'Best Drummer of All Time' Turns 86 Today

You know the work of the “best drummer of all time” before his name is actually said.

For more than six decades, Ringo Starr has remained one of the most prolific percussionists in rock and roll history. First with The Beatles and later, a long and steady solo career.

Starr’s talent once earned him a spot on a list of the greatest drummers of all time, as ranked by Rolling Stone’s readers. The recognition reflected the lasting impact of his steady, understated style behind the drum kit.

While Starr was never the flashiest drummer in rock and roll, he had an instinctive feel for what each song needed. That subtle approach helped shape some of the most recognizable songs in music history, including “Rain,” “A Day in the Life,” “Come Together, “Ticket to Ride,” and “Tomorrow Never Knows.”

Parade Daily🎬 SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 

Starr first joined The Beatles in August 1962, replacing the band’s original drummer Pete Best. He played his first gig with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison at Hulme Hall.

One month later, he was recording with the band at EMI Studios at Abbey Road. However, producer George Martin wasn’t satisfied with Starr’s timing, and so, he was given a tambourine to play while session player Andy White played the drum parts on “Love Me Do.”

That was one of the few recordings in The Beatles’ history on which Starr did not appear. He became known for his ability to lock into the groove of McCartney, Lennon, and Harrison and his own compositions, providing a steady backbeat that elevated the songs without overshadowing them.

In fact, it wasn’t until the latter part of The Beatles’ tenure that he played his first drum solo. It was on the group’s last song, “The End,” on their last recordings together as a four-piece group, 1969’s Abbey Road.

In the 2008 documentary Off the Record, Starr told Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart why his drum style was so unique. “I’m left-handed. And I’m playing a right-handed kit.”

“Drummers usually go ’round the drums this way (left to right). I can’t do that. Everyone thought ‘he’s a genius,’ but all I’m doing is trying to play backwards.”

According to his official website, Ringo Starr will celebrate his birthday by continuing to promote Peace and Love. This movement has “grown to include events all over the planet and into the stars with support from NASA. Ringo will celebrate again this year from Los Angeles – watch his Facebook page for a list of events around the world.”