The short answer is “no”, but a recent LA Weekly article (http://www.laweekly.com/music/ringo-starrs-drumming-style-was-perfect-for-the-beatles-8868739) suggests Mr. Starkey is finally being recognized as one of the premiere drummers of his era. Ringo was often the butt of many a joke, even John Lennon once quipped, “He’s not even the best drummer in the band!”. In retrospect, Starr is finally being given his due by music journalists and Rock aficionados as a talented and integral part of the most famous band in history.

The author of this article falters when he goes on to claim that McCartney and Lennon were two of the finest singers of their era. McCartney and Lennon WERE two of the greatest writers of ANY era but great singers they were not. McCartney could carry a tune and certainly had a pleasant, if unremarkable, voice.

I’m a huge Lennon fan- he was a great ROCK singer- which is more about ATTITUDE than technical ability, range or tone. LA Weekly Writer Scott Timberg may need to take a remedial course on music of the 60s. “Finest” singers of the era would be more Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, Roy Orbison. If Lennon were not in a talented band there’s no way he would have made it as a singer. He’d probably be the first to admit that. Lennon made the most of what he had, though- his inflection and throaty passion powering many now classic songs.

It seems that while Ringo didn’t get the recognition he deserved at the time, he is lucky enough to have survived long enough to bask in it now. The debate over “greatest Rock drummer” is sure to rage on indefinitely. For certain, Ringo WAS the perfect fit for a little band from Liverpool that changed the world.