Join or Sign In

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Paul McCartney Biography

Birth Name:James Paul McCartney

Birth Place:Liverpool, England, United Kingdom

Profession Soundtrack, Actor, Music department, Producer, Writer, Director

Fast Facts

Supports numerous animal rights groups worldwide
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988
Received a 2010 Kennedy Center Honor
Received the 2010 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song
Was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997 for his services to music, prompting fellow Beatles members Ringo Starr and George Harrison to begin referring to him as Your Holiness
Is the father of fashion designer Stella McCartney
Discovered his love for music through his father, who kept an upright piano in the home after years of leading Jim Mac's Jazz Band during the 1920s
Met John Lennon at the age of 15 and joined his band, The Quarrymen
Quote: "A lot of people get fed up with life on the road, particularly when you've got a really nice home life․ But for me, I want it all․ I've got a great home life, and I've got a great life on the road․"
Quote: "I have a kind of personal faith in something good, but it doesn't really go much further than that․ I think that is the cause of a lot of trouble - 'My god is better than yours․' But I do think there is something greater than me․"
Remained successful after the breakup of the Beatles in 1970 with several solo albums
Often credited with creating rock's first concept album with "Sgt․ Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band․"
Sang background vocals for the Donovan album "Mellow Yellow․"
Credits Little Richard and Elvis Presley as his favorite singers
Wrote the song "I Lost My Little Girl" when he was only 14 years old

Awards

1965BAFTA Film Award-Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles: nominated
1965Grammy-Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Show: nominated
1965Golden Laurel-Musical Performance, Male: nominated
1966Grammy-Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Show: nominated
1966Golden Laurel-Musical Performance, Male: nominated
1970Grammy-Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special: nominated
1971Oscar-Best Music, Original Song Score: winner
1971Grammy-Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special: winner
1974Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
1974Grammy-Album of Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special: nominated
1985BAFTA Film Award-Best Original Song: nominated
1985Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: nominated
1988BMI TV Music Award-: winner
1989BMI TV Music Award-: winner
1990BMI TV Music Award-: winner
1994BMI TV Music Award-: winner
1995BMI TV Music Award-: winner
1996BMI TV Music Award-: winner
1997Grammy-Best Music Video - Long Form: winner
1999BMI TV Music Award-: winner
1999OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Adapted Song: winner
2000BMI TV Music Award-: winner
2002Oscar-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
2002Critics Choice Award-Best Song: winner
2002Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: nominated
2002OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Adapted Song: nominated
2002OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Original Song: nominated
2002PFCS Award-Best Original Song: nominated
2002Golden Satellite Award-Best Original Song: nominated
2003Grammy-Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: nominated
2008OFTA Film Award-Best Music, Adapted Song: winner
2010Critics Choice Award-Best Song: nominated
2010DFCS Award-Best Original Song: nominated
2010Golden Globe-Best Original Song - Motion Picture: nominated
2010World Soundtrack Award-Best Original Song Written for a Film: nominated
2022PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television: winner
2022Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series: winner
2024IDA Award-Best Music Documentary: nominated