When did Ringo start singing?

Ringo Starr has a baritone voice with a limited range but a distinctive tone. Though not usually identified as a vocalist, he has sung regularly throughout his professional career.

Starrtime

His professional  singing career began with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. They were the biggest band in Liverpool and similarly successful in Hamburg. Many decades later he wrote a song describing the experience. 

Ringo - the name alludes to his stage jewellry and cowboy persona -was a popular member of the Hurricanes.  Perhaps partly to entice him to stay in the group, the drummer was allocated a couple of numbers in each live set. 

Initially the vague idea behind the Starrtime slot was to feature Ringo's drumming virtuosity. But as he famously didn't do solos, the focus switched to his singing.

Repertoire

From the start, Ringo chose songs that didn't stretch the limitations of his range. He also liked to engage in repartee with the audience and encourage them to singalong. Interestingly, however, Boys - his most popular number with the Hurricanes and The Beatles - originated with a girl group.