James Paul McCartney:a Biography
James Paul McCartney born in Liverpool, England, June 18,1942 to parents Jim and
Mary.
In 1957, Paul joined his first band, The Quary Men, with John Lennon.They begin to
write songs together.
1960, The Beatles, having slowly metamorphosed from the Quarry Men since 1957,
play Hamburg, Germany for two years.
1960, The Beatles conquer Liverpool, playing several times a week at the Cavern
Club. (They perform here almost 300 times between February 1961 and
August 1963.) In Germany, they cut their first discs, backing the English singer
Tony Sheridan.
1961 The Beatles sign with manager Brian Epstein, and producer George
Martin at EMI's Parlophone label. First single 'Love Me Do' reaches number
17 in the British charts. First radio and TV exposure.
1962, Second single 'Please Please Me' gives the Beatles their first British number
one, followed this year by 'From Me To You,' 'She Loves You' and 'I Want To
Hold Your Hand' at the start of a never-beaten run that takes all their
successive singles until 1967 to the top. Albums 'Please Please Me' and 'With
The Beatles' see the group at number one virtually all year. Major tours,
top-rated TV shows and much else helps fuel the birth of Beatlemania.
Beatlemania goes global! The Beatles twice visit North America, playing TV
and concerts galore. They also play shows in France, the Netherlands,
Denmark, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand as well as the UK. In
between, the Beatles shoot their debut motion-picture, the superbly received 'A
Hard Day's Night' - also a new album - and the end-of-year album 'Beatles For
Sale'. Singles in 1964 are 'Can't Buy Me Love', 'A Hard Day's Night' and 'I
Feel Fine'.
The Queen honors the Beatles with MBE awards. They shoot and release their
second film, 'Help!' - also a number one single and album. Other singles in
1965 are 'Ticket To Ride' and 'We Can Work It Out', while year-end album
'Rubber Soul' shows a real musical progression. The Beatles continue to play
concerts in between other commitments, playing to a world-record breaking
55,600 at Shea Stadium in New York at the start of another fabulously
successful North American tour.
The Beatles play concerts in England, Germany, Japan, the Philippines and
North America before quietly deciding that they will retire completely from the
stage - their last ever concert takes place in San Francisco on 29 August.
Singles 'Paperback Writer' and 'Eleanor Rigby' and the landmark album
'Revolver' give the clearest indication yet that, musically, the group are moving
into pastures new.
Following the release of their double-A-sided single coupling 'Penny Lane' and
'Strawberry Fields Forever', which most rock critics still consider the finest ever
pop 45, the Beatles unveil their legendary album 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts
Club Band'. This is followed closely by new single 'All You Need Is Love',
which is unveiled on the world's first global TV program, linking seven
continents by satellite. The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein dies in August, and
in September the group begins filming a Christmas TV special, 'Magical
Mystery Tour', which they conceive, write, direct and produce - and star in,
too. An album of the same title is issued, as well as single 'Hello, Goodbye'.
During this same hectic year, on 15 May, Paul meets Linda Eastman for the first
time.
The Beatles focus on their own company Apple Corps, launching many
associated enterprises including the very successful record label. Following
'Lady Madonna', their second single of the year, 'Hey Jude', is the first to
appear on the new Apple label. The Beatles also release their third film, the
cartoon 'Yellow Submarine', and their only double-album, 'The Beatles' (better
known as 'The White Album').
Paul McCartney marries Linda Eastman on 12 March. The Beatles release the
'Abbey Road' album and singles 'Get Back', 'The Ballad Of John And Yoko'
and 'Something'. The group play live for the last time together on the roof of
their Apple office in Central London.
The Beatles fourth and final film, 'Let It Be', is released, accompanied by an
album of the same title - the Beatles' last - and hit single. The Beatles break up;
Paul forms his MPL group of companies and releases his debut album
'McCartney'.
