Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney was one of the founders of the Beatles, the most famous musical group of the 20th century. Paul McCartney was born in June 1942 and met up with future fellow Beatle John Lennon in 1957 at a picnic. The friends started playing together in a band called Quarrymen. McCartney and Lennon collaborated on dozens of songs, many of which became number one singles in the United States.

All told, Paul McCartney has composed over 50 top ten musical hits in his life--a world record. He has also done work as an advocate for vegetarianism and animal rights. Some of McCartney's most popular tunes include Eleanor Rigby, Hey Jude, Live and Let Die, and Let It Be. Paul McCartney and John Lennon worked as a major creative force, but the duo endured a great deal of friction during the later years of the Beatles.

McCartney later went on to form a band called Wings, which proved widely popular both in the United States and in Europe. McCartney also recorded the duet Ebony and Ivory with American soul singer Stevie Wonder. McCartney has been knighted and inducted into the United States Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is a true polymath, capable of playing the guitar, the bass, and the piano.

McCartney was often inspired by unusual, spur-of-the-moment melodies. He claims to have developed the melody for Yesterday, one of the all-time best-selling number one hits, after waking from an odd dream. McCartney's career has spanned decades, and he remains a potent force influencing today's musicians.