Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney was born in Liverpool on June 18, 1942. He was raised in the city and educated at The Liverpool Institute.
At the age of 15 he met John Lennon. Together with George Harrison and Ringo Starr, they formed the most successful group in the history of music--the Beatles.
Since the Beatles, Paul has released 21 albums and staged three world tours, while evolving into classical composition, film-making and actively campaigning for ecology and animal rights.
In the seventies, with releases such as "Band On The Run," "Live and Let Die" and "Mull Of Kintyre," he led his band Wings to great success both on the charts and on tour around the globe. His solo period during the eighties culminated with charity performances at Live Aid and for The Prince of Wales Trust, leading him to get back on the road again.
Since 1990, Paul McCartney has traveled over 800,000 miles in concert through 22 countries, setting, along the way, the Guinness world record for the largest stadium crowd in the history of rock and roll--184,000 in Rio de Janeiro. During the same time, he also established the "MTV Unplugged" vogue and then performed his acoustic show in clubs and pubs around Europe.
In 1991, Paul staged the performance of his first classical work, "The Liverpool Oratorio," which has since been performed in more than 50 cities worldwide. In 1995--the 30th anniversary of his most acclaimed song, "Yesterday"-- Paul's second classical work, "A Leaf," was performed at a benefit concert he organized for the Royal College of Music at St. James Palace.
Currently, Paul is composing a major orchestral work, commissioned to mark the 100th anniversary of EMI Records. In recognition of his work for all music, Paul was recently appointed Fellow of the Royal College of Music, the U.K.'s highest musical honor.
Aside from his music, Paul McCartney campaigns for Greenpeace, Friends of The Earth and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. He and his wife Linda are the new patrons of the British Vegetarian Society. He is also the chief patron of The Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts, a new school
similar to New York's High School of the Performing Arts, which will open in his hometown in 1996.
Paul has also developed his interest in film-making. His first production, "Daumier's Law," won the top prize in 1992 at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards. His latest short feature, "Grateful Dead, A Photofilm," will be entered in the London Film Festival at the invitation of the British Film Institute.
When he is not working, Paul McCartney relaxes by painting, sailing and songwriting.
Paul and Linda McCartney have been married for 26 years and have four children.