Front Page > Ringo Starr NewsBrazilian Beatles fan wins Ringo photo contest
BEATLES NEWS EXCLUSIVE
by Dave Haber, Beatles News Editor
29 year old Ricardo Martinelli de Medeiros lives in Vitoria, the capital city of Espirito Santo, Brazil. On July 3, 2008, he flew all the way to Hollywood, Florida, an 11 hour journey, to see Ringo Starr perform live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel.
Ricardo at Ringo concert in Florida
He told Beatles News, "When I was about 7 years old and started to listen the Beatles' A Hard Days Night album. As I can remember, I listened to this album from about 6 months consecutively! My parents went crazy with my Beatlemania!"
Now, Ricardo, who's name is Richard is English, the same as Ringo, owns a drum set just like Ringo's Beatles kit, and play the drums in a tribute band called "Vix Beatles Cover Band".
The concert in Florida was the first time he had ever seen Ringo perform live. Ricardo said, "It was one of the most exciting moments of my life! All the money that I spent on the trip, it was a large investment. But it was worth every penny!"
The winning photo (click to see bigger image)
When Ringo posted an announcement about the concert photo contest on his official website last year, Ricardo says, "I thought, Let's try, why not?"
And then on Saturday, Ringo announced the winner of the autographed drum head in a video on his site, and it was Ricardo!
"What a great surprise! I won the big prize! I was completely crazy. I wept and shouted a lot. It was the happiest day of my life!"
Ricardo says the drum head will be proudly displayed in his home.
Published January 21, 2009
This article is Copyright © 2009, David Haber, and may not be reproduced on other web sites or in print, in whole or in part, without expressed permission
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