The legendary Paul Mccartney became a household name in England as a singer and bass guitarist with the award-winning rock band, The Beatles. He gained worldwide fame as a result of his exceptional skills and talent in songwriting, as he was most often the brains behind most of the Beatles’ lyrics.
The 18-time Grammy Award winner has also done some work in creative art and filmmaking and has produced a good number of movies and documentaries, most notably Give My Regards to Broad Street and The Real Buddy Holly Story. All of his outstanding performances in the entertainment industry have earned him a Knighthood from the English crown, as well as two inaugurations into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
After Meeting John Lennon As A Teenager, They Went On To Form A Legendary Songwriting Partnership
In 1957 to be exact, McCartney came in contact with John Lennon, who at that time was the leader of a popular music band known as The Quarrymen. Thereafter, Paul joined the band as their rhythm guitarist before Harrison and Stuart Sutcliffe later joined and the band was renamed The Beatles in 1960.
In the decade that followed, The Beatles released 12 studio albums and toured the globe creating a cult-like following along the way. At the heart of this success was Paul McCartney’s songwriting prowess. He is responsible for writing most of the group’s most iconic tunes. Some of The Beatle’s most notable songs include “Love Me Do”, “Yesterday”, “She Loves You”, and “In My Life”. A multi-instrumentalist, McCartney also played drums on some Beatles tracks. A self-taught multi-instrumentalist, he is adept at playing a variety of instruments including the piano, the acoustic guitar, bass guitar, and electric guitar.
The universal success The Beatles invariably led to McCartney’s prominence. The rock group’s fame had grown beyond the shores of the United Kingdom into a generation-shaping worldwide phenomenon. Widely regarded as the most influential band of all time, The Beatles has won seven Grammy awards and remains the best selling act of all time having sold 600 million albums worldwide. After a series of conflicts around their commercial interests in the band, McCartney left the Beatles on the 10th of April 1970 and filed for the dissolution of the band.
Paul McCartney Went Solo In 1970
Paul McCartney went on to kick off his solo career and was the first of the Beatles to find his feet. He released his first solo album in 1970 titled McCartney and followed that up with another album the following year – Ram. He subsequently formed a musical group with his first wife, Linda Eastman and Denny Laine called Wings. Throughout the ’70s, Wings became the best selling pop group with five consecutive number one albums. Some of their successful albums include Band on the Run (1973) and Wings at the Speed of Sound (1976).
His next major album was his 1989 album, Flowers in the Dirt, and Flaming Pie which was released in 1997. At the turn of the century, he remained relevant releasing well-received albums including Driving Rain (2001), Chaos and Creation in the Backyard (2005), Memory Almost Full (2007), New (2013), and Egypt Station, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart in September 2018.
Throughout the years, his exceptional body of work and performance has been highly acclaimed with numerous awards and honors, including 18 Grammy Awards.
The Former Beatle Has Been Married Three Times
Linda Eastman
In 1967, he came in contact with his now-late wife Linda Eastman at a Georgia Fame musical concert. After dating for a while, they tied the knot in 1969 and had four children; James, Mary, Stella, and Heather; Linda’s daughter whom McCartney adopted. Paul’s relationship with Linda transcended into music, they worked together for many years, forming the core of the Wings. Though she never saw herself as a musician, under Paul’s tutelage, she learned the basics of playing the keyboard and got on fairly well in the band. Tragically, Linda passed away in 1998, having suffered from breast cancer.
Heather Mills
After Linda’s death, Paul married his second wife; Heather Mills, an anti-landmine campaigner and former model. Mills gave birth to a baby girl named Beatrice Milly in 2003. Three years later, the couple went their separate ways after an acrimonious divorce.
Nancy Shevell
On 9th October 2011, McCartney exchanged marital vows again with his current wife, Nancy Shevell at Old Marylebone Town Hall, London. Prior to their marriage, they had known for about two decades as neighbors at the Hamptons. A transportation consultant, she is Vice President of New England Motor Freight.
Paul McCartney now has a total of eight grandchildren; grandsons Author Alistair Donald, Eliott Donald, Beckett Robert Lee Willis, Sam, and Sid Aboud, and granddaughters Bailey Linda Olwyn and Reiley Dilys Stella.
One Of The Richest Musicians Of All Time, McCartney Is Rock Royalty
McCartney’s influence on rock music and British pop culture can never be overemphasized. Arguably one of Britain’s greatest ever composers, about 32 of his songs have peaked at No 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997 for services to music. He has been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist and as a member of the Beatles. The impact of his work on a generation can be encapsulated in Beatlemania – a frenzy-like hysteria that reached fever pitch proportions when McCartney and his colleagues performed live. The noise levels were so loud that they couldn’t even hear themselves at concerts and had to stop performing live, resorting strictly to studio productions.
It is no surprise to see that he is ranked as the UK’s wealthiest musician according to Rich List. His net worth is reported to be an enormous $1.2 billion. Paul McCartney was able to achieve this through his career in entertainment. The 18-time Grammy Award-winning singer has also appeared in films and documentaries and also partaking in some of the highest-grossing musical tours and concerts. Forbes estimates he earned $350 million from touring.
When his wife Linda passed on, her estate and wealth were turned over to him. She had investments worth $200 Million.
McCartney’s Later Endeavors and Interests
As the years have rolled on Paul McCartney has done well to stay busy and relevant. An avid animal rights activist, he has committed his time and resources to causes close to his heart. In the wake of his wife’s death, he committed his resources to campaign against landmines.
Having been a target of an insidious rumor at a certain time in his life, especially seeing that his two former bandmates have passed away, Paul is still very much alive and well. One of his most recent public engagements was publishing a children’s book Hey Grandudue in 2019.
