McCartney Paul

English singer, songwriter, musician, composer, and record and film producer who gained worldwide fame as co-lead vocalist and bassist for mega-star group the Beatles. His songwriting partnership with Beatles bandmate John Lennon remains the most successful in history. After the group disbanded in 1970, he pursued a solo career and formed the band Wings with his first wife, Linda, and Denny Laine. Starting in 1961, The Beatles began setting world records in sales and by 1977 it was estimated that the group had sold 100 million singles and 100 million albums. In 1965, McCartney and the rest of the "Fab Four," as they were dubbed became Members of the Order of the British Empire, which is one step below knighthood. After traveling the world with sold-out tours, McCartney formed his own record label, Apple. On 1 January 1997 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for "Services to Music" in 1996 and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a Solo Artist, 1999. McCartneys musical roots came from his father, James, a bandleader. As a youth the big music in England was skiffle, a mixture of rhythm and blues and English folk. In 1957 he met fellow skiffle enthusiast, John Lennon, and formed the band The Quarrymen. The two began writing their own songs, beginning one of the most popular and productive collaborations in popular music history. In 1961, the band, now called the Silver Beatles, with pal George Harrison on lead guitar, caught the attention of Liverpool record store owner, Brian Epstein, who became their manager. "Silver" was soon dropped from their name and their wardrobe upgraded to suits and ties. Pete Best, their drummer, was sacked and replaced by Ringo Starr, who had been a member of a rival Liverpool group. After being rejected by almost all of the major record labels in England, the band was signed to EMI in 1962. George Martin, who was accustomed to recording comedy records, became their producer. In 1964 the band won over America with five top singles with McCartney singing lead; "Yesterday" and "Michelle," both Grammy-winning songs. In 1966 the band quite performing live and chose to experiment in the studio and make more sophisticated recordings that were difficult to reproduce on-stage. By 1970 the Beatles were finished. Tensions exploded when McCartney refused to be managed by Allen Klein, whom the other three had picked to handle their money. In 1970 he released his first solo album, McCartney. His second album, Ram, was credited to "Paul and Linda McCartney". McCartneys intention was to include his wife on all future musical collaborations and invited her to join his next band, Wings. She played keyboards and sang backup. They won a Grammy for the 1974 album Band on the Run. In 1981 McCartney was arrested for marijuana possession while touring Japan. Linda was busted on the same charge in 1984 upon the familys return from Barbados. A successful world tour in the 90s helped bring back his flagging popularity. In 1997 the three surviving Beatles reunited for a TV special The Beatles Anthology to promote a three volume retrospective of their work. On 11 March 1997 McCartney received a knighthood. He was married in March 1969 to American photographer, animal rights activist and vegetarian Linda Eastman. Their 29-year marriage produced three kids whom they raised in the remote countryside of Sussex: Mary, Stella and James, and Lindas daughter, Heather. Linda was first diagnosed with breast cancer in December Read less