He was respected by The Beatles producer, George Martin for his superior musicianship, musical inventiveness, and multi-instrumental abilities. Martin said that Paul McCartney was the one with enough attention span to sit at the piano, or in the studio as long as it takes to compose the best melody and harmony for their songs.

Owns the double bass that once belonged to Elvis Presley's bassist Bill Black.

Though a huge fan of 'Weird Al' Yankovic's work, turned down his request to parody Paul's James Bond song "Live and Let Die" as "Chicken Pot Pie" for vegetarian reasons.

Jokingly, on occasion, uses the pseudonym of 'Apollo C. Vermouth.'

Although all his songs for The Beatles are still credited as "Lennon - McCartney" he individually wrote almost half of all 200 songs for The Beatles, such as Yesterday, Let it Be, Can't Buy me Love, Helter Skelter, Eleanor Rigby, Yellow Submarine, Hey Jude and many more. Only songs in earlier albums are really joint efforts with John Lennon. The co-credit was because of a handshake deal the two had made in their teens (that was before their age was 21, so their oral agreement was technically not legal).

Has a record 29 #1 singles on the American charts with The Beatles, Paul McCartney & Wings, and as a solo artist (including one duet with Stevie Wonder).

Set up John Lennon's "home studio" for him at Kenwood, with its chain of tape decks; Lennon used this setup to make song demos for the Beatles, and later the infamous 'Two Virgins' album with Yoko Ono (which Paul gave its cover quote).

Winner of the Sony Award For Technical Excellence in 1983.

Winner of the 2007 Q Icon Award.

Favorite singers were Little Richard and Elvis Presley.

Performed "Let It Be" at Live Aid in 1985. During this performance, Bob Geldof, David Bowie, Alison Moyet and Pete Townshend (of The Who) all came on stage towards the end to sing backup vocals.

In 1971, he produced (but did not perform on) "Thrillington", an instrumental version of the album "Ram" he recorded with his wife Linda. The songs were presented in orchestral versions, and Paul's work as producer and director was pseudonymously credited to "Percy 'Thrills' Thrillington". The album was not well received by the critics, but is now a much sought-after collectable.

First used the pseudonym "Apollo C. Vermouth" when producing an album for the novelty musical group, The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band (later known as The Bonzos). He used the pseudonym because record contract obligations prevented him from using his real name on a rival record label. The band repaid McCartney's efforts with a composition entitled "Mister Apollo", a song about an impossibly perfect body builder.

He loved and was flattered by, Ray Charles' cover of "Eleanor Rigby", but John Lennon did not like the version.

He wrote his first song, "I've Lost My Little Girl", when he was 14.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Beatles January 20, 1988. Citing business differences, he did not attend the induction ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City with his former bandmates George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

Owns the copyrights to Buddy Holly's song catalogue, and also numerous other compositions, including "Ramblin' Wreck From Georgia Tech".

In 1957, his ability to play guitar and sing in many styles impressed John Lennon so much that he was invited to join his band "Quarrymen" which became The Beatles, after several name changes.

His song "Yesterday" is one of the most popular songs of all time. Whilst he was looking for the right lyrics, he was temporarily using the line "Scrambled Eggs" until he came up with "Yesterday" in the final version of the song, as it is now known to the world. It became one of the most recorded songs of all time, with more than 3,000 known versions.

Fined $200 in 1973 for growing marijuana on his Scotland farm. Arrested and jailed briefly in Japan in 1980 for carrying same substance.

He owns an interest in Apple Corps, and in MLP Communications, which owns a sizable publishing catalog with access to over 25 thousand copyrights (songs, poems, images, recordings, etc.. ).

His younger brother, Michael, is better known as Mike McGear of the satirical group "The Scaffold". Michael chose to take the name of McGear as his professional name so as not to capitalise on the fame of his brother.

Daughter, Stella McCartney, was born on September 13, 1971.

Has four grandsons and one granddaughter: Mary McCartney's two sons Arthur Alistair Donald (b. 3 April 1999) and Elliot Donald (b. 1 August 2002) and Stella McCartney's sons Miller Alasdhair James Willis (b. 25 February 2005) and Beckett Robert Lee (b. 8 January 2008), and daughter Bailey Linda Olwyn Willis (b. 8 December 2006).

Released his new album 'Memory almost full' in 2007.

His later musical compositions have included classical works, such as the acclaimed 'Liverpool Oratorio' and 'Standing Stone'.

Awarded the Polar Music Prize, the Royal Swedish Academy of Music Award, in 1992.

In 2007, before completion of the film Across the Universe (2007), director Julie Taymor brought the post-production copy to a private screening with Paul McCartney, and he liked the film. Yoko Ono also approved the film.

Is half of the techno duo The Fireman.

As of 2005, has released 32 studio albums, of which 30 feature pop music and 2 feature classical compositions. He has stated that he hopes to compose more classical pieces in the future, as well as a desire to venture into jazz at some point.

The only member of The Beatles to have been nominated for an Academy Award in his own right.

The Scissor Sisters' second album, Ta-Dah, has a song entitled Paul McCartney.

His song, "When I'm 64" was written for his father Jim on his 64th birthday.

Had a remarkable 62 top 100 singles from 1971-2005, under a variety of categories. 17 of them went to #1.

He and John Lennon quibbled bitterly in the press after the break up of The Beatles. However, in 1977, they met in New York, and allegedly saw an episode of "Saturday Night Live" (1975) in which Lorne Michaels offered $3000 to see The Beatles get back together. He and Lennon joked that they should re-unite and appear, but decided not to.

His grandchildren Arthur and Elliot are older than his daughter Beatrice.

Several of his solo albums (and those with Wings) featured cover photos by first wife Linda McCartney, including "Ram", with a picture of him handling a ram at his Scottish farm (John Lennon later parodied this picture in his "Imagine" album, grasping the ears of a pig). The back cover included a photo of bugs mating; while it was unintentional, several fans thought this illustrated a negative attitude.

His first guitar was a Zenith archtop f-hole acoustic. He got it at the Rushworth and Drapers Music Store in Liverpool when he was 14, as a gift from his father (brother Mike McGear got a banjo at the same time, but broke his arm at Boy Scout camp a few weeks later).

Has written several songs about his former bandmate John Lennon, including "Dear Boy", "Too Many People", "Dear Friend", "Let Me Roll It" and "Here Today."

One of the guitars he used in his US tour (2005) was the one he used on The Beatles' appearance on "Toast of the Town" (1948) (aka The Ed Sullian Show) in the early 1960s.

He is one of Britain's wealthiest men: according to Virgin news his estimated fortune in 2006 was 760 million pounds (about 1.5 billion US dollars). The August 1998 issue of the British rock magazine "Q", listed Paul McCartney as the richest rock star in the world with an estimated fortune of over £500m (one billion USD) in 1998.

Is portrayed by Mark J. Richardson in Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story (1995) (TV)

Born on the same day as film critic Roger Ebert, and two days before fellow musician and composer Brian Wilson.

Whilst he was looking for the right lyrics, the song Yesterday was temporarily known as "Scrambled Eggs". It became one of the most recorded songs of all time with more than 2500 versions.

During his engagement to Jane Asher, Paul (with John Lennon) wrote several songs for Jane's older brother, Peter Asher, of the singing duo Peter and Gordon, including their #1 hit "World Without Love". He also wrote the song "Woman" for them, under the pseudonym of Bernard Webb.

The hit Yesterday does not feature any of the other members of The Beatles. It's just McCartney and a string section. As such, the record company considered releasing it as a McCartney solo song, but decided not to because of objections by John Lennon.

Along with writing "Hey Jude" for Julian Lennon the summer his parents broke up, Paul also jokingly proposed to Cynthia Lennon, in the wake of his own breakup with Jane Asher. Cynthia appreciated the laugh they both shared-- and the single red rose that Paul had brought.

Won prize for drawing of a church at age 11. In 2002, from May-August, over 70 of his paintings from past 20 years on view at Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, England.

Owns a Hollywood Hills manor property purchased from Courtney Love, and Ellen DeGeneres.

In 2002 he changed the writing credits to many of the songs he made with The Beatles to "McCartney & Lennon", to a large public outrage. It is a common misconception, however that this was the first time he had done this. He made the same credit change on his 1976 live album "Wings Over America" to little or no public scrutiny and to no public comment from John Lennon (who, of course, was still alive at the time).

Owned a ranch in Tucson, Arizona; this was where first wife Linda McCartney died.

Usually considered the most "conventional" of The Beatles, but Paul has had his share of far-out ideas, including the germ of the TV-movie Magical Mystery Tour (1967) (TV), and a "self-portrait" published as a 1960s magazine cover, a psychedelic painting a la Pablo Picasso.

Still plays his 1964 Epiphone acoustic guitar which he used to compose his greatest song, Yesterday.

Paul, not Ringo, played drums on Back in the USSR, the classic 1968 hit by The Beatles.

In July 2001, shortly after their engagement was announced, his fiancée Heather Mills's engagement ring, which was lost, was found among the grass in a golf course.

Met George Harrison on a bus to school, and asked him to join the band that eventually became The Beatles.

Cousin of Kate Robbins and Ted Robbins.

Played about 40 various instruments on two of his solo albums, 'McCartney' (1970) and 'McCartney II' (1980).

According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industries in 2006, The Beatles are the biggest popular music act of all time, with over 400 million albums sold officially, while the total number of all Beatles' records sold was over 1 billion copies.

Has a stepsister Ruth McCartney, adopted by his father when he married Ruth's mother.

Father-in-law of Alistair Donald and Alasdhair Willis.

He appeared as himself in Tracey Ullman's "They Don't Know" music video.

Friends with Neil Young, who inducted him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He and his long-time wife, Linda McCartney, said that Young was their favorite performer. His favorite song of Young's is "Only Love Can Break Your Heart".

Is in The Guinnes Book of Records with 60 gold discs and sales of over 100 million singles.

The Beatles were voted the Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artists of all time by Rolling Stone. They also topped a similar list complied by VH1.

Left-handed

His father, Jim, was a musician, and had a band called Jim Mac's Jazz Band. Paul has fond memories of lying on his bedroom floor and listening to his father play piano.

Is portrayed by Gary Bakewell in The Linda McCartney Story (2000) (TV).

Met his first wife Linda McCartney in a London nightclub called the Bag O'Nails.

Made an honorary detective by the New York City Police Department for the benefit concert he gave for 9/11 victims, April 2002.

Won last-minute court order preventing Christie's from auctioning his handwritten lyrics to the song "Hey Jude." Paper with lyrics scrawled on it had been expected to bring up to $116,000 at auction scheduled for April 30, but England's High Court, ruled for Sir Paul the day before, deciding that the valuable artifact from The Beatles will remain at auction house until ownership is finally determined by agreement or trial.

A lyric sheet to his song "Yesterday" is featured on the front cover of the Marillion album "Script for a Jester's Tear" (released 1983).

Won five Grammys, including two with The Beatles. His "Eleanor Rigby" was Best Pop/Rock and Roll or Contemporary song. His "Michelle" won for Song Of The Year. "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsy" won for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)/Best Background Arrangement, "Band On The Run" won for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal and "Rockestra Theme" won for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.

According to McCartney, the name of the rock group Wings was inspired by daughter Stella McCartney's birth, which was premature and traumatic; Stella and her mother both almost died. As his daughter was being born by emergency cesarean section, Paul sat outside the operating room and prayed that she be born "on the wings of an angel."

Is portrayed by Gary Bakewell in Backbeat (1994).

Animal-rights activist, vegetarian, and anti-landmine activist. Created Paul and Linda McCartney charity foundation and several other charities. Donated millions to humanitarian causes across the world, and has been involved in charity recordings and concert performances.

Contributes "Calico Skies" to the "Warchild Hope" album (released 21 April 2003).

The three surviving members of The Beatles appeared on three separate episodes of "The Simpsons" (1989). Starr appeared in a 1991 episode of "Brush with Greatness," Harrison appeared in a 1993 episode of "Homer's Barbershop Quartet," and McCartney appeared in a 1995 episode of "Lisa The Vegetarian".

Had wanted The Beatles to do a club tour shortly before they broke up. John Lennon disagreed, thinking that if they did tour again, it should have been in stadium-sized venues.

Was the only member of The Beatles who received classical education at a school of music.

Winner of the British Phonographic Industry Award for British Male Solo Artist in 1983.

Claims his nights in a Japanese prison in 1980 were the only time he had been separated from then-wife, Linda McCartney.

Eleven years after the breakup of The Beatles, along with Ringo Starr he played on George Harrison's, "All Those Years Ago", about the death of his singing partner, John Lennon. The last Harrison song he and Starr played on was "When We Was Fab", which takes a look back at The Beatle years.

Born at 2:00pm-BDST

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 (as a solo artist).

At 5' 11", he was the tallest member of The Beatles, being about half an inch taller than the late George Harrison.

All 34 of his solo albums have made the Billboard Top 200, something very few solo artists have achieved. 12 of them, including "Wingspan", went to #1.

Named one of E!'s "top 20 entertainers of 2001."

Was the only member of The Beatles to graduate from Britain's equivalent of high-school; he majored in Art.

Played bass on the Band Aid 20 re-recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?". [November 2004]

His four children with Linda McCartney are Heather McCartney (adopted from her previous marriage), photographer Mary McCartney, top fashion designer Stella McCartney and musician/sculptor James McCartney. Paul was married to rock photographer Linda Eastman on March 12, 1969 at the Marylebone Register Office.

In 1998, his song "Blackbird" was covered by Marillion for their live album "Unplugged at the Walls".

Showed his paintings at Concert at HP Pavilion in San Jose (November 8th) leading up to his performance as apart of his US Tour

Wasn`t the youngest or the oldest member of the Beatles, who both was one of th 2 of the members of the Beatles that were in between the youngest , and the oldest, and only made himself younger to make both older, and younger females both have him as a fantasy dream man, when he was a member of the band the Beatles.

Created a collection of oil paintings, and had a one man art show in London.

Named "Man of the Year" at the GQ awards ceremony. (6 September 2006)

[Sunday 13 November 2005] Became the very first musician to perform live music for an audience in space. This music milestone occurred during his concert in Anaheim, California, when he sang "Good Day Sunshine" and "English Tea" for NASA Astronaut Bill McArthur and Russian Cosmonaut Valery Tokarev who were orbiting some 220 miles above earth in their Space Shuttle Discovery.

The Beatles were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame for their outstanding contribution to British music and integral part of British music culture. [11 November 2004]

Inducted with John Lennon into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987.

Although he was clearly The Beatles` vocalist and bass player, he was also an accomplished lead guitarist whose vibrato-laced solos can be heard on "Taxman," "Drive My Car," "Ticket to Ride," "Another Girl," and other Beatles` hits.

Announced he and his wife are to split up. Because of his pending divorce, he will now become the fourth and final member of The Beatles to get a divorce. Among the four, McCartney had the longest marriage (to Linda Eastman), although Ringo Starr is still married to his second wife (and has been since 1981). [May 2006]

28 October 2003: A daughter named Beatrice Milly was born to Paul and wife Heather Mills. She was named after Heather`s late mother Beatrice and Paul`s Aunt Milly.

In 2006, he donated $2 million to Adopt-a-Minefield.

Recovering after undergoing a secret heart operation during the fall of 2007.