Richard Starkey was on 7 July 1940 in the Dingle area of Liverpool to Richard and Elsie. He spent most of his childhood in hospital, eventually giving up on his education to take up drumming. Like the other Beatles, Richard became engrossed in the Liverpool Skiffle craze and started his own group with Eddie Miles, the Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group. It was at this time that he soon earned the nickname "Ringo" due to the number of rings he wore on his fingers. Ringo later went on to join Rory Storm and the hurricanes.

Ringo met the Beatles in Hamburg during 1960 and joined the band two years later after George Martin decided that Pete Best was not good enough. Ringo's debut performance was solemnly shaking a pair of maracas on the first single, 'Love Me Do'. Martin had drafted in session frummer, Andy White, however there is a version of the single with Ringo on drums.

Ringo married Maureen Cox in 1965 and the couple have three sons, Zak, Jason and Lee. He released several albums following the Beatles split and has also appeared in several movies, television shows and commercials.