McCartney, (James) Paul (1942– )

English rock singer, songwriter, and bass guitarist. He was a founder-member of the Beatles, and co-wrote most of their songs with fellow band member John Lennon. After the break-up of the Beatles he had a successful solo career, as well as leading the pop group Wings 1971–81, and released nine UK number one singles 1970–82.

McCartney formed Wings with his first wife, Linda, releasing ‘Mull of Kintyre’, the UK top hit of the 1970s, in 1977. His subsequent albums include Off the Ground (1993) and Flaming Pie (1997). Together with composer Carl Davis, McCartney wrote the Liverpool Oratorio (1991), his first work of classical music. Another classical composition, Standing Stones, achieved considerable success in the USA in the same year. He was knighted in 1997 and inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 1999.