July 07
Richard Starkley's Birthday
 

Ringo Starr was born Richard Starkley on July 7, 1940.  As a child he suffered from numerous medical maladies that kept him out of school, but fortunately his stepfather encouraged his early interest in music.  Like the other members of The Beatles, Richard’s attention was caught by the “skiffle” craze in Liverpool, England in the late fifties.  He took the stage name “Ringo Starr” because he thought it sounded cowboyish, and in Hamburg, Germany, he met the rest of The Beatles – Lennon, McCartney and Harrison.  In 1962, he took over from Pete Best as their drummer.

Ringo is a humble man, and would be the first to say that he’s not much of a drummer.  While sometimes criticized as simplistic and technically unskilled, Ringo’s drumming brought a unique, definitive sound to the group.  Steve Smith, the drummer of rock band Journey, once stated that Ringo’s drumming was so iconic and essential to the Beatles sound that you could listen to just the drum track and immediately identify which of the Beatles’ extensive catalogue you were hearing.  Paul and John spoke highly of his reliability, and in studio recording sessions he was unfailingly consistent. 

Ringo’s contribution to The Beatles, other than drumming, often came in the form of what Paul and John called “Ringoisms,” strange turns of phrase that the songwriters included in their lyrics, including lines as famous as “a hard day’s night” and “tomorrow never knows.”  He is also the sole writing credit for “Don’t Let Me By” and “Octopus’ Garden.”  Some songs, like “Yellow Submarine,” were written specifically for his baritone voice. 

So, to properly celebrate the “odd Beatle out” on his birthday, we consider a particularly impressive fact of Ringo’s career – he was a left-handed drummer playing on a drum set designed expressly for right-handed play.  Ringo blames this unusual setup for his inability to play proper drum rolls and fills, but we celebrate the unique sound that it gave to the world’s most iconic rock band. Ringo might not be able to do a drum roll, but that doesn't mean he won't be able to enjoy eating one.

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Remove centers from each zucchini with an apple corer, then brush with a little of the olive oil.
3. Place in casserole dishes and bake 15 to 20 minutes or until medium-soft; do not overcook. Let cool.
4. Heat remaining olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add garlic onions; sauté 2 minutes. Add mushrooms, cover and cook 3 minutes.
5. Add herbs and cook for several minutes, then add shrimp and cook 1 minute. Let cool.
6. Finely chop vegetable-shrimp mixture en a food processor  Add breadcrumbs and eggs, and process until combined.
7. Spoon mixture into centers of each zucchini. Return stuffed zucchini to baking pan and pour tomato puree over zucchini.
   Bake 30 minutes.
8. Remove and slice into 3/4 to 1 inch thick slices. . Serve with rice, if desired.

Makes 16 to 24 servings.