Ex-Beatles drummer Ringo Starr was honored with the Lifetime of Peace and Love Award from the David Lynch Foundation, celebrating Ringo’s achievements on and off the stage.
A man of music and meditation
Explaining the decision, David Lynch said, “Ringo Starr has been promoting peace and love for over 40 years – he is known for peace and love. If you are going to give an award for peace and love, the starr of the list is Ringo.”
According to TM.org, Ringo is a longtime proponent of the Transcendental Meditation technique having studied with the founder of the TM program, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in the late 1960s.
In his book Postcards from the Boys, he writes that he still meditates with the mantra Maharishi gave him, and that his time studying Transcendental Meditation with Maharishi was “one of the best experiences of my life.”
Tribute concert for the benefit of DLF
The Lifetime of Peace and Love Award was presented to Ringo Starr at a gala held at the magnificent El Rey Theater in Los Angeles.
The ex-Beatles drummer himself performed at the event, sharing the stage with other stars like the Eagles guitarist (and Starr’s brother-in-law) Joe Walsh, Toto and current All-Star Band member Steve Lukather, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench, renowned touring drummer Kenny Aronoff, soul singer Bettye LaVette, indie rockers Brendan Benson and Ben Folds, Peter Frampton and many others.
Each guest performed one song from Starr’s years with The Beatles and his solo work before the spotlight went to the evening’s honoree.
The funds raised by the event will provide the David Lynch Foundation scholarships to teach Transcendental Meditation to people in need such as at-risk youth, war veterans, first-aid responders, and homeless and incarcerated individuals.
WATCH VIDEO: Ringo Starr speaks about his relationship with meditation