Ringo Starr was always behind the other Beatles.
Bobbing his head as he sat at his drum kit, Starr kept the steady backbeat for Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison, a once-in-a-century group that conquered the music world. Starr got fourth-billing, the adored and yet overlooked sideman to his more celebrated bandmates.
John, Paul, George ... and Ringo.
Once he stepped from their shadows, Starr proved he could hold his own.
Forever a Beatle, Starr will enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist on Saturday, inducted along with an eclectic class of musicians.
Starr, who was previously enshrined with the Beatles in 1988, will be honored along with pop punks Green Day, soul singer-songwriter Bill Withers, underground-rock icon Lou Reed, bluesy guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and The "5" Royales.
When the Beatles split at the height of their fame, Starr decided to take a shot at being a frontman and surprisingly flourished with a string of radio hits, including "It Don't Come Easy," "Photograph" and "You're Sixteen," singles that earned him new-found respect and popularity.
He wasn't the artistic one, but Starr was the first of the "Fab Four" to have commercial success upon going solo.
Starr will be inducted by McCartney, who pushed for the drummer's enshrinement after learning Starr was the lone Beatle not to be honored for his individual music.
For the third time, the induction ceremony is being held at Cleveland's legendary Public Hall, where thousands of fans will undoubtedly scream "I Love Rock and Roll" along with Jett, who is expected to perform her Top 40 classic along with her hard-charging band.
IN-DEPTH
- Ringo Starr, Lou Reed, Green Day Get Places in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- Nirvana Reunites With Joan Jett on Vocals for Rock Hall of Fame
- KISS: Hall of Fame induction 'vindication' for fans (TODAY)
SOCIAL
— The Associated Press