PAUL McCARTNEY

[view more pictures of Paul]

"But it was music that I loved.  There have been times when I've been feeling down, and then I've heard a particular song and it has lifted me."
P A U L
(The Beatles Anthology)

        James Paul McCartney was born at Walton Hospital in Liverpool on June 18, 1942.  His mother, Mary, was a nurse, and his father, Jim, was a cotton salesman.  Jim also dabbled in jazz, as the namesake of the Jimmy Mac Band.  Paul's father encouraged him to learn piano and eventually bought him a trumpet for his birthday.  Paul, realizing that he couldn't sing and play trumpet at the same time, traded the instrument in for a Zenith acoustic guitar [see picture].  He had to play it upside-down, being left-handed.  At the age of fourteen, Paul's mother passed away, having suffered from cancer.  Paul soon wrote his first song, I Lost My Little Girl, at age 14 (1956). 
        Paul's childhood friend, Ivan Vaughan (who was also friends with John Lennon), invited him to go to the Woolton Village Fête on July 6, 1957 (when Paul was 15).  At this fête, Paul saw John Lennon's band, The Quarry Men, play; Ivan introduced the two, and Paul impressed John with his ability to both play and sing Twenty Flight Rock.  Through Ivan, John invited Paul to join his group.  Paul was nervous about guitar solos, and he recruited his young friend George Harrison (whom he knew from the bus) to audition for the band.  The Quarry Men's name went through several changes and eventually became The Beatles.
        In 1960, the Beatles debuted in Hamburg, with Pete Best on drums and Stuart Sutcliffe - John's art school friend - on bass (Stu later died in 1962).  Brian Epstein signed on as their manager, and Ringo Starr replaced Pete Best as the group's drummer after their audition with George Martin at Parlophone/EMI.  In 1962, the Beatles recorded their first sessions with George Martin.  In 1964, I Want to Hold Your Hand became a No. 1 hit in America, and the Beatles finally arrived in the US.  They were eventually rewarded MBEs in 1965.  The Beatles' last concert was held in 1966 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, CA.  In 1969, the Beatles made their last public performance on the roof of the Apple building for the filming of Let It Be. 
        The same year, Paul married Linda Eastman (a photographer), and their first daughter, Mary, was born the same year.  In 1970, Paul released his first solo album, entitled McCartney.  He formed the band Wings in 1971, with Denny Laine (formerly of The Moody Blues) on guitar and Linda contributing vocals, etc.  Paul and Linda's second daughter, Stella, was born in 1971.  In 1977, after several album releases and tours, Paul's song Mull of Kintyre became the best-selling single to date in the UK.  Also in 1977, Paul and Linda's first and only son, James, was born. 
        In 1980, Paul went solo from Wings, releasing McCartney II.  In December of the same year, John was shot and killed by Mark Chapman.  In 1982, Paul began work on the film Give My Regards to Broad Street, also featuring Linda, Ringo, and Barbara Bach.  In 1987, Paul released a compilation album (All the Best) that went platinum after only a few days.  In 1989, Paul formed a new band with Linda, Hamish Stuart, Robbie McIntosh, Paul 'Wix' Wickens, and Chris Whitten.  He also launched his first world tour in nearly 13 years. 
        Paul's first classical work, the Liverpool Oratorio, was first performed in the Liverpool Cathedral in 1991.  In 1992, Paul received the very first Swedish Polar Music Award (a Nobel-prize for music).  In 1994, Paul inducted John Lennon into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  He then met with George Harrison and Ringo Starr to record a new Beatles song, Free As A Bird, using John's demo tape provided by Yoko Ono.  In 1995, Paul, George, and Ringo recorded another Beatles song, Real Love, using yet another of John's demos. 
        In 1995, Paul's radio program, Oobu Joobu, was launched in the US, featuring Paul playing and commenting on some of his favorite music.  Also in 1995, The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) - founded by Paul, at his old grammar school - opened its doors to students.  The same year, The Beatles Anthology was screened.  Paul was knighted by HM The Queen on New Years Eve of 1996 for his services in music.  In 1997, Anthology won three Grammy awards.  The same year, Paul's new album, Flaming Pie, became his 81st gold disc. 
        In 1998, Paul's wife, Lady Linda, passed away.  The following year, Paul launched the first exhibition of his paintings.  In 2000, The Beatles Anthology book was released, as a virtual autobiography of The Beatles.  Paul and his new girlfriend, Heather Mills, began an anti-landmine campaign in 2001.  The same year, after the terrorist attacks in America, Paul wrote the song Freedom as a response, which he performed at The Concert For New York. 
        Also in 2001, George Harrison passed away after battling cancer.  In 2002, Paul and Heather were married in Ireland.  The same year, he joined Ringo, Dhani Harrison, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, Billy Preston, etc. for the Concert For George at London's Royal Albert Hall.  Paul and Heather's daughter, Beatrice, was born in 2003.  In 2005, Paul opened and closed Live 8.  Later that year, two of his songs were beamed live to the International Space Station.  In 2006, Paul visited LIPA in celebration of its 10th anniversary.  In 2007, Paul released his newest album, Memory Almost Full, with Hear Music, a Starbucks label. 

information sources: The Beatles Anthology by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr (Chronicle Books: 2000); The McCartney Years DVD booklet

.....................

.....................

View links to Paul McCartney Fansites