Ringo Starr, the iconic drummer of The Beatles, has embraced a new musical direction—country music. At his Annual Peace & Love Birthday Celebration in Beverly Hills Garden Park, Starr shared his inspiration behind this genre shift.
Starr credited Grammy-winning country artist T Bone Burnett for sparking his interest. He recounted to Fox News Digital, “I met him [when] Olivia Harrison was reading poems for George. There was about 100 of us there listening, and he was one of them. He said, ‘What are you doing?’ I said, ‘Oh, well, I’m doing EPs. I’m getting people to write a song, put some music on it.’”
Burnett’s influence proved pivotal. Starr explained, “He wrote one of the most beautiful country songs I ever heard. So, I thought, ‘I’m going to do a country EP.’” When Burnett revealed he had nine songs, Starr decided, “let’s make a real CD.”
Burnett praised Starr’s singing talent in a Variety interview, highlighting the underappreciated depth of Starr’s vocal abilities. “He’s such a beautiful singer… Ringo was in a band with two of the best singers in rock ‘n’ roll history, so people never took him as seriously as a singer as they should,” Burnett said.
Starr’s upcoming album marks his return to country music, a genre he dabbled in with his 1970 album “Beaucoups of Blues.” Burnett expressed excitement about the project, aiming to create a classic Ringo Starr country record.
Starr celebrated his 84th birthday on July 7 with his Annual Peace & Love Birthday Celebration, continuing a tradition he started 16 years ago. Reflecting on the celebration and the quest for peace, he said, “It takes time. I can only promote it; I have no strength to end it. But it’s getting better.”
Despite his age, Starr assured fans of his good health, sharing that he celebrated with croissants and coffee. His enduring friendship with fellow Beatle Paul McCartney remains a significant part of his life. “We are friends. We are pals. We are brothers,” Starr said.
In addition to his new album, Starr is touring with his All-Starr Band, with dates scheduled across the country into the fall. As he embarks on this new musical journey, fans eagerly anticipate what the legendary artist will bring to the country music scene.
—
Photo Credit: Featureflash / Shutterstock.com