After his brief "Fifth Beatle" stint, White went on to work with industry icons Rod Stewart, Chuck Berry, Herman's Hermits and more Watch video
CALDWELL -- Andy White, a Glasgow-born drummer who tapped the skins for The Beatles before Ringo Starr, died Monday, according to BBC News. The longtime Caldwell resident was 85.
In 1962, the career session percussionist was called in to record "Love Me Do" -- what would become the band's first U.S. No. 1 single -- after a less than successful try-out with Starr.
Andy White, in an undated photo. (Courtesy of Andy White) "It was Ringo's first time in a recording studio," said Mark Lewisohn, a British rock historian who spoke to The Star-Ledger in 2012 for a profile on White. "He was rather desperate to impress. He decided to play drums with maracas."
"I had vaguely heard of The Beatles," White said in 2012. "I liked the stuff they were doing."
And on Starr's first impressions with the band: "He was playing a bit behind the beat, which is not what a drummer should do," he laughed.
White took over the kit that day in '62, and worked with Paul McCartney and John Lennon on the rhythms while Starr played tambourine on the track. The same was the case for the Beatles tunes "P.S. I Love You" and "Please Please Me." The latter song would later be released with Starr's drumming, not White's.
His three hours of work earned White a measly 5 pounds and no royalties. See more on White's time with The Beatles in an NJ.com video posted below.
MORE: A full 2012 profile on Andy White with The Star-Ledger
After his brief "Fifth Beatle" stint, White went on to work with industry icons Rod Stewart, Chuck Berry, Herman's Hermits and more. He was featured on Tom Jone's 1965 hit "It's Not Unusual."
Later in life -- he moved to New Jersey in 1983 -- he took on the role of drumming instructor, and performed in Scottish pipe and drum bands. He helped teach the New York Metro Pipe Band, who spoke of White as "an all round gentleman" on its Facebook page. He also participated and instructed in the Friendly Sons of Shillelagh Essex Chapter pipe and drums band, based at Shillelagh Club in West Orange.
"He was very dedicated teacher, and quite a humble man," said Barney Rafferty, pipe major for the band. "For all of his accomplishments, if you asked him about his time with The Beatles, he'd just say he was a session drummer and it was something he got paid for."
In 2012, Jersey rockers The Smithereens brought White on to record a version of "P.S. I Love You," for the group's new cover album.
Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobbyOlivier. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
