Ringo Starr recorded a contribution for the BBC’s festive charity appeals, in this case to help raise money for the British Wireless For The Blind fund.
Every Christmas the BBC broadcast a number of charity appeals. Starr’s, however, was the least successful of the month, raising just £175.
The two-minute recording was made at the Apple Corps headquarters in Savile Row, London. It was later used in the Christmas Day edition of Radio 1 presenter Kenny Everett’s radio show; the programme lasted from 10am to midday, and Starr’s contribution was heard at 10.15am.
The clip was loosely scripted, and involved Starr telling listeners to send a donation and “not get stuck into your turkey and forget all about it”. He read the fund’s address out twice, with some faltering over the postcode.
Also on this day...
- 1969: Plastic Ono Band live at Lyceum Ballroom, London
- 1969: Mixing, editing: Get Back album
- 1969: John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s ‘War Is Over’ poster campaign is launched
- 1966: Recording, mixing: Strawberry Fields Forever
- 1964: US album release: Beatles ’65
- 1963: Television: Thank Your Lucky Stars
- 1962: Live: Majestic Ballroom, Birkenhead
- 1961: Live: Tower Ballroom, New Brighton, Wallasey
- 1961: Live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (lunchtime)
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.