Brubeck years and even prior to that when he
because he was always angry at somebody.
was with Marian McPartland. So that really got
of. He said, “Oh that’s fantastic mate, I wish you
the best” and that’s when I said, “I want you to
my interest going in becoming a drummer. I But low and behold, Ringo was the nicest and have the first drum I make. He said, “Well, then
was never forced into it because it was what I easiest guy to work with, and he only ordered we have to take a picture like your Father and
was going to do. exactly what he needed for a tour. He was just I.” So, there is this very iconic picture, I don’t
incredibly easy. I don’t know if I’m getting ahead know if you’ve seen it, of my Dad giving Ringo a
When I think back to that night, I was sitting on of you now, but I stepped out of the music drum. That drum is gold plated, every nut, bolt,
the living room floor and Mom and Dad were business for about fourteen years, and during washer, even the snare stands were gold plated
at the dining room table. We had Ed Sullivan that time Ringo, his management, and his long- as a thank you for what he did. So when I came
on. We had heard something about this group term drum tech Jeff Chonis, were kind enough out with my drum line and made the first model
coming on, and then all of a sudden there is to keep in touch with me. When they would Ringo arranged for me to come backstage at a
our name in every camera shot. Every shot of come through Chicago I’d get invited to the gig in Milwaukee and we took a picture. So, the
Paul or George had the Ludwig logo behind show, and I’d get invited backstage. Nobody picture of me giving Ringo a drum is next to my
them, and when they got on Ringo that was is invited backstage after the Lennon thing. He Father giving Ringo a drum, which really, really
all you saw. And I said, “Wow, our name is up was just really nice to me, and I thought, I’m means a lot to me.
there, isn’t it?” And my Father had his head in not in the drum business anymore, and I’m not his hands, and he said, “This guy is going to be in the music business, but this guy still talks to Also, the next day after the Ed Sullivan Show,
so hard to handle now, and so big, ordering fifty me. So that definitely blew my mind. we had the phones ringing off the wall. We had
comp kits at a time, giving gear to his cousins
four or maybe five customer service people
and relatives who he just met. He’s going to When I started my new company five years working phones in those days, and they were
be harder to handle than Buddy Rich.” And I ago, he was playing in Chicago just before that, just as fast as they could answering phones.
had met Buddy Rich, who scared me to death and I had told him what I was kind of thinking Everyone was saying, “I want the Ringo kit!” in
with Ringo Starr
January 2020
Subscribe for Free...
117