Sir James Paul McCartney (born June 18, 1942) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, billionaire record and film producer who gained worldwide fame as co-lead vocalist, co-songwriter, and bassist for the Beatles. His partnership with John Lennon remains the most successful in music history. After the Beatles, he pursued a solo career and formed the band Wings with his first wife, Linda McCartney.
Timeline of Career Highlights
1942: Born in Liverpool, England.
1957: Met John Lennon and joined his band, the Quarrymen, which evolved into The Beatles.
1960: The Beatles are formed.
1964: Beatlemania peaks; the Beatles appear on "The Ed Sullivan Show."
1967: Release of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."
1970: The Beatles disband; McCartney releases his first solo album, "McCartney."
1971: Forms Wings; releases "Ram."
1973: Wings release "Band on the Run," which becomes one of their most successful albums.
1977: Wings' biggest hit in Britain was “Mull of Kintyre” and is one of the bestselling singles of all time in the United Kingdom, where it became the 1977 Christmas number one and was the first single to sell over two million copies nationwide
1980: John Lennon is murdered; McCartney is deeply affected.
1997: Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to music.
2000s: Continues to release solo albums and tours globally.
2018: Releases "Egypt Station," which debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart.
2022: headlines Glastonbury - video below
Albums and Discography
The Beatles
click here for full Beatles discography
Solo Albums
- McCartney (1970)
- Ram (1971)
- Band on the Run (1973)
- Venus and Mars (1975)
- Tug of War (1982)
- Flowers in the Dirt (1989)
- Flaming Pie (1997)
- Memory Almost Full (2007)
- New (2013)
- Egypt Station (2018)
Grammy Awards
1967: Album of the Year for "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (with The Beatles).
1974: Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus for "Band on the Run."
2013: Grammy Award for Best Historical Album for "Band on the Run" (Archive Collection).
2014: Lifetime Achievement Award (The Beatles).
Famous Songs or Compositions
With The Beatles;
"Yesterday"
"Hey Jude"
"Let It Be"
"Eleanor Rigby"
"Blackbird"
Solo Career
"Maybe I'm Amazed"
"Live and Let Die"
"Band on the Run"
"Jet"
"My Love"
Collaborations and Cover Versions
Collaborated with: Stevie Wonder ("Ebony and Ivory"), Michael Jackson ("The Girl Is Mine," "Say Say Say"), Kanye West ("Only One," "FourFiveSeconds"). Dave Grohl
Covered by: Artists such as Joe Cocker, and Guns N' Roses.
"Yesterday" Covers: Performed by numerous artists, including Ray Charles, and Marvin Gaye.
Quotes
And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.
If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian.
Gossip and Trivia
Lennon-McCartney Rivalry: Despite their close partnership, there were tensions and rivalries, especially towards the end of the Beatles.
Heather Mills: McCartney's second marriage to Heather Mills ended in a highly publicized divorce.
Vegetarianism: An outspoken advocate for animal rights and vegetarianism, largely influenced by his late wife, Linda.
Paul is Dead Hoax: A conspiracy theory that McCartney died in 1966 and was replaced by a lookalike.
Legacy
Paul McCartney's contributions to music as a member of the Beatles, as a solo artist, and with Wings, along with his ongoing influence and activism, solidify his status as one of the most significant figures in music history. His melodies, lyrical content, and innovative approaches continue to inspire and entertain audiences around the world.
Paul McCartney ratings
Paul McCartney Albums
See also Paul McCartney Discography