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Paul McCartney

Musician and Beatle Paul McCartney
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Full Name: James Paul McCartney
Profession: Musician and Beatle

Nationality:
England
English

Biography: McCartney grew up in Liverpool, and was introduced to future song-writing partner John Lennon aged 15 by mutual friend Ivan Vaughan. McCartney joined Lennon's skiffle band, the Quarrymen.

After several personnel changes, the group became a quartet, with McCartney switching to bass guitar, sharing vocal duties. Renamed the Beatles in 1960, they had their first hit 'Love Me Do' in 1963. The group went on to dominate 1960s pop music worldwide. Lennon-McCartney was the agreed upon songwriting credit, although after some years they began writing songs without each other.
In addition to the bass, Paul also sometimes played guitar, piano, and drums on recordings.

McCartney was the first to publicly announce his split from the group in 1970, (although Lennon had already privately done so). He went on to form the band Wings in the 1970s, which include his wife Linda. The group toured extensively and had many hit records, Their most popular album was "Band On The Run".

A prolific songwriter, McCartney has released the most solo material of any of the Beatles. His range of work, although primarily pop-rock, (26 studio albums and 9 live sets to date) also includes avant-garde musique concrète, film soundtracks, and classical music (including orchestral works, oratorios, and a ballet score). He continues to actively record and tour.

McCartney has written or co-written 32 songs #1 songs, and sold over 25 million records. Including work with and without the Beatles, he has won 18 Grammy Awards and an Academy Award. He is a two-time inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (in 1988, with the Beatles, and in 1999 as a solo performer). He was granted a British knighthood in 1997 for services to music.

Outside of music, he has occasionally acted, painted, and written children's books. He is an activist for animal rights, human rights, vegetarianism, and ecologic concerns. He is the lead patron of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts,

Born: June 18, 1942
Birthplace: Liverpool, Merseyside, England, United Kingdom
Age: 82 years old

Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Horse
Star Sign: Gemini

Articles and Photos

Married Life

  • 1969-03-12 Beatle Paul McCartney (26) marries American photographer Linda Eastman (27) at Marylebone Register's Office in London
  • 2002-06-11 British musician Paul McCartney (59) weds former English model and anti-landmines campaigner Heather Mills (34) at Castle Leslie in County Monaghan, Ireland; divorce in 2008
  • 2008-03-17 Musician Paul McCartney (65) divorces former model and anti-landmines campaigner Heather Mills (40) on the grounds of unreasonable behavior after 5-1/2 years of marriage
  • 2011-10-09 Musician Paul McCartney (69) weds New Yorker Nancy Shevell (51) in a civil ceremony at Old Marylebone Town Hall, London

Historical Events

  • 1957-07-06 John Lennon (16) & Paul McCartney (15) meet for 1st time as Lennon's rock group Quarrymen perform at St. Peter's, Woolton's Parish Church in Liverpool, introduced by mutual friend Ivan Vaughn
  • 1960-12-01 British rocker Paul McCartney and drummer Pete Best arrested and then deported from Hamburg, Germany accused of attempted arson
  • 1961-01-05 The Beatles perform with Paul McCartney on bass guitar for the 1st time, at Litherland Town Hall, in Lancashire, England
  • 1963-07-15 Paul McCartney is fined £17 for speeding
  • 1963-08-25 Paul McCartney is fined 31 pounds & given a 1 yr suspended license for speeding
  • 1964-02-14 British pop music duo Peter & Gordon release single "A World Without Love" (written by Paul McCartney, credited to Lennon-McCartney)
  • 1964-05-18 David Frost interviews Paul McCartney on BBC-TV
  • 1964-07-02 Cilla Black records Lennon/McCartney song "It's For You", Paul McCartney plays piano
  • 1965-12-26 Paul McCartney is interviewed on pirate radio station Radio Caroline
  • 1967-05-15 Paul McCartney meets his future wife, American photographer Linda Eastman
  • 1967-06-04 American guitarist Jimi Hendrix covers new Beatles song "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" at Saville Theatre (London), just days after its release, with George Harrison and Paul McCartney in the audience
  • 1967-06-19 Paul McCartney admits on TV that he took LSD
  • 1967-08-18 The Rolling Stones release music single "We Love You", written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richard as a message of thanks to fans for their support after the duo's recent drug arrests; recording features backing vocals by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
  • 1967-12-25 Beatle Paul McCartney and British actress Jane Asher get engaged; engagement publicly broken six months later
  • 1968-05-15 Paul McCartney & John Lennon appear on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", to promote Apple Records, Joe Garagiola is substitute host
  • 1968-05-21 Paul McCartney and girlfriend Jane Asher attend an Andy Williams concert
  • 1968-07-20 Jane Asher breaks her engagement with Beatle bassist, singer, and songwriter Paul McCartney, live on BBC-TV's "Dee Time" programme
  • 1969-02-13 Launch party for Mary Hopkin's debut album "Post Card", at the Post Office Tower restaurant in London, England; attendees include producer Paul McCartney, songwriter Donovan, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Brian Jones, and Tony Visconti
  • 1969-02-21 Apple Records releases Mary Hopkin's debut album "Post Card", in the UK, produced by Paul McCartney
  • 1969-03-03 Apple Records releases Mary Hopkin's debut album "Post Card", in the US, produced by Paul McCartney: US version substitutes her earlier hit singles for two tracks included on the UK version
  • 1969-04-24 Paul McCartney says there is no truth to rumors he is dead
  • 1969-09-23 Northern Star and Illinois Univ newspaper start rumors that Paul McCartney is dead
  • 1969-10-22 Paul McCartney denies greatly exaggerated rumors of his death
  • 1969-12-05 Apple Records releases the single "Come and Get It" by the band Badfinger; track was written and produced by Paul McCartney for the dark comedy film "The Magic Christian" starring Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr
  • 1970-04-10 Paul McCartney officially announces the split of The Beatles
  • 1970-04-17 Paul McCartney releases his 1st solo album "McCartney"
  • 1970-12-31 Paul McCartney files a lawsuit to dissolve The Beatles in a dispute over Allen Klein's management of the group
  • 1971-02-19 Paul McCartney releases single "Another Day" in UK
  • 1971-05-28 Paul McCartney releases "Ram", his 2nd solo album
  • 1971-06-09 Paul McCartney's album "Ram" goes gold
  • 1971-08-03 Paul McCartney announces formation of his group Wings
  • 1972-02-25 Paul McCartney releases "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" single
  • 1972-05-12 Paul McCartney & Wings release single "Mary Had a Little Lamb"
  • 1972-07-09 1st tour by Paul McCartney & Wings in France
  • 1973-04-30 Paul McCartney releases "Red Rose Speedway" album, includes the hit single "My Love"
  • 1973-06-01 Paul McCartney & Wings release single "Live & Let Die"
  • 1973-08-09 Northern Irish guitarist Henry McCullough quits rock band Wings, founded by Paul McCartney
  • 1973-08-30 Drummer Danny Seiwell quits rock band Wings, which he co-founded with Paul McCartney
  • 1973-12-05 Apple Records releases Paul McCartney & Wings album "Band on the Run" in US; the commercial and critical pinnacle of his post-Beatle work tops the charts in 7 countries
  • 1973-12-07 Apple Records releases Paul McCartney & Wings album "Band on the Run" in UK; the commercial and critical pinnacle of his post-Beatle work tops the charts in 7 countries
  • 1974-04-08 Paul McCartney & Wings release single "Band on the Run" in the US
  • 1974-06-28 Paul McCartney & Wings release singles "Band on the Run" and "Zoo Gang" in UK
  • 1975-03-24 New Orleans R&B piano player Professor Longhair with the Meters perform at record release party for Paul McCartney and Wings' "Venus and Mars", aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California
  • 1975-05-27 Paul McCartney & Wings release their "Venus and Mars" album
  • 1975-09-09 Paul McCartney & Wings begin their "Wings Over The World" tour in Southampton, England; 65 concerts in Europe, Australia, Canada, and United States, runs through October of 1976
  • 1979-03-16 CBS-TV airs "Wings Over the World" with Paul McCartney
  • 1979-10-24 Guinness Book of Records presents Paul McCartney with a rhodium disc as all-time best selling singer-songwriter
  • 1979-11-16 Paul McCartney releases "Wonderful Christmas"
  • 1980-01-16 Paul McCartney is arrested at Tokyo International Airport for possession of marijuana; he is sent to jail for nine days before being deported
  • 1980-01-25 Paul McCartney is released from jail in Tokyo and deported
  • 1980-04-11 Paul McCartney releases single "Coming Up"
  • 1980-05-16 Paul McCartney releases "McCartney II" album
  • 1980-06-13 Paul McCartney releases "Waterfall"
  • 1980-09-15 Paul McCartney releases single "Temporary Secretary"
  • 1981-02-06 Beatles George Harrison & Paul McCartney record vocals to a Ringo Starr track written by George, and re-worked as a tribute to John Lennon - "All Those Years Ago"
  • 1981-02-27 Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder record the single "Ebony & Ivory"
  • 1981-04-27 Paul McCartney's rock band Wings breaks-up
  • 1982-03-26 Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder release the single "Ebony & Ivory" in the UK
  • 1982-06-21 Paul McCartney releases single "Take It Away"
  • 1982-09-06 Parlophone/EMI releases Paul McCartney single "Tug of War" from album of the same name
  • 1982-10-29 Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson release single "The Girl is Mine"; peaks at # 2 in US, and #8 in UK
  • 1983-10-03 Parlophone releases Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson's duet single "Say, Say, Say" (from Paul's "Pipes of Peace" album) in UK
  • 1983-10-31 Paul McCartney releases "Pipes of Peace" album
  • 1984-09-24 Paul McCartney releases single "No More Lonely Nights"
  • 1984-09-26 Berlin appeals court clears Paul McCartney in a paternity suit
  • 1984-10-22 Paul McCartney releases "Give My Regards to Broad Street" soundtrack
  • 1984-11-12 Paul McCartney releases single "We All Stand Together"
  • 1985-11-18 Paul McCartney releases film theme single "Spies Like Us"
  • 1986-07-14 Paul McCartney releases single "Press", from the album "Press To Play"
  • 1986-09-01 Paul McCartney releases "Press to Play" album
  • 1986-10-27 Paul McCartney releases single "Pretty Little Head"
  • 1986-12-01 Paul McCartney releases single "Only Love Remains"
  • 1987-11-02 George Harrison releases album "Cloud 9" & Paul McCartney releases greatest hits album "All the Best"
  • 1987-11-16 Paul McCartney releases single "Once Upon a Long Ago"
  • 1989-05-08 Paul McCartney releases remake of "Ferry Cross the Mersey" in aid of those affected by the Hillsborough disaster, which claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool football fans
  • 1989-06-05 Paul McCartney releases "Flowers in the Dirt", his eighth solo studio album, featuring the Elvis Costello collaboration "My Brave Face"
  • 1989-07-17 Paul McCartney releases single "This One", from his album "Flowers In The Dirt"
  • 1989-11-13 Paul McCartney releases single "Figure of 8" & "Ou Est Le Soleil"
  • 1997-03-11 Beatle Paul McCartney is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II
  • 1999-03-15 14th Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: Billy Joel; Curtis Mayfield; Paul McCartney; Del Shannon; Dusty Springfield; Bruce Springsteen; The Staple Singers; Charles Brown; Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys; and George Martin
  • 2002-06-03 "The Party at the Palace" concert commemorating Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee held at Buckingham Palace Garden in London; performers include: Queen, Annie Lennox, Tony Bennett, Tom Jones; The Corrs; Ozzy Osbourne, Brian Wilson, and Paul McCartney, among others
  • 2002-11-29 "The Concert for George", a benefit memorial to George Harrison held at the Royal Albert Hall, London, features Eric Clapton; Paul McCartney; Ringo Starr; Jeff Lynne; Tom Petty; Joe Brown; Anoushka Shankar; Billy Preston; and members of Monty Python
  • 2003-05-24 Paul McCartney performs in his first-ever concert in Russia, in Moscow's Red Square, to a crowd of over 100,000 people
  • 2004-06-25 Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: Oasis, Paul McCartney, and Muse headline; other performers include Wilco, The Black-Eyed Peas, James Brown, Damien Rice, Toots & The Maytals, and The Rutles
  • 2005-07-02 Live 8 concert at Hyde Park, London, England; performers include Paul McCartney, U2, Coldplay, Elton John, Sting, Madonna, The Who, Pink Floyd, and R.E.M.
  • 2007-06-05 Paul McCartney releases "Memory Almost Full", in US; his fourteenth solo studio album was the first release on Starbucks' Hear Music label
  • 2008-07-18 Billy Joel performs last of two concerts dubbed "The Last Play at Shea"; the final concert event before demolition of the 1964 baseball stadium in Flushing Meadows, Queens, NYC; featured guests include Roger Daltrey, Tony Bennett, Garth Brooks, and Paul McCartney
  • 2010-06-02 British singer-songwriter and musician Paul McCartney receives Library of Congress Gershwin Prize at the White House in Washington, D.C.
  • 2018-07-26 Sir Paul McCartney performs a "secret" gig at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, where the Beatles began
  • 2022-06-16 American rocker Bruce Springsteen joins British legend Paul McCartney for two songs (Glory Days; I Wanna Be Your Man) at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
  • 2022-06-24 Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, England opens: Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney, and Kendrick Lamar headline; other performers include Crowded House, Robert Plant and Alison Krause, Noel Gallagher, Dianna Ross, Herbie Hancock, Billy Bragg, Angélique Kidjo, Lorde, Ziggy Marley, Suzanne Vega, and Hothouse Flowers
  • 2022-09-03 American band "Foo Fighters" and friends hold tribute concert for drummer Taylor Hawkins at Wembley Stadium, London, England; performers include: Stewart Copland; Rush; The Pretenders; Paul McCartney; and Queen
  • 2023-10-20 Polydor releases "Hackney Diamonds", the 24th studio album by British rock band the Rolling Stones (26th album in US); record is their first of original music since 2005, and features appearances by Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, and Paul McCartney

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