In 1957, he co-founded his first band, the Eddie Clayton Skiffle Group, which earned several prestigious local bookings before the fad succumbed to American rock and roll around early 1958. Soon afterwards, Starr became interested in the UK skiffle craze and developed a fervent admiration for the genre. He briefly held a position with British Rail before securing an apprenticeship as a machinist at a Liverpool school equipment manufacturer.
Starr was afflicted by life-threatening illnesses during childhood, with periods of prolonged hospitalisation. He also wrote and sang the Beatles songs ' Don't Pass Me By' and ' Octopus's Garden', and is credited as a co-writer of four others. Starr occasionally sang lead vocals with the group, usually for one song on each album, including ' Yellow Submarine' and ' With a Little Help from My Friends'. Sir Richard Starkey MBE (born 7 July 1940), known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as the drummer for the Beatles. From the BBC programme Front Row, 31 December 2008
