Born 7th July 1940
Father – Richard Starkey (1913–1981)
Mother – Elsie Gleave (1914–1987)
Spouses – m. 1965 div. 1975 – Maureen Cox (1946 – 1994), m. 1981 – Barbara Bach (b. 1946)
Children – by Maureen – Zak (b. 1965), Jason (b. 1967), Lee (b. 1970)
Known to History – Drummer with the Beatles
1940 (7th July)
Ringo Starr was born Richard Starkey to Richard Starkey and Elsie Gleave in Dingle, Liverpool. He was known as Ritchie Starkey.
1944 (during)
Ritchie’s family moved house to try to save money.
1944 (during)
Ritchie’s parents separated and his father left home.
1944 (during)
Ritchie began his education at St Silas Church of England primary school.
1946 (during)
Ritchie was rushed to hospital with appendicitis. After surgery he contracted peritonitis and was comotose for a period. He remained in Myrtle Street Hospital, LIverpool for the next twelve months.
1948 (May)
Ritchie was finally discharged from hospital.
1953 (during)
Ritchie was diagnosed with tuberculosis and was admitted to hospital. His recovery was lengthy and during that time he became interested in drumming after repeatedly striking a mallet on his bedside cabinet, a physiotherapy exercise.
1953 (17th April)
Ritchie’s mother married Harry Graves, a lover of music.
1955 (during)
Starkey began working for British Rail but the job didn’t last long as Ritchie failed the medical examination. He then became a waiter on a boat that journeyed from Liverpool to North Wales.
1956 (during)
Ritchie became an apprentice at an equipment manufacturer in Liverpool. He became friends with fellow worker, Roy Trafford who was a fan of skiffle music.
1957 (during)
Ritchie co-founded the Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group.
1957 (25th December)
Starkey was given a basic drum kit for Christmas by his stepfather.
1960 (during)
Ritchie joined Rory Storm and the Hurricanes as drummer for the group. He became known as Ringo because of the number of rings he wore and adopted the name Ringo Starr.
1960 (May)
Ringo gave up his work as a machinist after Rory Storm and the Hurricanes were offered a 3 month residency at a Butlins holiday camp in Wales.
1960 (1st October)
Rory Storm and the Hurricanes were given a spot at the Kaiserkeller, Hamburg. Also performing at the club were The Beatles.
1960 (15th October)
1962 (during)
Ringo met Maureen Cox while playing with The Beatles at the Cavern Club.
1962 (18th August)
Ringo Starr joined the Beatles as drummer, replacing Pete Best who had been fired earlier in the year.
1962 (1st October)
The Beatles signed a new management contract with Brian Epstein. This was necessary to include Ringo Starr.
1962 (5th October)
‘The Beatles’ released their first single ‘Love Me Do’. The single reached number 17 in the British charts.
1962 (1st November)
The Beatles began a 14 night spot at the Star-Club, Hamburg.
1962 (26th November)
The Beatles recorded the single ‘Please Please Me’.
1962 (18th December)
The Beatles began a 13 night spot at the Star-Club, Hamburg.
1963 (11th February)
The Beatles recorded the album ‘Please Please Me’.
1963 (22nd March)
The album ‘Please Please Me’ was released in the UK. It reached No 1 in the album charts.
1963 (11th April)
The single ‘Please Please Me’ written by Lennon and McCartney was released in the UK. It was the group’s first no 1 hit in the UK.
1963 (18th May)
The Beatles went on tour supporting Roy Orbison.
1963 (27th May)
The single ‘Please Please Me’ written by Lennon and McCartney was released in the US. It did not do well.
1963 (July)
The album ‘Please Please Me’ was released in the US under the title ‘Introducing The Beatles’. It was a flop.
1963 (12th July)
The EP ‘Twist and Shout’ was released in the UK. It reached number 1 in the charts.
1963 (23rd August)
The single ‘She Loves You’ written by Lennon and McCartney was released in the UK. It was the fastest selling single at the time quickly reaching no 1 and remains the group’s best selling single.
1963 (16th September)
The single ‘She Loves You’ written by Lennon and McCartney was released in the US. It had little impact.
1963 (October)
The Beatles popularity continued to spread across Europe and the term Beatlemania was coined.
1963 (13th October)
The Beatles performed on the UK TV Show ‘Sunday Night at the London Palladium’.
1963 (17th October)
The group recorded ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’.
1963 (24th October)
The Beatles made a 7 day tour of Sweden.
1963 (4th November)
The Beatles performed in front of Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon at the Royal Command Performance.
1963 (22nd November)
The album ‘With the Beatles’ was released in the UK. It reached No 1 in album charts.
1963 (29th November)
The Beatles released ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ written by Lennon and McCartney in the UK. It reached No 1 in the charts and was the second album ever to sell a million copies (the first was the South Pacific soundtrack in 1958).
1963 (26th December)
The Beatles released ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ in the US. It was their first hit in America reaching no 1.
1964 (16th January)
The Beatles began a series of concerts at L’Olympia, Paris.
1964 (20th January)
The Beatles released the album ‘Meet the Beatles’ in the US. It reached No 1 in the charts.
1964 (29th January)
The Beatles recorded ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’.
1964 (7th February)
The Beatles released ‘All My Loving’ in the UK.
1964 (7th February)
The Beatles left London Heathrow to fly to New York. Around 4,000 screaming fans were at Heathrow to see them off and around 3,000 American fans welcomed them to JFK airport.
1964 (9th February)
The Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in the United States. They performed 5 songs to an audience of more than 73 million people.
1964 (11th February)
The Beatles performed at the Washington Coliseum.
1964 (12th February)
The Beatles performed at Carnegie Hall in New York.
1964 (March/April)
The Beatles were involved in filming for ‘A Hard Day’s Night’.
1964 (2nd March)
The single ‘Twist and Shout’ was released in the US.
1964 (16th March)
The single ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ was released in the US.
1964 (20th March)
The single ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ was released in the UK.
1964 (4th June)
The Beatles began a Tour tour which included dates in Denmark, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.
1964 (19th June)
The Beatles released ‘Long Tall Sally’ in the UK. It reached number 1 in the charts.
1964 (26th June)
The Beatles released the soundtrack to the film ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ in the US. It went to No 1 in the album charts.
1964 (10th July)
The Beatles film ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ premiered in London, UK.
1964 (10th July)
The Beatles released the soundtrack to the film ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ in the UK. It went to No 1 in the album charts.
1964 (11th August)
The Beatles film ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ was released in the US.
1964 (19th August)
The Beatles began a tour of America. They controversially refused to play to at any venue where blacks and whites were segregated.
1964 (28th August)
The Beatles met Bob Dylan who introduced them to marijuana.
1964 (October)
The Beatles recorded their album ‘Beatles for Sale’.
1964 (25th October)
The Beatles received five Ivor Novello awards.
1964 (23rd November)
The single ‘I Feel Fine’ was released in the US.
1964 (27th November)
The single ‘I Feel Fine’ was released in the UK.
1964 (4th December)
The album ‘Beatles for Sale’ was released in the UK and went straight to No 1 in the charts.
1965 (11th February)
Ringo Starr married Maureen Cox at Caxton Hall Register Office in London. The Beatles manager, Brian Epstein was best man.
1965 (23rd February)
The Beatles began filming their second movie ‘Help!’.
1965 (9th April)
The single ‘Ticket To Ride’ was released.
1965 (12th June)
Ringo Starr, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison were awarded the MBE.
1965 (14th June)
Paul McCartney recorded ‘Yesterday’. It was the first recording by a single member of the group.
1965 (19th July)
The single ‘Help’ written mainly by John Lennon was released in the US.
1965 (23rd July)
The single ‘Help’ written mainly by John Lennon was released in the UK. It reached number 1 in the charts.
1965 (29th July)
The film ‘Help’ premiered in London.
1965 (6th August)
The soundtrack to the film ‘Help’ was released in the UK. It reached number 1 in the charts.
1965 (11th August)
The film ‘Help’ was released in the US. It reached number 1 in the charts.
1965 (13th August)
The soundtrack to the film ‘Help’ was released in the US. It reached number 1 in the charts.
1965 (15th August)
The Beatles performed at the Shea Stadium in New York in front of an audience of 55,600. They were concerned that their music was not being heard over the screaming of fans.
1965 (13th September)
A son, Zak, was born to Ringo and Maureen at Queen Charlotte’s Maternity hospital.
1965 (13th September)
The single ‘Yesterday’ was released in the US.
1965 (29th September)
The single ‘Yesterday’ was released in the UK.
1965 (3rd December)
The Beatles released the album ‘Rubber Soul’ in the UK. It went straight to No 1 in the charts.
1965 (3rd December)
The single ‘Day Tripper’ was released.
1965 (6th December)
The Beatles released the album ‘Rubber Soul’ in the US. It went straight to No 1 in the charts.
1966 (4th March)
John controversially commented that ‘we’re more popular than Jesus now’. This caused demonstrations against the Beatles in religious areas of America.
1966 (6th April)
The Beatles began recording the album ‘Revolver’.
1966 (30th May)
The single Paperback Writer written by Lennon and McCartney was released in the US. It went straight to number 1 in the charts.
1966 (10th June)
The single Paperback Writer written by Lennon and McCartney was released in the UK. It went straight to number 1 in the charts.
1966 (20th June)
The compilation album ‘Yesterday and Today’ was released in the US by Capitol Records. The album initially caused controversy because the cover featured the Beatles in butchers aprons surrounded by mutilated dolls and raw meat. Capitol records hastily replaced the covers.
1966 (July)
The Beatles toured Japan and the Philippines. They were accused of snubbing the presidential family in the Philippines.
1966 (5th August)
The Beatles single ‘Eleanor Rigby/Yellow Submarine’ was released.
1966 (5th August)
The Beatles album ‘Revolver’ was released in the UK. It went straight to No 1.
1966 (8th August)
The Beatles album ‘Revolver’ was released in the US. It reached number 1 in the charts.
1966 (11th August)
The Beatles returned to America for another tour.
1966 (29th August)
The Beatles performed their last live concert at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park.
1966 (late November)
The Beatles began work on ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’.
1967 (13th February)
The Beatles released ‘Strawberry Fields Forever”/”Penny Lane” a double A side single in the UK and the US. It reached number 2 in the UK and number 8 in the US.
1967 (26th May)
The Beatles released the album ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ in the UK. It went straight to number 1 in the charts.
1967 (2nd June)
The Beatles released the album ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ in the US. It reached number 1 in the charts.
1967 (25th June)
The Beatles performed ‘All You Need is Love’ on ‘Our World’ the World’s first global TV link. It was viewed by an audience of 350 million.
1967 (7th July)
The Beatles released the single ‘All You Need is Love’ written by John Lennon in the UK.
1967 (17th July)
The Beatles released the single ‘All You Need is Love’ written by John Lennon in the US.
1967 (19th August)
A son, Jason, was born to Ringo and Maureen.
1967 (27th August)
The Beatles’ manager, Brian Epstein died of an accidental overdose of sleeping tablets. The group were told of his death while attending a seminar on Transcendental Meditation by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
1967 (24th November)
The Beatles released the single ‘Hello, Goodbye’ in the UK.
1967 (27th November)
The Beatles released the single ‘Hello, Goodbye’ in the UK.
1967 (26th December)
The Beatles released the film ‘Magical Mystery Tour’. The film itself did not do well but the movie soundtrack did well.
1968 (February)
The Beatles founded Apple Corps, a corporation that included Apple Records and other companies.
1968 (February)
Ringo, Maureen and the other Beatles went to India for two months to study with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
1968 (15th March)
The Beatles released the single ‘Lady Madonna’ in the UK.
1968 (18th March)
The Beatles released the single ‘Lady Madonna’ in the US.
1968 (17th July)
The Beatles’ movie ‘Yellow Submarine’ premiered in London.
1968 (26th August)
The Beatles released the single ‘Hey Jude’ in the US.
1968 (30th August)
The Beatles released the single ‘Hey Jude’ in the UK.
1968 (22nd November)
The Beatles’ album ‘White Album’ also known as ‘The Beatles’ was released in the UK. It reached number 1 in the charts.
1968 (25th November)
The Beatles’ album ‘White Album’ also known as ‘The Beatles’ was released in the US.
1968 (17th December)
The film Candy starring Ringo Starr as a gardner was released.
1969 (13th January)
The Beatles’ album ‘Yellow Submarine’ was released in the US. It reached No 2 in the charts, second to ‘The White Album’.
1969 (17th January)
The Beatles’ album ‘Yellow Submarine’ was released in the UK.
1969 (30th January)
The Beatles performed an impromptu rooftop concert from the roof of Apple Corps Ltd in London. It was the last time they performed together.
1969 (11th April)
The Beatles released the single ‘Get Back’ in the UK.
1969 (5th May)
The Beatles released the single ‘Get Back’ in the US.
1969 (8th May)
Allen Klein was appointed manager of the band despite the objections of Paul McCartney who wanted his father and brother-in-law to have the job.
1969 (2nd July)
The Beatles began recording the album Abbey Road.
1969 (20th September)
John left The Beatles but the news was kept secret.
1969 (26th September)
The Beatles released the album ‘Abbey Road’ in the UK. It was the Beatles last studio album and reached No 1 in the charts.
1969 (1st October)
The Beatles released the album ‘Abbey Road’ in the US.
1969 (6th October)
The single ‘Something/Come Together’ was released.
1969 (12th December)
The comedy film ‘The Magic Christian’ starring Ringo Starr was released.
1970 (11th January)
Paul McCartney announced that he had left The Beatles.
1970 (6th March)
The Beatles released their final single ‘Let It Be’ in the UK.
1970 (11th March)
The Beatles released their final single ‘Let It Be’ in the US.
1970 (27th March)
Ringo released the album ‘Sentimental Journey’. It reached number 7 in the UK and number 22 in the US.
1970 (10th April)
Paul McCartney publicly announced that the Beatles had split.
1970 (8th May)
The Beatles album ‘Let It Be’ was released.
1970 (Summer)
Ringo played drums on George Harrison’s album ‘All Things Must Pass’ which reached number 1 in the UK and US.
1970 (25th September)
Ringo released the album ‘Beaucoups of Blues’. It was a flop.
1970 (November/December)
Ringo played drums on the album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band which reached number 8 in the Uk and number 6 in the US.
1970 (11th November)
A daughter, Lee, was born to Ringo and Maureen.
1970 (31st December)
Paul McCartney filed for a legal dissolution of the Beatles partnership.
1971 (1st August)
Ringo released the single ‘Back Off Boogaloo’ which reached number 2 in the UK and number 9 in the US.
1971 (10th November)
Ringo played Larry the Dwarf in the Frank Zappa film 200 Motels.
1971 (15th November)
Ringo played the part of Candy in the Spaghetti Western Blindman.
1972 (during)
Ringo directed the documentary ‘Born to Boogie’ about the group T Rex.
1972 (Autumn)
Ringo played drums on George Harrison’s album ‘Living in the Material World’ which reached number 2 in the UK and number 1 in the US.
1973 (2nd April)
The Red Album also titled 1962 – 1966 a compilation of hits from those years was released. It reached number 3 in the UK and number 1 in the US.
1973 (2nd April)
The Blue Album also titled 1967 – 1970 a compilation of hits from those years was released.
1973 (12th April)
Ringo played a Teddy Boy in the film ‘That’ll Be The Day’.
1973 (24th September)
Ringo released the single ‘Photograph’ which reached number 8 in the UK and number 1 in the US.
1973 (2nd November)
Ringo released the album ‘Ringo’ which reached number 7 in the UK and number 2 in the US.
1974 (during)
Ringo played drums on George Harrison’s album ‘Dark Horse’. The album did not do well.
1974 (February)
Ringo released the single ‘You’re Sixteen’ which reached number 4 in the UK and number 1 in the US.
1974 (19th April)
Ringo starred in and produced the musical comedy film ‘Son of Dracula’.
1974 (15th November)
Ringo released the album ‘Goodnight Vienna’ which reached number 30 in the UK and number 8 in the US.
1974 (29th December)
The Beatles partnership was officially dissolved.
1975 (during)
Ringo founded the record label Ring o’ Records.
1975 (17th July)
Ringo and Maureen were divorced.
1975 (10th October)
Ringo played the Pope in the Ken Russell film Lisztomania.
1976 (26th April)
Ringo starred as himself and his fictional half-brother in the television film ‘Ringo’.
1976 (17th September)
Ringo released the album ‘Ringo’s Rotogravure’ which did not reach the charts.
1977 (20th September)
Ringo released the album ‘Ringo the 4th’ which did not reach the charts.
1978 (21st April)
Ringo released the album ‘Bad Boy’ which did not reach the charts.
1980 (during)
Ringo began dating Barbara Bach who he met on the filmset of the film Caveman.
1980 (December)
Ringo and Barbara Bach went to New York to be with Yoko Ono following the assassination of John Lennon.
1981 (17th April)
The film Caveman, in which Ringo Starr played the lead character was released in the United States.
1981 (27th April)
Ringo married Barbara Bach at Marylebone Register Office, London.
1981 (20th November)
Ringo released the album ‘Stop and Smell the Roses’ it reached number 38 in the US but did not make the UK charts.
1983 (June)
Ringo released the album ‘Old Wave’ it failed to make the charts in any country.
1984 (during)
Ringo Starr became narrator for the children’s programme ‘Thomas and Friends’. He would remain in the role for two years.
1984 (23rd October)
Ringo played himself in Paul McCartney’s film ‘Give My Regards to Broad Street’.
1985 (during)
Ringo and his son, Zak, both took part in the Artists United Against Apartheid recording of the single ‘Sun City’.
1985 (20th November)
Ringo released the album ‘Stop and Smell the Roses’ it reached number 38 in the US but did not make the UK charts.
1987 (during)
Ringo performed at London’s Wembley Arena with George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Jeff Lynne and Elton John for the Prince’s Trust charity.
1988 (January)
Ringo attended a ceremony in New York to commemorate the Beatles’ induction to the Hall of Fame.
1988 (October)
Ringo and his wife, Barbara entered a detox clinic in Tucson Arizona for six weeks recovery from alcohol addiction.
1989 (23rd July)
Ringo and His All-Starr Band, Ringo and other former successful musicians, played a concert in Dallas, Texas.
1990 (8th October)
Ringo released the album ‘Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band’. It failed to reach the charts.
1992 (22nd May)
Ringo released the album ‘Time Takes Time’. It failed to reach the charts.
1994 (during)
Ringo began working with George Harrison and Paul McCartney to produce an Anthology of Beatles’ music.
1994 (30th December)
Ringo’s first wife, Maureen Cox, died of leukaemia.
1995 (4th December)
The Beatles single ‘Free As A Bird’ compiled from old Beatles music, was released. It reached numbr 2 in the UK and number 6 in the US.
1996 (4th March)
The Beatles Single ‘Real Love’ was released. It was a reworked John Lennon song that reached number 4 in the UK and number 11 in the US.
1997 (5th May)
Paul McCartney released the album ‘Flaming Pie’ on which Ringo had played drums.
1998 (16th June)
Ringo released the album ‘Vertical Man’. It reached number 61 in the US and number 85 in the UK.
1998 (13th May)
Ringo appeared on the US show VH1 Storytellers.
1999 (19th October)
Ringo released the album ‘I Wanna Be Santa Claus’ in the United States. It failed to reach the charts.
2002 (8th October)
Ringo joined the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.
2002 (29th November)
Ringo performed two tracks a the ‘Concert for George’ held in the Royal Albert Hall to mark the anniversary of the death of George Harrison.
2003 (25th March)
Ringo released the album ‘Ringo Rama’. It failed to reach the charts.
2003 (24th December)
Ringo was the voice-over for NORAD tracks Santa’s London stop.
2004 (during)
Ringo published the book ‘Postcards from the Boys’ featuring postcards sent to Ringo by other members of the Beatles.
2004 (24th December)
Ringo was again the voice-over for NORAD tracks Santa’s London stop.
2005 (25th July)
Ringo released the album ‘Choose Love’. It failed to reach the charts.
2008 (14th January)
Ringo released the album ‘Liverpool 8’. It failed to reach the charts.
2009 (April)
Ringo performed at the David Lynch Foundation’s ‘Change Begins Within’ concert. He performed solo and also with Paul McCartney.
2009 (November)
Ringo was the voice of Thomas the Tank Engine for ‘The Official BBC Children in Need Medley’.
2010 (12th January)
Ringo released the album ‘Y Not’. It reached number 58 in the United States.
2010 (22nd January)
Ringo was a celebrity telephone operator for the charity telethon ‘Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief’.
2010 (7th July)
Ringo performed at the Radio City Music Hall. He was joined on stage by Yoko Ono, Zak Starkey and Paul McCartney.
2011 (during)
Ringo Starr was voted the fifth greatest drummer of all time.
2012 (30th January)
Ringo released the album ‘Ringo 2012’. It reached number 80 in the US but failed to chart in the UK.
2013 (during)
Ringo published ‘Photograph’ An autobiography told with photos and captions.
2014 (during)
Ringo published the children’s book ‘Octupus’s Garden’.
2015 (31st Narcg)
Ringo released the album ‘Postcards from Paradise’. It failed to reach the charts.
2015 (15th September)
Ringo released the album ‘Give More Love’. It failed to reach the charts.
2018 (20th March)
Ringo Starr was knighted for services to music by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.
Published Aug 14, 2018 @ 12:35 pm – Updated – [last-modified]
Harvard Reference for this page:
Heather Y Wheeler. (2018 – 2020). Ringo Starr 1940 – Present Day. https://www.thetimelinegeek.com/ringo-starr-1940 Last accessed [date]