I still remember Ringo Starr and three other Beatles when they were young guys with long-hair, running away from herds of screaming girls in their 1964 movie debut ‘A Hard Day’s Night’. And now here we are, on July 7, 2020, and Ringo is off somewhere today, hopefully having a nice time celebrating his 80th birthday.
Happy Birthday Ringo, and I am joining the celebration by posting a live performance of the first song I heard you sing lead on with The Beatles – a rocker called ‘Boys’ that you can watch and listen by clicking on the screen below –
I was just entering my teen years when The Beatles hit the North American scene in 1964 and never got to see the group perform live before it quit touring in 1966.
Over the years though, I say Ringo performing in concert two or three times with a band of “all-stars” made up of assemblies of legendary members of other famous groups like Santana, The Guess Who, The Rascals, The Eagles, The Band and The Who.
Ringo, the way many will always remember him, behind that set of Ludwig drums, with John, Paul and George rocking out front.
Two things struck me at these shows. The first was what a great drummer he is, playing effortlessly to almost any of the songs members of those other groups threw at him.
The second was what a nice, humble guy Ringo (born Richard Starkey, and now ‘Sir Richard’ as of two years ago) is for someone who was a member of arguably the world’s most famous rock band. He came across as someone you would not feel nervous sitting down and having a few beers with.
So once again, Happy Birthday Ringo, and I wish you the best of health and many more.
One more song for the road that you can click on. Here he is in 2014 with his old band mate Paul McCartney, performing the song he sang on the St. Peppers album, ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’ –
To read a piece Niagara At Large posted in 2018 on Ringo receiving his Knighthood, click on – https://niagaraatlarge.com/2018/03/20/its-sir-ringo-now/
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I was fortunate enough to see The Beatles three times in Toronto. Biggest ticket price, $5.50 and I got those FREE from Harold Ballard.
A friend worked as a hospitality employee (filling any requests and needs for performers) at Casino Niagara where he performed a few times and said he was the friendliest, least demanding and most down to earth of all the celebrity guests while many “so called” celebrities could be real pains in the butt!
When he was a child he was extremely ill several times and even in a coma and had to drop out of school, yet here he is at 80 bouncing around like a teenager and entertaining!
Long life and health Sir Richard Starkey!
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Yes, it’s hard to believe Ringo Starr is 80 – he certainly doesn’t look like it! While he may be no John Bonham or Ginger Baker, he is a drummer who outside drummer circles is highly underrated. Perhaps more importantly, Ringo rightfully is one of the most beloved music artists. There’s no doubt The Beatles would not have been the same without him. I recall reading somewhere somebody said ‘every band deserves a Ringo!’ Unfortunately, I don’t recall who made that beautiful statement!
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