Happy Birthday, Ringo

One of my favorite lines from one of my favorite films, A Hard Day's Night, 1964

Very sincere and heartfelt birthday wishes to Ringo, the beloved drummer from that band called The Beatles. Seventy Four years young today, Ringo may be the most beloved of all the Fab Four. His affable good humor { which led to at least a couple of immortal songs like, a hard days' night and tomorrow never knows, both Ringo-isms } , even temperament, off-key singing,  and steady drumbeat helped keep the group jelled throughout their time together. While John may have had issues with Paul or George, or George may have had issues with Paul or John, nobody, I mean nobody ever had issues with Ringo: it may be that his greatest strength was, paradoxically, his greatest weakness. At times, because of his ability to be everybody's friend, { good ol'  Ringo }, they took him for granted.

Good ol ' Ringo, everyone's best mate, circa 1967.

At least once, it seems, Ringo got fed up with it all. Whether it had to do with being overlooked, tried of the fighting that had recently started within the group, or he just went on holiday, is not known. What is a known is that in August 1968, while the band was working on what came to be known as The White Album, Ringo - the last to join The Beatles - was the first to walk out. Just left. For two weeks or so, leaving the band without a drummer. Therefore, Ringo has the distinction of being the first member to quit the world's most famous band. Consequently, the band's all-round utility player, Paul McCartney, played drums on Back in the USSR and Dear Prudence. Ringo eventually came back a couple of weeks later, after the band sent him flowers and love letters saying things like " you're the best rock drummer ever ", and " we love you, Ringo, come back ".  Goes to show how bad things had gotten for the Fabs when the most affable member is fed up and needed a holiday.

Ringo, about to knock the button off Paul's lapel, circa 1965.

Besides excelling as a drummer, Ringo also dabbled in acting. Besides the good reviews he received for A Hard Day's Night and Help!, Ringo also appeared in the all-star sex-romp Candy, and The Magic Christian opposite comic genius Peter Sellers, while still making music with the band. After the group split Ringo still made music and had a surprising run of hit records thru the 70's.  According to that beacon of facts, Wikipedia, at one time RIngo had seven straight top ten hits including : Photograph { co-written by George Harrison }, Oh My My, a cover of the 50's hit You're Sixteen { which made #1 }, and the No No Song. The 1970's were a busy time for Ringo, besides records he continued with his movie making : That'll Be The Day,  Ken Russell's Lisztomania and Mae West's last film, Sextette. Starr's biggest try for the big time as an actor was in 1981 with the comedy Caveman, which also starred Dennis Quaid, Shelley Long,  and Bond Girl Barbara Bach. Ringo and the lovely Ms. Bach would be married about a year after the film was made, and have been in happy cohabitation ever since. The failure of Caveman essentially ended Ringo's big screen ambition's, although he would appear in Paul McCartney's movie Give My Regards To Broad Street and the first two seasons on the TV kiddie show, Thomas The Tank Engine & Friends, as the best Mr. Conductor ever { just ask my son Tim }. Except for a rare cameo, Ringo's film appearances have been confined to documentaries in which he is usually the warmest,  most honest person in the film. His reminisces in The Beatles Anthology and, especially Living In The Material World, Martin Scorsese's film on the life of Harrison, are especially poignant.

 The above clip is what I like about Ringo. He's not afraid of just being himself, not shy of sharing his emotions when most would keep that side private, and then come up with the Barbara Walters line as a topper. Perfect. Just so folks don't think Ringo is resting on his laurels, he is currently on tour with the latest edition of Ringo Starr and His All-Star Band. In fact, Ringo and his chums will be at the Santa Barbara Bowl this Saturday July 12. So, Happy Birthday to the boy from The Dingle - Liverpool's rough slum where he grew up a sickly youth - the lad who happened to be in the right place at the right time. Happy Birthday Mr. Starkey, the luckiest man in show biz.

P.S. Just for the record, my favorite song Ringo sang is one he did back in 1967 with his best mates, a little ditty called With A Little Help From My Friends.