How Ringo Starr got his stage name, according to Cynthia Lennon
Ringo Starr is an award-winning drummer best known as a "good-natured" member of The Beatles. He wrote original songs under the stage name, with John Lennon's ex-wife fleshing out his choice to use a stage name. Here is the meaning behind this artist's alias as mentioned in the 2005 memoir John.
As the last member of The Beatles, Ringo Starr served as the group's drummer, appearing on "Hey Jude," "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Twist and Shout," and other hits by the rock band.
Although most listeners will know him by his stage name, Ringo Starr's birth name is Richard Starkey. When he was knighted, he also used his real name and officially became Sir Richard Starkey.
In her 2005 memoir, Cynthia Lennon described her first impressions of the Beatles as meeting George Harrison when he was only 16 and not meeting Ringo Starr until after she married Lennon. in the JohnShe also shared her take on Ringo Starr's name change from Richard Starkey (and the meaning of his stage name).
"It was then that he changed his name from Richard Starkey to Ringo Starr," Lennon wrote, "'Ringo' after the gold rings he always wore and 'Starr' because Butlins shortened his name so that he could launch his solo commercial 'Starr.' 'Could call time.'"
Although the pair "got off on the wrong foot" when they first met, Cynthia Lennon later described the Beatles drummer as one of the "good-natured" men alive – noting that he was the perfect addition to the group.
He continued to perform with Lennon, Paul McCartney and Harrison until the group disbanded in 1970. Even after that, the songwriter continued to work with McCartney, appearing on stage alongside his former bandmate. In fact, it was this drummer who informed Cynthia Lennon of her ex-husband's murder in 1980.
Although Lennon and McCartney were the primary songwriting duo for the Beatles, Ringo Starr created originals specifically for this rock band. That rules out Octopus's Garden abbey road.
Even after the Beatles split up, Ringo Starr kept his stage name and released music under the same alias. He formed Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band and released his third original EP in 2022. He even released an album titled in 2019 What is my name. When asked if people know who he is, the former Beatles member said no.
"But the craziest things happen," the drummer said in an interview with AARP. "John died in 1980. In the '90s I'm walking down Walton Street in London and a guy says, 'Hey, John, what's up?' Often they only know that it is one of us. You just don't know who."
Now Ringo Starr (and The Beatles) music is available on most major streaming platforms.
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