McCartney Times

Beatles legend Ringo Starr will be knighted in the New Year’s Honors.

The drummer, 77, is recognized for services to music and charity.

Ringo, given an MBE in 1965, is said to be “made up.” A pal added: “It’s richly deserved, if a little overdue.”

He will return to Buckingham Palace for a knighthood — 52 years after getting his MBE.

Bandmate Sir Paul McCartney urged the Queen: “Look, love it’s about time.”

Macca was knighted in 1997 but Ringo, 77, had given up all hope before a letter arrived from the Palace a few weeks ago.

A close family friend said: “It came as a bolt from the blue.”

“Ringo was totally knocked sideways but is chuffed to bits.”

The star, real name Richard Starkey, got his first drum kit as a Christmas present aged 17.

Within five years he was part of the biggest band in the world.

His last visit to the Palace was in 1965 when all the Fab Four were awarded the MBE.

A source added: “He’ll feel ten feet tall when he goes back.”

“Sadly, two of the Beatles, John Lennon and George Harrison, are no longer here to be honored in a similar way.”

“But giving Ringo a knighthood will go some way towards recognizing the enormous contribution The Beatles made to popular music.”

“He is a beacon of Beatlemania.”

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Sir Paul, 75, had told of his frustration for his pal in an interview.

When it was suggested he could ask the Queen to knight Ringo, Macca replied: “The last time I went by she was out.”

“Otherwise, I would have popped in and said ‘Look, love, Sir Richard Starkey.’ Because I do think it’s about time.”

Ringo, who is said to be worth £300million, was born and raised in a two-up, two-down terraced house in Madryn Street, Liverpool, to a docker dad and bakery worker mum.

His parents divorced when he was three and his childhood was dogged by illness.

He missed so much schooling that by 15, he could barely read or write. But he had an aptitude for woodwork, mechanics and music.

He took early jobs as a delivery boy, a trainee joiner and a barman on the Mersey ferries.

His dream came true when his stepfather bought him a drum kit for Christmas 1957, and he promised to be “the best drummer ever.”

By the time the Beatles were formed, Ringo was already on the tour circuit with the successful band Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.

The Fab Four’s manager Brian Epstein poached him to replace Pete Best as drummer in 1962 and it completed the magic formula that catapulted the group to international fame.

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Pop historians believe Ringo’s comedy and acting talents were as important as his musicianship, providing the key ingredient of humor and stability that kept the group together.

While most of the songwriting was the genius of Lennon and McCartney, Ringo had more than his fair share of input.

He is credited with inventing the phrase “A Hard Day’s Night” which became a hit single, album and film.

It followed a long day in the studio when Ringo collapsed in a chair and panted: “I’m bloody knackered, man.”

“It’s been a hard day…” — then noticing how late it was, he added: “…night.”

Lennon then penned the song.

Ringo was given at least one song to sing on every album, his most popular numbers being “With a Little Help from My Friends” and “Yellow Submarine.”

After the band broke up in 1970, he released several successful singles including “It Don’t Come Easy,” “You’re Sixteen,” “Back off Boogaloo” and “Photograph.”

He also made a new career in TV and film and was loved by a generation of kids for narrating cartoon “Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.”

Ringo wed long-time sweetheart Maureen Cox in 1965, with whom he had three children Zak, Jason and Lee.

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Zak followed in his dad’s footsteps to become a drummer, playing with The Who and Oasis.

The couple split in 1975 and he married actress Barbara Bach, who played a Bond girl in 1977’s “The Spy Who Loved Me.”

Ringo sold his 200-acre estate in Cranleigh, Surrey, for a reputed £20million in 2014.

He now divides his time between Switzerland and California.

Ringo has said Britain should get on with Brexit, calling it a “Great move.”

He said recently: “The people voted and they have to get on with it.”

“Suddenly it’s like ‘Oh, well, we don’t like that vote.’ You had the vote, this won, let’s get on with it.”

Source: Ringo Starr to be knighted in New Year Honors | Page Six