St. Augustine visitors, residents surprised to spot former Beatle Ringo Starr downtown

St. Augustine visitors, residents surprised to spot former Beatle Ringo Starr downtown

By LORY POUNDER and Kati Bexley
Staff Writers
Publication Date: 08/06/04

Ringo Starr almost escaped attention Thursday in downtown St. Augustine.

The world-famous drummer for The Beatles toured the Lightner Museum without fanfare, played the piano in the ballroom of the Casa Monica Hotel without drawing a crowd and politely said, "No comment, no comment" to St. Augustine Record reporters and photographers, who eventually caught up with him.

Marge Kirk, a volunteer at the Lightner Museum gift shop, said she talked to Starr without knowing who he was.

"You never expect to see someone like that," she said. "It never dawned on me it was him until someone told me it was Ringo. He had the accent and the beard. He was very friendly and so were the men he was with."

It might not have been Starr's first visit to St. Augustine. Forty years ago, The Beatles played in Jacksonville on Sept. 11 during the group's first United States tour.

On Thursday, Starr played the opening to "Lean on Me" in the Casa Monica's ballroom.

A gold star cross earring hung from his left ear. He wore a black T-shirt, with a Volkswagen Beetle on the front. When approached by a reporter, he was polite and calm.

Earlier, another reporter had been star struck and unable to speak.

At one point, Joni Barkley, director of sales and marketing at the Casa Monica, was sitting in the lobby discussing the upcoming America's Oldest City Stands United in Freedom charity event with a Record reporter.

Minutes after mentioning the possibility for VIP guests at the Sept. 10 event, Starr emerged from the hall. Barkley's eyes scanned the lobby as Starr walked by. Her face glowed when he flashed her a peace sign and walked out the door.

"We always have stars stay here," Barkley said. "You'd be surprised."

Previous guests have included John Travolta and Spain's royal couple, among others.

After being recognized outside, Starr remained in the hotel lobby to wait for a car to be pulled around the back. Employees tried to remain calm, but smiles and darting eyes were everywhere.

Charlene Peterson of Peterson's Bakery on King Street said her landlord met Starr around 1:30 p.m. while he was at the Lightner Museum. She said her landlord did not want to be identified.

"He told me he saw him and I kept saying, 'It was the Beatle, the Ringo Starr?' " Peterson said, laughing with excitement. "He said he shook his hand and I said little bits of Ringo Starr are on your hand. That's a really big thing."


Click here to return to story:
http://www.staugustine.com/stories/080604/new_2493536.shtml

© The St. Augustine Record