Last Updated : 31 Aug 2009

Ringo Starr was born Richard Starkey on the 7th of July 1940 at 9 Madryn Street in Liverpool 8, a district close to the centre of Liverpool. His mother Elsie Starkey was still lying in bed recovering from the birth when she heard the first sirens of the war before the first bombing in Liverpool.

Ringo first played a drum in a Liverpool childrens hospital kids band. As an apprentice fitter he later played in a skiffle group he help form called Eddie Clayton Skiffle. He eventually joined Rory Storm's group and at age 20, with one year of his apprenticeship to complete, he decided to go professional when the group were offered a contract at Butlins. Rory Storm was at that time Liverpool's leading group.

Rory's group also played at the Kaiserkeller in Hamburg where the Beatles played and Ringo also accompanied Tony Sheriden there. When Ringo was offered more money to play with the Beatles he took their offer.