Sir James Paul McCartney CH MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and record and film producer who gained worldwide fame as co-lead vocalist and bassist for the Beatles. His songwriting partnership with 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.
A self-taught musician, McCartney is proficient on bass, guitar, keyboards, and drums. He is known for his melodic approach to bass-playing (mainly playing with a plectrum), his versatile and wide tenor vocal range (spanning over four octaves), and his eclecticism (exploring styles ranging from pre-rock and roll pop to classical and electronica). McCartney began his career as a member of the Quarrymen in 1957, which evolved into the Beatles in 1960. Starting with the 1967 album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, he gradually became the Beatles’ de facto leader, providing the creative impetus for most of their music and film projects. His Beatles songs “And I Love Her” (1964), “Yesterday” (1965), “Eleanor Rigby” (1966) and “Blackbird” (1968) rank among the most covered songs in history.
McCartney is one of the most successful composers and performers of all time. He has written or co-written 32 songs that have topped the Billboard Hot 100, and as of 2009, had sales of 25.5 million RIAA-certified units in the United States. His honours include two inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of the Beatles in 1988 and as a solo artist in 1999), 18 Grammy Awards, an appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1965, and a knighthood in 1997 for services to music. As of 2020, he was one of the wealthiest musicians in the world, with an estimated fortune of £800 million.
“In the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.” –Paul McCartney
“If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian.” – Paul McCartney
“I used to think that anyone doing anything weird was weird. I suddenly realized that anyone doing anything weird wasn’t weird at all and it was the people saying they were weird that were weird.” –
Paul McCartney
“It’s also not unusual for writers to look backward. Because that’s your pool of resources.” –Paul McCartney
“I don’t work at being ordinary.
” – Paul McCartney
“I’ve got to admit it’s getting better. It’s a little better all the time.” –Paul McCartney
“If children are studying the 20th century, I’m in their text books.” –Paul McCartney
“Where I come from, you don’t really talk about how much you’re earning. Those things are private. My dad never told my mum how much he was earning. I’m certainly not going to tell the world. I’m doing well.
” –Paul McCartney
“But with writers, there’s nothing wrong with melancholy. It’s an important color in writing.” –Paul McCartney
“Think globally, act locally.” –
Paul McCartney
“Somewhere down the line everyone must pay for their misdeeds.” –Paul McCartney
“I don’t ever try to make a serious social comment.” –Paul McCartney
“Being in the audience actually looks like quite a lot of fun.” – Paul McCartney
“I’m not religious, but I’m very spiritual.” –Paul McCartney
“Love is all you need.” –Paul McCartney
“I love the past.” –Paul McCartney
“Lyricists play with words.” –Paul McCartney
“My so-called career is a haphazard thing.” –Paul McCartney
“I’m always writing songs, and I’ve got a bunch that I want to record.” –Paul McCartney
“Take these broken wings and learn to fly.” –Paul McCartney
“Look, people are allowed their own opinions and they don’t always coincide with yours. As an artist you just have to keep plugging on.” –Paul McCartney
“I think the pop industry is still a young man’s game.” –Paul McCartney
“I hate the idea of success robbing you of your private life.
” –Paul McCartney
“You can judge a man’s true character by the way he treats his fellow animals.” –Paul McCartney
“I don’t work at being ordinary.” –Paul McCartney
“Close your eyes and I’ll kiss you, Tomorrow I’ll miss you.” –
Paul McCartney
“When you were young, and your heart, was an open book. You used to say, live and let live.” –Paul McCartney
“Let it be. ” –Paul McCartney
“What I have to say is all in the music. If I want to say anything, I write a song.” –Paul McCartney
“You were only waiting for this moment to be free.” –Paul McCartney
“And what’s the point of changing when I’m happy as I am?” –Paul McCartney
“And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light that shines on me. Shine until tomorrow, let it be.” –Paul McCartney
“I don’t care too much for money, money can’t buy me love.” –Paul McCartney
