In celebration of his 80th birthday on July 7th, Ringo Starr has announced the "Ringo’s Big Birthday Show" a broadcast to benefit four charities — the Black Lives Matter Global Network; the David Lynch Foundation; MusiCares; and WaterAid. The program will air on Ringo’s YouTube channel at 2 pm ET on Tuesday, July 7th. The show will include unique home performances as well as never before seen concert footage from Ringo and his All Starr Band, Paul McCartney and Joe Walsh — as well as Gary Clark Jr., Sheryl Crow, Sheila E. and Ben Harper, with more artists still to be announced.
The broadcast will also feature the premiere of a guest star version of Ringo's "Give More Love" that was created to benefit MusiCares and features Jeff Bridges, Jackson Browne, T Bone Burnette, Elvis Costello, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Peter Frampton, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Keb Mo, and Willie Nelson.
Additionally there will be a playlist of unique tribute performances on Ringo's YouTube channel. This will include musicians who have previously recorded Ringo's songs, performances from past birthday celebrations as well as some new versions which artists will be posting on their socials. Fans should be on the look-out for musical tributes from Elvis Costello, Peter Frampton, Gregg Rolie, Ben Folds, Ben Dickey, Bettye LaVette, Colin Hay, Judy Collins, Richard Marx, Steve Earle, Steve Lukather, and many more.
Ringo said in a statement announcing the festivities:
As everyone knows I love gathering with fans for peace and love on my birthday. But this year, I want everyone to be safe at home — so I called up a few friends and we put this Big Birthday Show together so we could still celebrate my birthday with you all, with some great music for some great charities. I hope you will all join me! Peace and Love, Ringo.
We caught up with Ringo who explained that due to COVID-19, he had to completely re-think how he would be celebrating the milestone birthday: ["Because of the pandemic, of course, we had to think of something new to do. So, what I did, I called a few friends to either do something new or give me some footage from one of their shows. So, that's how it's workin' out now — we've got most of the artists. And I'll be doin' something with the All Starr Band of last year — we're doin' '(With) A Little Help (From My Friends),' so, it's really a cool end to the show, and that's what we're doin.' So, it's gonna be out on my birthday. And we hope you all watch it. It's a birthday — (sings) 'You say it's your birthday.'"] SOUNDCUE (:35 OC: . . . it's your birthday)