Paul McCartney Biography - Artistopia Music

Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an English rock singer, bass guitarist, songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, entrepreneur, record producer, film producer and animal-rights activist. He gained worldwide fame as a member of The Beatles, with John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr


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. McCartney and Lennon formed one of the most influential and successful songwriting partnerships and "wrote some of the most popular music in rock and roll history". After leaving The Beatles, McCartney launched a successful solo career and formed the band Wings with his first wife, Linda Eastman McCartney, and singer-songwriter Denny Laine. He has worked on film scores, classical music, and ambient/electronic music; released a large catalogue of songs as a solo artist; and taken part in projects to help international charities.

McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the most successful musician and composer in popular music history, with 60 gold discs and sales of 100 million singles. His song "Yesterday" is listed as the most covered song in history - by over 3,700 artists so far - and has been played more than 7,000,000 times on American television and radio. Wings' 1977 single "Mull of Kintyre" became the first single to sell more than two million copies in the UK, and remains the UK's top selling non-charity single.
(Three charity singles have since surpassed it in sales; the first to do so—in 1984—was Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?", whose participants included McCartney.)

His company MPL Communications owns the copyrights to more than 3,000 songs, including all of the songs written by Buddy Holly, along with the publishing rights to such musicals as Guys and Dolls, A Chorus Line, and Grease. McCartney is also an advocate for animal rights, vegetarianism, and music education; he is active in campaigns against landmines, seal hunting, and Third World debt.

Early years: 1942–1957

Paul McCartney was born in Walton Hospital in Liverpool, England, where his mother, Mary, had worked as a nurse in the maternity ward. Spitz 2005. p75 He has one brother, Michael, born 7 January 1944. Miles 1998. p4. McCartney was baptised Roman Catholic but was raised non-denominationally: his mother was Roman Catholic, and his father, James "Jim" McCartney, was a Protestant turned agnostic.

In 1947, he began attending Stockton Wood Road Primary school. He then attended the Joseph Williams Junior School, and passed the 11-plus exam in 1953 with three others out of the 90 examinees and thus gained admission to the Liverpool Institute. Miles 1998. p9. In 1954, while riding on the bus to the Institute, he met George Harrison, who lived nearby. Spitz 2005. p125 Passing the exam meant that McCartney and Harrison did not have to go to a secondary modern school, which most pupils attended until they were eligible to work. It also meant that Grammar school pupils had to find new friends. Spitz 2005. pp82-83

20 Forthlin Road now attracts large numbers of tourists
In 1955 the McCartney family moved to 20 Forthlin Road in Allerton. Mary McCartney rode a bicycle to houses where she was needed as a midwife, and an early McCartney memory is of her leaving when it was snowing heavily. Miles 1998. p6. On 31 October 1956, Mary McCartney (who was a heavy smoker) died of an embolism after a mastectomy operation to stop the spread of her breast cancer. Miles 1998. p20. The early loss of his mother later connected McCartney with John Lennon, whose mother, Julia, died when Lennon was 17. Miles 1998. p31.

McCartney's father was a trumpet player and pianist who had led Jim Mac's Jazz Band in the 1920s. He encouraged his two sons to be musical. Miles 1998. p22. Jim had an upright piano in the front room that he had bought from Harry Epstein's store, and McCartney's grandfather, Joe McCartney, played an E-flat tuba. Spitz 2005. P71 Miles 1998. pp23-24. Jim McCartney used to point out the different instruments in songs on the radio, and often took McCartney to local brass band concerts. After the death of his wife, Mary, Jim McCartney gave McCartney a nickel-plated trumpet, but when skiffle music became popular, McCartney swapped the trumpet for a £15 Framus Zenith (model 17) acoustic guitar. Spitz 2005. p86 Miles 1998. p21.

McCartney, being left-handed, found the Zenith difficult to play. He then saw a poster advertising a Slim Whitman concert, and realised that Whitman played left-handed, with his guitar strung the opposite way to a right-handed player.Larkin, Colin. ''The Guinness Who's Who Of Country Music'': Slim Whitman entry, Guinness Publishing, 1993. ISBN 0851127266 McCartney wrote his first song ("I Lost My Little Girl") on the Zenith, and also played his father's Framus Spanish guitar when writing early songs with Lennon.Early guitars McCartney played thecanteen.com - Retrieved 27 January 2007 He later started playing piano and wrote "When I'm Sixty-Four". Miles 1998. pp22-23. Per his father's advice, he took music lessons, but since he preferred to learn 'by ear' he never paid attention in them.

1957–1960: The Quarrymen and the Silver Beatles

Lennon/McCartney
Fifteen-year-old McCartney met Lennon and The Quarrymen at the Woolton (St. Peter's church hall) fête on 6 July 1957. Spitz 2005. p93 At the start of their friendship Lennon's Aunt Mimi disapproved of McCartney because he was, she said, "working class", and called him "John's little friend". Miles 1998. p44. McCartney's father told his son that Lennon would get him "into trouble", although he later allowed The Quarrymen to rehearse in the front room at 20 Forthlin Road. Miles 1998. pp32-38.Inside ForthlinRoad nationaltrust.org.uk - Retrieved 12 November 2006

McCartney formed a close working relationship with Lennon and they collaborated on many songs. He convinced Lennon to allow Harrison to join The Quarrymen (Lennon thought Harrison was too young) after Lennon heard Harrison play at a rehearsal in March 1958. Spitz 2005. pp126-127 Harrison joined the group as lead guitarist, followed by Lennon's art school friend, Stuart Sutcliffe, on bass, although McCartney was later dismissive about Sutcliffe's musical ability. Miles 1998. pp47-50. Cynthia Lennon “John” 2006. p94. By May 1960, they had tried several new names, including The Silver Beetles; playing a tour of Scotland under that name with Johnny Gentle. They finally changed the name of the group to The Beatles for their performances in Hamburg. Cynthia “John” 2006. p67.

1960–1970: The Beatles

Starting in May 1960, The Beatles were managed by Allan Williams, who booked them into Bruno Koschmider's Indra club in Hamburg. McCartney's father was reluctant to let the teenage McCartney go to Hamburg until McCartney pointed out that he would earn £2/10s per day. As this was more than he earned himself, Jim finally agreed. Miles 1998. p57.
The Indra Club, Hamburg, where the Beatles first played
The Beatles first played at the Indra club, sleeping in small, "dirty" rooms in the Bambi Kino, and then moved (after the closure of the Indra) to the larger Kaiserkeller. Miles 1998. pp57-8. In October 1960, they left Koschmider's club and worked at the "Top Ten Club", which was run by Peter Eckhorn. Cynthia Lennon “John” 2006. p93. Miles 1998. pp. 71–72. When McCartney and Pete Best went back to the Bambi Kino to get their belongings they found it in almost total darkness. As a snub to Koschmider, they found a condom, attached it to a nail on the concrete wall of their room, and set fire to it. There was no real damage, but Koschmider reported them for attempted arson. McCartney and Best spent three hours in a local jail and were deported, as was Harrison, for working under the legal age limit. Miles 1998. pp72-73. Lennon's work permit was revoked a few days later and he went home by train, but Sutcliffe had a cold and stayed in Hamburg, and then flew home. Cynthia Lennon “John” 2006. p79.

The group reunited in December 1960, and on 21 March 1961, played their first of many concerts at Liverpool's Cavern club. Cynthia Lennon “John” 2006. p84. Lewisohn 2002. p80 McCartney realised that other Liverpool bands were playing the same cover songs, which prompted him and Lennon to write more original material. Miles 1998. pp81-82. The Beatles returned to Hamburg in April 1961, and recorded "My Bonnie" with Tony Sheridan. Cynthia Lennon “John” 2006. p97. Sutcliffe left the band after the end of their contract, so McCartney reluctantly took over bass. Miles 1998. p74. After borrowing Sutcliffe's Höfner 500/5 model for a short time, he bought a left-handed 1962 500/1 model Höfner bass.Babiuk. pp 49-50. On 1 October 1961, McCartney went with Lennon (who paid for the trip) to Paris for two weeks. Cynthia Lennon “John” 2006. p99.

The Beatles were first seen by Brian Epstein at the Cavern club on 9 November 1961, and he later signed them to a management contract. Miles 1998. p85. The Beatles' road manager, Neil Aspinall, drove them to London on 31 December 1961, where they auditioned the next day, but were rejected by Decca Records. Miles 1998. p89 In April 1962, they went back to Hamburg to play at the Star-Club, and learned of Stuart Sutcliffe's death a few hours before they arrived. Cynthia Lennon “John” 2006. p109. The Beatles were ready to sign a record contract on 9 May 1962, with Parlophone Records—after having been rejected by many record companies—but Epstein sacked Pete Best (at the behest of McCartney, Lennon and Harrison) before they signed the contract. Spitz 2005. p330 "Love Me Do" was released on 5 October 1962, featuring McCartney singing solo on the chorus line. Miles 1998. p91 Over the course of the next two years, McCartney and his band mates would rise from relative obscurity to international stardom, an unprecedented feat at that time for a rock-music combo.

All Lennon-McCartney songs on the first pressing of the Please Please Me album (recorded in one day on 11 February 1963) Miles 1998. p93 as well as the "Please Please Me" single, "From Me to You", and its B-side, "Thank You Girl", are credited to "McCartney-Lennon", but this was later changed to "Lennon-McCartney".The Beatles : Day-by-Day, Song-by-Song, Record-by-Record, by Cross, Craig, xtube.com 14 May 2005, ISBN 0-595-34663-4 They usually needed an hour or two to finish a song, which were written in hotel rooms after a concert, at Wimpole Street, at Cavendish Avenue, or at Kenwood (Lennon's house). Miles 1998. p149 McCartney also wrote songs for other artists, such as Billy J. Kramer, Cilla Black, Badfinger, and Mary Hopkin -and most notably he wrote two hit songs for the group Peter & Gordon-launching their career. One song, "World Without Love", became a #1 hit in the U.K. & U.S. (Peter was the brother of Jane Asher, McCartney's girlfriend at the time) Miles 1998. pp180-181

Lennon, Harrison, and Starr lived in large houses in the 'stockbroker belt' of southern England, Miles 1998. pp166-167 but McCartney continued to live in central London: in Jane Asher's parents' house, and then at 7 Cavendish Avenue, St John's Wood, near the Abbey Road Studios. It was at Cavendish Avenue that McCartney bought his first Old English Sheepdog, Martha, whose name ostensibly inspired the song "Martha My Dear", but which is actually about the end of McCartney and Asher's relationship.

McCartney often went to nightclubs alone, which offered 'dining and dancing until 4:00 a.m.' and featured cabaret acts. Miles 1998. p129 McCartney would get preferential treatment everywhere he went, which he readily accepted. Miles 1998. pp130-131 He even once accepted an offer from a policeman to be allowed to park McCartney's car. He later visited gambling clubs after 4:00am, such as 'The Curzon House', and often saw Brian Epstein there. Miles 1998. p131 The Ad Lib club (above the Prince Charles Theatre at 7 Leicester Place) was later opened for the emerging 'Rock and Roll' crowd of musicians, and tolerated their unusual lifestyle. Miles 1998. pp132-133 After the Ad Lib fell out of favour, McCartney moved on to the Scotch of St James, at 13 Masons Yard. Miles 1998. p134 He also frequented The Bag O'Nails club at 8 Kingly Street in Soho, London, where he met Linda Eastman.

On 12 June 1965, The Beatles were appointed Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE); they received their insignia from Queen Elizabeth II at an investiture at Buckingham Palace on 26 October 1965. They stopped touring after their last concert at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, on 29 August 1966.
Houston's Beatles sculpture
McCartney was the first to be involved in a project outside of the group, when he composed the score for the film The Family Way in 1966. The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Episode 6 - 0:29:11) McCartney talking about “The Family Way”. The soundtrack was later released as an album (also called The Family Way), and won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Instrumental Theme, ahead of acclaimed jazz musician Mike Turner. The Beatles Anthology DVD 2003 (Episode 6 - 0:29:21) McCartney talking about the Ivor Novello Award. McCartney wrote songs for and produced other artists, including Mary Hopkin, Badfinger, and the Bonzo Dog Band, and in 1966, he was asked by Kenneth Tynan to write the songs for the National Theatre's production of As You Like It by William Shakespeare (starring Laurence Olivier) but declined. Miles 1998. p124 In 1968 he co-produced the song "I'm the Urban Spaceman" by the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and was credited as "Apollo C. Vermouth" because of contractual restrictions.

McCartney later attempted to persuade Lennon and Harrison to return to the stage, and when they had a meeting to sign a new contract with Capitol Records, McCartney suggested "going back to our roots," to which Lennon replied, "I think you're mad!" Wingspan 2001. p9 Although Lennon had quit the group in September 1969, and Harrison and Starr had temporarily left the group at various times, McCartney was the one who publicly announced The Beatles' breakup on 10 April 1970—one week before releasing his first solo album, McCartney. Spitz 2005. p858. The album included a press release inside with a self-written interview stating McCartney's hopes about the future. The Beatles' partnership was legally dissolved after McCartney filed a lawsuit on 31 December 1970. Spitz 2005. p808.

1970s: Paul McCartney and Wings

Paul and Linda McCartney at the 1974 Academy Awards.McCartney released his debut solo album, McCartney, in April 1970. He insisted that his wife should be involved in his musical career so that they would not be apart when he was on tour. Lewisohn 2002, p48. McCartney's second solo album, Ram (1971) was credited to both Paul and Linda McCartney. In August of that year McCartney formed Wings with guitarist Denny Laine and drummer Denny Seiwell (although membership in Wings would change several times during its existence) and released their debut album, Wild Life. In 1972, Wings started an unplanned tour of British universities and small European venues.Paul McCartney biography mplcommunications.com - Retrieved 11 November 2006. In February of that year, they released a single called "Give Ireland Back to the Irish", which was banned by the BBC.The seven ages of Paul McCartney, BBC News, 2006-06-17. bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment - Retrieved 11 June 2006. Wings then embarked on the 26-date Wings Over Europe Tour.

The first of Wings' two 1973 albums Red Rose Speedway spawned the band's first #1 in the United States, "My Love".title=Linda McCartney Dies On 16 April, McCartney starred in a TV variety show called James Paul McCartney. Wings then released the theme song for the James Bond film Live and Let Die. It reunited McCartney with George Martin, who both produced the song and arranged the orchestral break. Their second 1973 album Band on the Run'',title=Band on the Run: A History of Paul McCartney and Wings which won two Grammy Awards Lewisohn 2002. p88 is Wings' most lauded work. From it were released the singles "Jet", and, in 1974, "Band on the Run" (the song) as well as the non-album single "Junior's Farm". A jam session — with Lennon and McCartney — was recorded in California, in 1974, and released on the bootleg ''A Toot and a Snore in '74. The same year, he recorded an instrumental, "Walking in the Park with Eloise", which had been written by his father. The song featured Wings, Floyd Cramer and Chet Atkins. Venus and Mars was released in 1975, which featured "Listen to What the Man Said" and "Rock Show." Till 1976, Wings embarked on the Wings Over the World tour.

In 1977, McCartney released Thrillington under the name "Percy 'Thrills' Thrillington". Wings also released "Mull of Kintyre". It stayed at #1 in the UK for nine weeks, and was the highest-selling single in the UK until 1984, when Band Aid's ''Do They Know It's Christmas'' beat its record. Wings toured again in 1979, and McCartney organised the Concerts for the People of Kampuchea. McCartney's "Rockestra" theme won a Grammy award. At Christmas 1979, McCartney released his (solo) "Wonderful Christmastime".

Although McCartney's relationship with Lennon was troubled, they reconciled during the 1970s. Miles 1998. p587 McCartney would often call Lennon, but was never sure of what sort of reception he would get, Miles 1998. p588 such as when McCartney once called Lennon and was told, "You're all pizza and fairytales!" McCartney understood that he could not just phone Lennon and only talk about business, so they often talked about cats, baking bread, or babies. Miles 1998. p590

1980s-1990s: Solo career

McCartney played every instrument on the 1980 release McCartney II (as he had on McCartney before it), this time with an emphasis on synthesisers instead of guitars. The single "Coming Up" reached #2 in Britain and #1 in the US. "Waterfalls" was another UK Top 10 hit. McCartney's next album, 1982's Tug of War, reunited him with Ringo Starr and Beatles producer George Martin, and the album hit No.1 on both sides of the Atlantic at the same time as its lead single, a duet with Stevie Wonder, "Ebony and Ivory", did likewise. UK top 40 database everyhit.com - Retrieved 27 January 2007 Two further hit duets followed, both with Michael Jackson: "The Girl Is Mine", from Jackson's Thriller album, and "Say Say Say", a single from McCartney's 1983 album, Pipes of Peace.

McCartney wrote and starred in the 1984 film Give My Regards to Broad Street. The film and soundtrack featured the US and UK Top 10 hit "No More Lonely Nights", and the album reached #1 in the UK, but the film did not do well commercially or critically. Roger Ebert awarded the film a single star and wrote, "You can safely skip the movie and proceed directly to the sound track". Later that year, McCartney released "We All Stand Together", the title song from the animated film Rupert and the Frog Song, which was the supporting feature to "Broad Street" in cinemas and which, when released on video cassette would become the year's top-seller. The following year, McCartney released Spies Like Us the title song to the Dan Ackroyd/Chevy Chase comedy which hit #7 on the Billboard chart (making it his last US Top 20 hit to date). On 13 July 1985, McCartney played "Let It Be" at the Live Aid concert in London, but much of his performance was marred by technical difficulties. He was backed on this performance by Bob Geldof, Pete Townshend, George Michael, and Alison Moyet.

In the second half of the decade McCartney would find new collaborators. Eric Stewart had appeared on McCartney's Pipes of Peace album, and he co-wrote most of McCartney's 1986 album Press to Play. The album and its lead single, "Press", became minor hits. McCartney returned the favour by co-writing two songs for Stewart's band, 10cc: "Don't Break the Promises" (...Meanwhile, 1992), and "Yvonne's the One" (Mirror Mirror, 1995). In 1987, EMI released All the Best! which was the first compilation of McCartney's own songs.

In 1988, he released, initially in the Soviet Union only, ????? ? ???? a collection of McCartney cover-versions of his favourite vintage Rock and roll classics which later had a general release in 1991. Around this time, McCartney also began a songwriting partnership with Elvis Costello (Declan MacManus)Interview with McManus-Costello about McCartney geocities.com/sunsetstrip - Retrieved 7 December 2006 from which songs would appear on singles and albums by both artists, notably "Veronica"on Costello's album Spike and "My Brave Face" from McCartney's Flowers in the Dirt, (which reached #1 in the UK on releas in 1989). Further McCartney/MacManus compositions for surfaced on Costello's 1991 album Mighty Like a Rose and McCartney's 1993 album Off the Ground. A 1992 McCartney / Starr collaboration "Angel In Disguise" was intended for Ringo's Time Takes Time album, however was not included and remains unreleased to this day. In late 1989, McCartney started his first concert tour since Lennon's murder, also his first tour of the US in thirteen years.

In a 1980 interview, Lennon said that the last time he had seen McCartney was when they had watched the episode of Saturday Night Live (May 1976) in which Lorne Michaels had made his $3,000 cash offer to get Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr to reunite on the show.Playboy interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono. "The Beatles Ultimate Experience Database". Playboy Press (1980). geocities.com - Retrieved 11 June 2006. McCartney and Lennon had seriously considered going to the studio, but were too tired. Miles 1998. p592 This event was fictionalised in the 2000 television film Two of Us.

Reaction to John Lennon's murder

On the morning of 9 December 1980, McCartney awoke to the news that Lennon had been murdered outside his home in the Dakota building in New York.Bresler, Fenton (1990). Who Killed John Lennon? reprinted. St. Martin's Press, ISBN 0-312-92367-8. Lennon's death created a media frenzy around the surviving members of The Beatles. On the evening of 9 December, as McCartney was leaving an Oxford Street recording studio, he was surrounded by reporters and asked for his reaction to Lennon's death. He replied, "I was very shocked, you know—this is terrible news," and said that he had spent the day in the studio listening to some material because he "just didn't want to sit at home." Miles 1998. p593 When asked why, he replied, "I didn't feel like it." He was then asked when he first heard the news, McCartney replied "This morning sometime," and one of the reporters asked "Very early?" McCartney said "yeah" and then asked the reporters if they all knew, they added "yeah." McCartney then said, "drag, isn't it?"McCartney on John's death - 9 December 1980 youtube.com Retrieved 9 June 2006 When published, his "drag" remark was criticised, and McCartney later regretted it. He furthermore stated that he had intended no disrespect but had just been at a loss for words, after the shock and sadness he felt over his friend's murder. Miles 1998. p594 He was also to recall: cquote I talked to Yoko the day after he was killed and the first thing she said was, "John was really fond of you." The last telephone conversation I had with him we were still the best of mates. He was always a very warm guy, John. His bluff was all on the surface. He used to take his glasses down, those granny glasses, and say, "It's only me." They were like a wall, you know? A shield. Those are the moments I treasure.The Paul McCartney Encyclopedia, article "Lennon, John"

In 1983 McCartney said: cquote I would not have been as typically human and standoffish as I was if I knew John was going to die. I would have made more of an effort to try and get behind his "mask" and have a better relationship with him.'

In a Playboy interview in 1984, McCartney said that he went home that night and watched the news on television—while sitting with all his children—and cried all evening. His last telephone call to Lennon, which was just before Lennon and Yoko released Double Fantasy, was friendly. During the call, Lennon said (laughing) to McCartney, "This housewife wants a career!"McCartney’s 1984 Playboy Interview members.tripod.com - Retrieved 14 November 2006 which referred to Lennon's "house-husband" years, while looking after Sean Lennon.

McCartney carried on recording after the death of Lennon but did not play any live concerts for some time. He explained that this was because he was nervous that he would be "the next" to be murdered.Bonici, Ray. Paul McCartney Wings It Alone, Music Express issue #56, 1982. beatles.ncf.ca - Retrieved 11 June 2006. This led to a disagreement with Denny Laine, who wanted to continue touring and subsequently left Wings, which McCartney disbanded in 1981. Lewisohn 2002. p168. Also in 1981, six months after Lennon's death, McCartney sang backup on George Harrison's tribute to Lennon, "All Those Years Ago," which also featured Ringo Starr on drums. McCartney would go on to record "Here Today", a tribute song to Lennon.

1990s: Classical music

The 1990s saw McCartney venture into classical music. In 1991 the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society commissioned a musical piece by McCartney to celebrate its sesquicentennial.Contemporary Authors Online, Thomson Gale, 2006. McCartney collaborated with Carl Davis to release Liverpool Oratorio. The Oratorio was premiered in Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral, and had its North American premiere in Carnegie Hall in New York on 18 November 1991, with Davis conducting. McCartney's singers and musicians included the opera singers Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Sally Burgess, Jerry Hadley and Willard White, with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the choir of Liverpool Cathedral.Oratorio and StandingStone premiers - 4 July 2003 bbc.co.uk - Retrieved 29 January 2007 EMI Classics recorded the premiere of the oratorio and released it on a 2-CD album which topped the classical charts."Paul McCartney." Encyclopedia of World Biography Supplement, Vol. 24. Thomson Gale, 2005. His next classical project to be released (in 1995) was A Leaf, a solo-piano piece played by Royal College of Music gold-medal winner Anya Alexeyev. The Prince of Wales later honoured McCartney as a Fellow of The Royal College of Music. Other forays into classical music included ''Standing Stone (1997), Working Classical (1999), and "Ecce Cor Meum" (2006).

In the early 1990s (after another world tour), McCartney reunited with Harrison and Starr to work on Apple's The Beatles Anthology documentary series. It included three double albums of alternative takes, live recordings, and previously unreleased Beatles songs, as well as a ten-hour video boxed set. Anthology 1 was released in 1995, and featured "Free as a Bird", which was the first Beatles reunion track, while Anthology 2, released in 1996, included "Real Love" (1996), the second and final in the reunion series. Both reunion tracks were co produced by Electric Light Orchestra frontman Jeff Lynne, who had worked with Harrison in The Traveling Wilburys. Both reunion tracks were completed by adding new music and vocal tracks to Lennon's demos from the late 1970s.

In 1997, McCartney released Flaming Pie which was produced by Lynne and Martin. It debuted at #2 in the UK and the US, and was nominated in the Grammy Awards category Album of the Year. The same year, McCartney made his second venture into classical music with ''Standing Stone'', which was commissioned by EMI Records to mark their 100th anniversary in autumn. On 11 March 1997, he was knighted as "Sir Paul McCartney" for his "services to music". He dedicated his knighthood to fellow Beatles Lennon, Harrison, and Starr, and to the people of Liverpool. title=Beatle McCartney knighted Sir Paul by the Queen In 1999, McCartney released another album of rock 'n' roll songs, titled Run Devil Run. That same year he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. (Bitter that he had not been inducted sooner, McCartney brought his daughter to the stage with him and smiled as he pointed to her shirt, which read: "About Fucking Time.") In 1999, he released Working Classical.

In May 2000, he was given a Fellowship by the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters. The chairman of the adademy, Guy Fletcher, said McCartney had played a major role in changing the course of British popular music.

2000s

In 2000, McCartney released A Garland for Linda; a choral tribute album with compositions from eight other contemporary composers.A Garland for Linda - 17 May 1999 bbc.co.uk - Retrieved 29 January 2007 A Garland for Linda, Paul McCartney, EMI - Catalogue No.: CDC 5 56961 2, Recorded in All Saints Church, Tooting, London. 1999 The music was performed by "The Joyful Company of Singers" to raise funds for The Garland Appeal, a fund to aid cancer patients.Garland for Linda cancer fund mplcommunications.com - Retrieved 29 January 2007 In May 2001, he released Wingspan: An Intimate Portrait, a retrospective documentary that features behind-the-scenes films and photographs that he and Linda McCartney (who had died in 1998) took of their family and bands.Wingspan, DVD, Catalogue number: 4779109, 19 November 2001 Interspersed throughout the 88 minute film is an interview by Mary McCartney with her father. Mary was the baby photographed inside McCartney's jacket on the back cover of McCartney, and was one of the producers of the documentary. Lewisohn 2002. p21

Earlier in the year, McCartney worked on what would become his new album, Driving Rain, released on 12 November. Driving Rain featured uplifting songs inspired by and written for his soon-to-be wife Heather. Clearly determined to follow the example of ''Run Devil Run's brisk recording pace, most of the album was recorded in two weeks, starting in February 2001. McCartney also composed and recorded the title track for the film Vanilla Sky, released later that year. The track was nominated for—but did not win—an Oscar for Best Original Song.

McCartney, who witnessed the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks from the JFK airport tarmac,
LIVING

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External Links

AskMen.com - Paul McCartney

Copyright Citations

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Industry Music Artists

Paul McCartney