Paul McCartney Biography

Fast Facts

• His mother died from breast cancer when he was 14; the same disease would later claim the life of his first wife, Linda
• Joined John Lennon's band, the Quarrymen, in 1957
• Says he wrote the 1965 classic "Yesterday," the most covered song of all time, after having awakened with its melody in his head; he originally called it "Scrambled Eggs
• " Was inspired by the Beach Boys' classic album Pet Sounds to help create what became the Beatles' 1967 masterpiece, Sgt
• Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
• Is very active in charitable work, most notably in support of animal rights and vegetarianism
• Was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997; he later named a Companion of the Order of Companions of Honour in 2017
• Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a Beatle and as a solo artist
• Is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the Most Successful Songwriter of All Time