Tag Archives: Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band

Music Monday: July 7, 2025

Posted in Music Monday by

Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Today we celebrate birthday #85 for Sir Richard Starkey, better known by his professional name, Ringo Starr. He was born on July 7, 1940 in the place he & his three bandmates put on the map-Liverpool, England.

He joined The Beatles in 1962 & proved to be the missing piece that elevated the group from a quartet to a super band. During their eight years together, they released a string of revolutionary albums that altered the course of music history & pop culture in a decade that moved faster than any other before or since. Starr was known as “The Funny One” to the public and the peacemaker in the band. Today he continues to spread the message of peace & love, especially every year on his birthday when he asks the public to pause at noon in their time zone to think exclusively about those two things.

Top: The Beatles circa 1965 (L-R): John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. Bottom: The band four years later in 1969 (L-R): Lennon, Harrison, McCartney and Starr. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

After The Beatles broke up in 1970, Starr continued making music and collaborating with other artists including all three of his old bandmates along with Billy Preston, Steve Cropper, Merry Clayton, Brian Wilson and many others.

In 1989 the former Beatle formed Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, a revolving group of musicians who previously included such esteemed members as Clarence Clemons, Nils Lofgren, Rick Danko, Levon Helm and Todd Rundgren, to name a few. The current band just announced several U.S. concert dates for this fall.

Starr also tried his hand at acting and while that might not have been the most successful chapter of his career (not counting his wonderful turn as The Conductor in the “Thomas & Friends” children’s series), that foray did lead to his second marriage to actress & model Barbara Bach in 1981. They met on the set of the movie released the same year, “Caveman”.

Prior to that he was married to Maureen (nee Cox) Starkey from 1965-1975. Together they had three children: sons Zak (b 1965) and Jason (b 1967) and daughter Lee Parkin Starkey (b 1970). Starr is also stepfather to Bach’s two children, Francesca Gregorini (b 1968) and Gianni Gregorini (b 1972).

Happy birthday, Ringo! Peace & love to you always. Thank you for everything.

Top: Starr in 1964. Second: The musician circa 1969. Third: In concert in Wantagh, NY in 2012 (photo by me). Bottom: A recent picture of Starr from his website. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown except where noted.)

The Beatles: “I Wanna Be Your Man” (1964 (U.S. release), written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: “With A Little Help From My Friends” (1967, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney).

The Beatles: “Don’t Pass Me By” (1968, written by Richard Starkey).

Ringo Starr: “It Don’t Come Easy” (1971, written by Richard Starkey).

Ringo Starr: “Photograph” (1973, written by George Harrison and Richard Starkey).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: June 26, 2023

Posted in Music, Music Monday by

Hi, everyone. Welcome to another edition of Music Monday.

Bruce quote 2023

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Happy 75th birthday to Todd Harry Rundgren who was born June 22, 1948 in Philadelphia, PA. The singer, songwriter, musician and record producer has been part of the music scene for over five decades as a solo performer and as a member of the bands, Nazz and Utopia.

His career has included a few Top 40 hits like “I Saw The Light” (#16 in 1972) and “Can We Still Be Friends” (#29 in 1978). He also produced albums for Hall & Oates, Meatloaf, The New York Dolls, Badfinger and Grand Funk Railroad, amongst others.

Today’s song is from Rundgren’s third solo album, Something/Anything?, which was released in 1972. The track peaked at #5 on the Billboard singles chart nearly 50 years ago in December 1973. The first time this tune came out was in 1968 when Rundgren recorded it with his first band, Nazz. It is a slightly slower version of his solo hit but quite enjoyable as well.

I spotlighted his solo version on Day 388 of my lockdown music countdown. And everything I wrote then (see below) still holds. This song is part of my wonder years. So thank you, Todd Rundgren. And happy birthday.

“A rite of passage for children is their affinity for bubble gum pop music. Every generation has it but if your calling is music like mine was, even during those frivolous years good songs will break through and stay with you for a lifetime. I have written extensively over the last year about the ones that broke through to me. Today’s song is part of that group & can transport back to some of the best days of my childhood in one note. I will love Todd Rundgren forever for this song & the memories I have connected to it.”

“Seeing you or seeing anything as much I do you
I take for granted that you’re always there
I take for granted that you just don’t care
Sometimes I can’t help seeing all the way through“.

SONY DSC

Todd Rundgren performs as a member of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band at Jones Beach in Wantagh, NY in June 2012.  Photo by me.

Todd Rundgren: “Hello It’s Me” (1972, written by Todd Rundgren).

Nazz: “Hello It’s Me” (1968, written by Todd Rundgren).

Stay safe & well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 68

Posted in Music by

Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

Peanuts music

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day.  And if this helps anyone else, even better.

The birth of MTV introduced us all to the very talented singer/songwriter/guitarist Billy Squier.  His 1981 album “Don’t Say No” produced four big songs:  “The Stroke”, “My Kinda Lover”, “Lonely Is The Night” and today’s hit which is my absolute favorite.  And who else remembers his sing along holiday video, “Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You“?  Sadly the same way MTV helped make his career it also broke it.  The video for his 1984 release “Rock Me Tonite” was viewed by many as a sell out to his rock roots, not to mention being criticized for what was perceived as a homosexual message (remember this was almost 40 years ago).  Over the years Squier has toured with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band while many hip-hop artists have sampled his music.  And most importantly, who can forget Chazz Michael Michaels’ “tsunami of swagger” to “The Stroke” in 2007’s masterpiece “Blades of Glory”?  🙂

Billy Squier

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Billy Squier:  “In The Dark” (1981, written by Billy Squier).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.