Ringo Starr is a legend, an icon, and a really cool guy. At 85, his days as a drummer for the Beatles are long past. However, Starr is not resting on his musical laurels. He is branching out. His longtime affinity for country music goes back decades. Per People, Starr craved country as a young man in England. He even thought of emigrating to the Lone Star State! Of course, then the Beatles would not have had him as their emblematic drummer. Call it fate, destiny, serendipity, or whatever, but the iconic musician stayed put right in Liverpool.
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Nevertheless, Starr's love of country music did not wane. For him, per the outlet, it is "foundational." In fact, after John, Paul, George, and he parted ways, Starr released a country LP, Beaucoups of Blues, in 1970. It would not be the last time he dipped his toes in country music waters.
Starr Crossed Paths Four Years Ago With a Famous Producer
It must have been meant to be that Ringo Starr would meet producer T-Bone Burnett in 2022. Three years later, Starr dropped his album Look Up. Burnett produced and wrote for the ex Beatle's country endeavor. Now the pair has a sequel, Long Long Road. He recorded it in a whirlwind two days.
It's a group effort (a group romp?) from artists who pitched in with Starr such as Sheryl Crow, Billy Strings, St. Vincent, and Molly Tuttle. Per the outlet, "...[T]he result balances modern sounds with old-fashioned lyrical storytelling, creating the perfect vehicle for Starr's amiable persona."
He Gives Some Upbeat Advice
Starr's philosophy is simple if you are stagnating or mired in unhappiness. He shared with the outlet, "Move forward and move on - or down the road. That's why this [album] is Long Long Road. I was reflecting on myself. This has been a long, long road with a few bad moments but lots of great moments. I'm blessed."
Sine the Beatles hit America's shores in 1964, Ringo Starr has graced us with his artistry, his wit, his versatility, and his dedication to music of various genres. It's hard to believe that Starr is no longer the mop-top lad we fell in love with all those years ago. But we love him still. It looks like he has found a comfy, welcoming home in country and that's great.
