Ringo Starr will celebrate his 80th birthday with a virtual charity broadcast.
The event, which will premiere on YouTube on July 7 at 8 p.m. ET, will include home performances and never-before-seen concert sequences from Starr, Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, Gary Clark Jr., Sheryl Crow, Sheila E, Ben Harper and more.
“As everyone knows, I love meeting fans for peace and love on my birthday,” Starr said in a statement. “But this year, I want everyone to be safe at home, so I called some friends and we organized this Great Birthday Show so I can celebrate my birthday with all of you with great music for some great charities. I hope everyone will join. me! Peace and love, Ringo. “
“Ringo’s Big Birthday Show” will benefit four charities: the Global Black Lives Matter Network, the David Lynch Foundation, Musicares and WaterAid. The broadcast will include the premiere of the guest-packed version of Starr’s “Give Me Love” featuring Jeff Bridges, Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, Peter Frampton, Willie Nelson, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Keb Mo, Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, T Bone Burnett and Ray Wylie Hubbard.
Along with the event, Starr’s YouTube channel will host several other tribute presentations, including new versions and recordings of past birthday celebrations. Those artists include Costello, Frampton, Gregg Rolie, Steve Lukather, Ben Folds, Colin Hay, Judy Collins, Richard Marx, Ben Dickey, and Bettye LaVette, among others.
“This year is going to be a little different,” said Starr. Rolling Stone. “There is not a big meeting, there is no brunch for 100. But we are organizing this show: an hour of music and chat. It is a pretty big birthday.”
Starr and his All Starr Band, like most other traveling artists, were recently forced to postpone a spring tour from 2020 until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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