Beatles drummer Ringo Starr is part of a massive, all-star group of the world’s greatest skin pounders who’ve gathered for a cover of his band’s “Come Together” for a good cause. The effort, part of WhyHunger’s “Drum Together” campaign, brought together 100 of the world’s elite drummers to raise funds to build a “just, hunger-free” world.
Among the artists joining Starr are 11 year-old drum prodigy Nandi Bushell, as well as the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith, Pearl Jam’s Matt Cameron, session legends Jim Keltner (who helped organize the campaign) and Steve Gadd (Steely Dan), as well as Santana’s Cindy Blackman Santana, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s Max Weinberg, the Police’s Stewart Copeland, Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp), Liberty DeVitto (Billy Joel), Bernard Purdie, Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge), Will Calhoun (Living Colour), Leland Sklar (James Taylor) and Dorothea Taylor, among many more.
The funds raised by the recording will support WhyHunger’s mission to end global hunger by “tackling its root causes and investing in grassroots solutions to advance the human right to nutritious food for all,” according to a statement.
“We all can agree that no kid should be hungry, and everyone should have access to nutritious food. This is a great cause that I’ve supported in the past and a great track – one of my favorite Beatles songs. So when Jim Keltner asked me to join all these other drummers I was happy to. Peace and love,” said Ringo in the statement.
The project was conceptualized and produced by Tony Award-winner Brian Resnick (Hadestown) and legendary drummer/educator Dom Famularo, with the latter saying, “When it comes to impactful compositions, ‘Come Together’ is at the top of the list. It was the perfect song to galvanize this community for such a critical cause.”
The jazzy, 10-minute video for the effort opens with Starr playing the song’s iconic intro, then quickly being joined by a galaxy of players drumming along on a wide variety of percussion instruments and impressive kits, joined by horns, guitars and vocalists, with plenty of time for a number of them to get in ripping drum solos. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to help unite the world through music and to help lift up such an important cause alongside my beloved drumming community,” said Keltner in the statement. “Hunger affects far too many across the globe, and I urge everyone to join forces with us to support WhyHunger’s work to end hunger.”
The organization notes that the global COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic impact on hunger and poverty rates across the globe, “exposing just how many millions of people are struggling to make ends meet.” WhyHunger says 90 cents of every dollar raised will go directly to programming, with the funds from the campaign fueling “transformative, community-led solutions across the U.S. and around the globe that advance the human right to nutritious food for all.”
Watch the video below.