Posted on July 7, 2013
Today is the Star Festival in Japan (see link below), but it is also the birthday of a man named Starr, who became a big-time star!You probable know Ringo Starr, who was born on this date in 1940, on a first-name basis—just Ringo.
But the name he was born with 73 years ago was Richard Starkey.
And I'm sure you know what band Ringo was a part of....But did you know that the Beatles had more #1 albums in the U.K., is the best-selling band in the U.S., and hold the record for the most #1 singles hits on the Hot 100 chart? Some people don't agree, but I think they are the “best,” most influential rock band of all time. Ringo's contributions to the music and to the Beatles' films helped make them great.
A bad start...
Little Ritchie, as Ringo was called as a child, did not have it at all easy. His dad left the family and didn't bother to stay in Ritchie's life. Ritchie almost died from peritonitis after a routine appendectomy, and was in coma for three days. Later, he got tuberculosis, and he had to be in a sanatorium for two years. He was considered behind at school and so was alienated from the school community, and he lived in a very poor neighborhood. |
| Ringo got his nickname because he commonly wore several rings. |
Still, even with that horrible beginning, Richard Starkey grew up to became one of the famous people in the world, the richest drummer in the world, a 300-times millionnaire, and a winner of Academy, Emmy, and Grammy awards, as well as many other awards. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire from Queen Elizabeth II, and he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and he was inducted with his fellow Beatles in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
By the way, I don't think a star has been named after Starr, but a minor planet has been!
I wonder if Starr's father ever regretted not keeping in touch?
Also on this date:
Plan ahead:
Check out my Pinterest pages on July holidays, historical anniversaries in July, and July birthdays.
And here are my Pinterest pages on August holidays, historical anniversaries in August, and August birthdays.