Paul McCartney
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Famously known as the member of the biggest musical act in rock and roll history, The Beatles (AKA The Fab Four). Out of the four, he, by far, had the most succesful solo career. Proven by string of hits around the globe, with nine number 1 singles and 7 number 1 albums in the US alone and he also holds the record for the most singles sold (100 million) and number of gold discs (60 of it) in the Guiness Book of World Records.
Aside from being a very succesful solo artist, he is also an active supporter of animal rights, music education and vegetarianism. He is a Member of the Order of the British Empire appointed on 1965 and was knighted in 1997.
Contents |
About
Sir James Paul McCartney was born on June 18, 1942 to parents Jim and Mary McCartney in Liverpool, England. The McCartneys had a hard life where money has always been a problem. His father earns £6.00 where his mother, as a domiciliary midwife earns less than that. Despite their status, Paul McCartney managed to study at the Stockton Wood Road Primary School, Joseph Williams Junior School where he pased an exam in 1953 that gained him a spot in the Liverpool Institute where he graduated majoring in Art.
His mother is very hardworking since she's always on call, no matter what the weather is, she makes sure that she'll get there. Paul McCartney recalled his mother went to houses using a bike even when it was snowing heavily. In October 31, 1956, his mother died of embolism after an operation to stop the spreading of her breast cancer.
His father was a pianist and a trumpet player. He became Paul Mccartney's influence to be musical. He took some music lessons, advised by his father but when he realized he prefers to learn by ear, he never paid attention to the music class.
At the age of 15, Paul McCartney met John Lennon while he was playing at the Woolton Parish Church fête on July 6, 1957. He also became acquainted with George Harrison from Liverpool Insitute whom he met on a bus ride to the Institute. Then later on, they formed a group with Stuart Sutcliffe as The Quarrymen. They've undergone constant name change before settling on The Beatles on August 17, 1960. He played a vital role in the band, along with John Lennon, as lyricist and composer. The group released series of number one hits and toured extensively, performing in large crowds. He gradually took charge of the band's production after the death of their manager, Brian Epstein, due to drug overdose on August 27, 1967.
As their fame grows bigger, the growing problem within the group also grows. Paul McCartney decided to go on solo and announced the break-up on April 10, 1970. The "announcement" was included in the press-release of his pre-released solo debut album. Critics gave him a hard time by putting all the blame on him for the Beatles' break up. It was a bit unfair for his part, though, since he has contributed more than his fellow bandmates most especially on their final album, Abbey Road. The album was completed largely due to his efforts. Despite the criticisms, Paul McCartney still managed to continue producing hit singles.
He released his eponymous debut album weeks before the release of The Beatles Let It Be. The following year, he returned with Another Day. becoming his first hit single as a solo artist. Followed by Ram several months later featuring his wife, Linda McCartney's contribution.
By late 1971, he formed the band Wings with Denny Laine and Denny Seiwell (both former Moody Blues members) and they released their first studio album, Wild Life in December 1971. The album was a commercial failure. Soon after, they followed it with 1973's Red Rose Speedway. Though greeted with poor reviews, it became Paul McCartney's second number 1 hit un the U.S. They began their first british tour the same your and in between their tour, McCartney's theme for the James Bond Movie Live and Let Die entered the top 10 in the US and UK charts. After touring, Denny Seiwell and Henry McCollough left the band. The remaining members continued to record a new album in Nigeria.
In late 1973, Band on the Run was released, receiving good reviews and became their most succesful album, spending 4 weeks in the US charts, eventually went triple platinum and earned them two Grammy awards. Following its success, Wings reformed with a new guitarist and dummer, Jimmy McCulloch and Geoff Britton, respectively. The band embarked on their first international Wings Over the World tour which broke many audience attendance. Captured in the Wings Over America live-album in 1976 which earned a triple platinum certification. Prior to the tour, they also released another hit album in 1975, Venus and Mars followed by At the Speed of Sound in 1976 where the latter features the songwriting skills of other members of the band for the first time.
In 1977, Wings released their biggest selling Mull of Kintyre, which sold over two million units. Followed by another platinum hit, London Town in 1978. After releasing London Town, Jimmy McColloch left Wings and joined the reformed, Small Faces. The remaining band members continued to record and later on released [[Back to the Egg] in 1979. Thought the record didn't produce any hit singles, it still went platinum.
Wings continued on their British tour in 1980. That same year, McCartney recorded McCartney II, a one-man band album. After two years, he returned with Tug of war. It became his best reviewed album since Band on the Run. It spawned his biggest American hit, Ebony and Ivory with the legendary singer, Stevie Wonder. Wings disbanded in 1981 when Denny Laine left because Paul McCartney refused to tour in respect of John Lennon's wake.
In 1983, he sang with Michael Jackson in The Girl is Mine from Jackson's highly succesful album, Thriller. In return, Michael Jackson sang with McCartney on his first single, Say, Say, Say on his 1983, Pipes of Peace. This became his last number one single in his career.
In 1984, Paul McCartney directed Give My Regards to Broad Street, which was his first featured film. It was a commercial failure but the soundtrack, particularly the single, No More Lonely Nights was a hit.
In 1986, Press To PLay received strong reviews but the album was a failure. The same year, the theme for the movie, Spies Like Us (Chevy Chase abd Dan Aykroyd), which was his last top ten hit. Three years later, Flowers In The Dirt was released. Co-written with Elvis Costello, it received strong reviews, stronger than any of his releases since Tug of War Mccartney embarked on an extensive tour in support of this album. It resulted to his 2x PLatinum Tripping the Live Fantastic in 1990.
Another live album was released early 1991. Unplugged (The Official Bootleg) is a compilation of his acoustic performance on MTV with the same title and was also the first unplugged album released. Aside from the unplugged album, he also released his first classical album, Liverpool Oratorio in 1992. Paul Mccartney set out to complete his New World tour in 1993. Though the tour was successful, Off The Ground (released February 1993) failed to produce any big hits.
Another live album was released in December 1993, Paul is Live. In 1995-1996, he became primarily active with the video documentary, Beatles Anthology. After completing the documentary, he released the largely acoustic effort, Flaming Pie which debuted at number 2 in the UK and US charts. It was the highest American chart of his career after leaving The Beatles. Run Devil Run was released in 1999, followed by Liverpool Sound Collage in 2000, Driving Rain in 2001 and Chaos and Creation in the Backyard in 2005.
Awards & Certifications
Awards Won
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | BFCA Award | Best Song (from movie "Vanilla Sky" (2001) for "Vanilla Sky" |
| 2000 | BMI TV Music Award for Providence (1999) shared with Bennett Salvay; John Lennon; W.G. Snuffy Walden | |
| 1999 | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Performer Inductees | |
| 1999 | BMI TV Music Award for Providence (1999) shared with John Lennon; Bennett Salvay; W.G. Snuffy Walden | |
| 1996 | BMI TV Music Award for Grace Under Fire (1993) shared with John Lennon; Dennis C. Brown | |
| 1995 | BMI TV Music Award for Grace Under Fire (1993) shared with John Lennon; Dennis C. Brown | |
| 1994 | BMI TV Music Award for Grace Under Fire (1993) shared with Dennis C. Brown; John Lennon | |
| 1992 | Royal Swedish Academy of Music Award | Polar Music Prize |
| 1990 | BMI TV Music Award for The Wonder Years (1988) shared with John Lennon; W.G. Snuffy Walden | |
| 1989 | BMI TV Music Award for The Wonder Years (1988) shared with W.G. Snuffy Walden; John Lennon | |
| 1988 | BMI TV Music Award for The Wonder Years (1988) shared with John Lennon; W.G. Snuffy Walden | |
| 1980 | Grammy Award | Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "Rockestra Theme" shared with Wings |
| 1975 | Grammy Award | Best Pop Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus for "Band On The Run" shared with Wings |
| 1972 | Grammy Award | Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) for "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" |
| 1971 | Grammy Award | Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special for Let It Be (1970) shared with John Lennon; George Harrison; Ringo Starr |
| 1967 | Grammy Award | Song Of The Year for "Michelle" |
| 1967 | Grammy Award | Best Contemporary (R&R) Solo Vocal Performance - Male Or Female for "Eleanor Rigby" |
| 1966 | Golden Laurel | Musical Performance, Male (2nd place) for Help! (1965) shared with John Lennon; George Harrison; Ringo Starr |
| 1965 | Golden Laurel | New Faces, Male (9th place) shared with John Lennon; George Harrison; Ringo Starr |
| 1965 | Golden Laurel | Musical Performance, Male (5th place) for A Hard Day's Night (1964) shared with John Lennon; George Harrison; Ringo Starr |
Awards Nominated
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Grammy Award | Best Pop Vocal Performance - Male for Jenny Wren |
| 2006 | People's Choice Award | Favorite Tour |
| 2006 | Grammy Award | Best Pop Vocal Album for Chaos and Creation in the Backyard |
| 2006 | Grammy Award | Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Fine Line |
| 2006 | Grammy Award | Album of the Year for Chaos and Creation in the Backyard |
| 2005 | Grammy Award | Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for Something shared with Eric Clapton |
| 2003 | Grammy Award | Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media (from movie "Vanilla Sky" (2001)) for "Vanilla Sky" |
| 2002 | Oscar Award | Best Music, Original Song (from movie "Vanilla Sky" (2001)) for "Vanilla Sky" |
| 2002 | Golden Satellite Award | Best Original Song (from movie "Vanilla Sky" (2001)) for "Vanilla Sky" |
| 2002 | Golden Globe | Best Original Song - Motion Picture (from movie "Vanilla Sky" (2001)) for "Vanilla Sky" |
| 2001 | Grammy Award | Best Alternative Music Album for Liverpool Sound Collage |
| 1998 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Classical Music-Dance Program for Standing Stone (1997) (TV) shared with Frances Peters; Christopher Swann (director); Kris Slava (supervising A&E producer) |
| 1998 | Grammy Award | Album of the Year for Flaming Pie |
| 1985 | Golden Globe | Best Original Song - Motion Picture (from movie "Give My Regards to Broad Street" (1984)) for "No More Lonely Nights" |
| 1985 | BAFTA Film Award | Best Original Song (from movie "Give My Regards to Broad Street" (1984)) for "No More Lonely Nights" |
| 1974 | Grammy Award | Album of Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture for Live and Let Die (1973) shared with Linda McCartney; George Martin |
| 1974 | Oscar Award | Best Music, Original Song (from movie "Live and Let Die" (1973)) for "Live and Let Die" shared with Linda McCartney |
| 1970 | Grammy Award | Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Show for Yellow Submarine (1968) shared with John Lennon; George Harrison; George Martin |
| 1967 | Grammy Award | Best Male Vocal Performance for "Eleanor Rigby" |
| 1967 | Grammy Award | Best Contemporary (R&R) Recording for "Eleanor Rigby" |
| 1966 | Grammy Award | Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Show for Help! (1965) shared with John Lennon; George Harrison; Ken Thorne |
| 1965 | BAFTA Film Award | Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles for A Hard Day's Night (1964) shared with John Lennon; George Harrison; Ringo Starr |
| 1965 | Grammy Award | Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Show for A Hard Day's Night (1964) shared with John Lennon |
Certifications
| Year | Certification | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Platinum | McCartney |
| 1971 | Platinum | Ram |
| 1980 | Gold | McCartney II |
| 1982 | Platinum | Tug of War |
| 1983 | Platinum | Pipes of Peace |
| 1986 | Gold | Press to Play |
| 1987 | Platinum | All the Best |
| 1989 | Platinum | Flowers in the Dirt |
| 1993 | Gold | Off the Ground |
| 1997 | Gold | Flaming Pie |
| 1999 | Gold | Run Devil Run |
| 2001 | Gold | Wingspan (disc 1: Hits) |
| 2005 | Gold | Chaos and Creation in the Backyard |
Chart Toppers
| Year | Title | The Billboard Hot 100 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Dance Music/Club Play | Adult Contemporary | Mainstream Rock Tracks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Say Say Say | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | ~ |
| 1984 | So Bad | 23 | ~ | ~ | 3 | ~ |
| 1984 | No More Lonely Nights | 6 | ~ | ~ | 2 | 16 |
| 1985 | Spies Like Us | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ | 31 |
| 1986 | Stranglehold | 81 | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| 1986 | Spies Like Us | 7 | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| 1986 | Press | 21 | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| 1987 | Only Love Remains | ~ | ~ | ~ | 9 | ~ |
| 1989 | This One | 94 | ~ | ~ | 28 | ~ |
| 1989 | Ou Est Le Soleil? | ~ | ~ | 10 | ~ | ~ |
| 1989 | My Brave Face | 25 | ~ | ~ | 4 | 12 |
| 1990 | Put It There | ~ | ~ | ~ | 11 | ~ |
| 1990 | Figure of Eight | 92 | ~ | ~ | ~ | 8 |
| 1990 | Birthday | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ | 35 |
| 1993 | Hope of Deliverance | 83 | ~ | ~ | 9 | ~ |
| 1996 | Wonderful Christmas | ~ | ~ | ~ | 29 | ~ |
| 1997 | The World Tonight | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ | 23 |
| 2001 | From A LoverTo A Friend | ~ | ~ | ~ | 24 | ~ |
| 2001 | Freedom | 97 | ~ | ~ | 20 | ~ |
| 2002 | Your Loving Flame | ~ | ~ | ~ | 19 | ~ |
| 2005 | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club | 48 | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| 2005 | Fine Line | ~ | ~ | ~ | 31 | ~ |
| 2006 | This Never Happened Before | ~ | ~ | ~ | 27 | ~ |
News
Tours & Concerts
No tours to date
Discography
Albums
 McCartney
1970-04-17 |
 Ram
1971-05-17 |
 McCartney II
1980-05-16 |
 Tug of War
1982-04-16 |
 Pipes of Peace
1983-10-31 |
 Press To Play
1986-09-01 |
 Flowers in the Dirt
1989-06-06 |
 CHOBA B CCCP (Back in the USSR)
1991-09-30 |
 Paul McCartney's Liverpool Oratorio
1991-10-11 |
 Off the Ground
1993-02-09 |
 Flaming Pie
1997-05-27 |
 Standing Stone
1997-09-23 |
 Run Devil Run
1999-10-05 |
 Paul McCartney's Working Classical
1999-11-1 |
 Liverpool Sound Collage
2000-09-05 |
 Driving Rain
2001-11-13 |
 Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
2005-09-13 |
 Ecce Cor Meum
2006-10-02 |
EPs
Singles
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1983 | Say Say Say |
| 1984 | No More Lonely Nights |
| 1985 | Spies Like Us |
| 1986 | Stranglehold |
| 1986 | Press |
| 1987 | Only Love Remains |
| 1989 | This One |
| 1989 | Ou Est Le Soleil? |
| 1989 | My Brave Face |
| 1990 | Put It There |
| 1990 | Figure of Eight |
| 1990 | Birthday |
| 1993 | Hope of Deliverance |
| 1996 | Wonderful Christmas |
| 1997 | The World Tonight |
| 2001 | From A LoverTo A Friend |
| 2001 | Freedom |
| 2002 | Your Loving Flame |
| 2005 | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club |
| 2005 | Fine Line |
| 2005 | Jenny Wren |
| 2006 | This Never Happened Before |
Compilations
 The Family Way
1967-06-12 |
 All the Best!
1987 |
 The Paul McCartney Collection
1993-11-15 |
|
 Oobu Joobu, Part 1
1995-08 |
 Wingspan (disc 1: Hits)
2001-05-08 |
Live Albums
 Tripping the Live Fantastic
November 5, 1990 |
 Tripping the Live Fantastic: Highlights!
November 12, 1990 |
 Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)
May 20, 1991 |
 Paul is Live
November 15, 1993 |
 Back in the U.S.
November 26, 2002 |
 Back in the World
March 17, 2003 |
Other artists
Similar artists
Influences
Contemporaries
Trivia
- Was born at Walton Hospital, located in northern Liverpool near his teenage home, at 2:00pm-BDST.
- Usually called Macca.
- His mother died from breast cancer when he was fourteen.
- Writes his first song I Lost My Little Girl when he was just 14 years old.
- Was arrested in Tokyo, Japan, for marijuana possession (1980) and fined $200 in 1973 for growing marijuana on his Scotland farm.
- His wife Linda McCartney died of breast cancer in his ranch in Tucson, Arizona.
- Engaged to Heather Mills in 2001.
- Met Linda Eastman in a London nightclub called the Bag O'Nails, married her at the Marylebone Register Office, and has 4 children with her.
- Sang backup on Donovan's "Mellow Yellow" and played bass on some of his album tracks.
- Appeared as himself in Tracey Ullman's music video for "They Don't Know."
- Wrote several songs for Jane Asher's older brother, Peter, of the singing duo Peter and Gordon, including hit "World Without Love" and "Woman."
- Played all the instruments on two of his solo albums, McCartney (1970) and McCartney II (1980).
- Wrote number of songs about his former bandmate John Lennon, including "Dear Boy," "Too Many People," "Dear Friend," "Let Me Roll It," and "Here Today."
- Has 29 number one singles on the American charts with the Beatles, Paul McCartney & Wings, and as a solo artist as well as for one duet with Michael Jackson.
- When I'm 64 for his father on his 64th birthday.
- Has a lyric sheet to his song Yesterday featured on the front cover of the Marillion album "Script for a Jester's Tear" (1983).
- Performed Let It Be at Live Aid in 1985.
- 11 years after The Beatles breakup, he and Ringo Starr played on George Harrison's All Those Years Ago, which is about the death of his partner, John Lennon.
- Had an appearance in a 1995 episode of The Simpsons entitled "Lisa The Vegetarian."
- Contributes Calico Skies to album Warchild Hope, released April 21, 2003.
- Has his song Blackbird covered by Marillion for their live album Unplugged at the Walls (1998).
- In 1971, he produced an instrumental version of the album Ram he recorded with wife Linda titled "Thrillington."
- Played bass on the Band Aid 20 re-recording of Do They Know It's Christmas? {November 2004).
- Several of his solo albums, including those with Wings, featured cover photos by his wife Linda.
- The August 1998 issue of the British rock magazine "Q," named McCartney as the Richest Rock Star in The World with an estimated fortune of over £500m.
- Only wrote 27 songs in direct collaboration for Lennon & McCartney compositions.
- Granted the Polar Music Prize, the Royal Swedish Academy of Music Award, in 1992 and has become its first recipient ever.
- Named one of E!'s Top 20 Entertainers of 2001.
- Made an honorary detective by NY Police for the benefit concert he contributed for 9/11 victims, April 2002.
- Won prize for his church drawing at age 11.
- More than 70 of his paintings from past 20 years were on view at Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, England from May to August 2002.
- Received an honorary Doctorate of Music from the University of Sussex.
- Is the first rock musician ever to receive Chile's Order of Merit for services to music, peace, and human understanding
- Becoming the richest rockstar in the world for the year of 2004, with a personal fortune of £762 million.
- Is the only Beatle to ever have been nominated for an Academy Award in his own right.
- Appears in the Guinness Book of Records for his song Yesterday listed as The Most Covered Song in History with over 3000 existing versions.
- Appears in the Guinness Book of Records for The Largest Stadium Audience in History when 184,000 paid to see his performance at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro in April 1990.
- Appears in the Guinness Book of Records as The Fastest Ticket Sales in History, when 20,000 tickets for 2 shows in Sydney, Australia in 1993 sold out in only 8 minutes.
- Is left-handed.
- Owns the double bass once belonged to Elvis Presley's bassist Bill Black.
- Owns the copyrights to Buddy Holly's song catalogue, and several other compositions, including "Ramblin' Wreck From Georgia Tech."
- His first guitar was a Zenith archtop f-hole acoustic, which he got at the Rushworth and Drapers Music Store in Liverpool when he was 14, as a gift from his father.
- Is the only Beatle to graduate from Britain's equivalent of high-school.
- His two favorite singers were Little Richard and Elvis Presley.
- Owns a ranch in Tucson, Arizona and a Hollywood Hills manor property which he bought from Courtney Love and Ellen DeGeneres.
- Secured the 4th position in the Rolling Stone's 5th-annual list of Biggest Moneymakers, taking in an estimated $56 million.
- Has his name listed on Forbes list of Hollywood's 10 Most Generous Entertainers (May 12, 2006).
- Chosen Man of the Year at GQ magazine annual ceremony held in 2006 in London.
External Links
Categories: Artist | Rock | Pop
