Drawing inspiration from the burgeoning rock and roll movement that Buddy was a major part of, Ringo began his career at 17 as a drummer in a skiffle band, and then in Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. However, it was not long until he was asked to join The Beatles, a local Liverpool band that had found a degree of success in the area and in Germany. During his time in The Beatles, he wrote ‘Octopus’s Garden’ and ‘Don’t Pass Me By’ and sang lead on some of the band’s best-loved songs such as ‘With a Little Help from My Friends’ and ‘Yellow Submarine’.

Following the band’s split, Ringo became the first solo Beatle to score seven consecutive US Top Ten singles, starting with ‘It Don’t Come Easy’ and including the number one hits ‘Photograph’ and ‘You’re Sixteen’. In 2011, he participated in the tribute album Listen to Me: Buddy Holly, which celebrated what would have been Buddy’s 75th birthday. Ringo contributed a cover of ‘Think It Over’, showcasing his enduring admiration for Buddy Holly’s songwriting and performance style.

Ringo was bequeathed his guitar by the family of his good friend, the late Keith Allison.