保罗·麦卡特尼

Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, (born June 18 1942, Liverpool) is an English songwriter, musician and singer, who is best known as a former Beatle, a member of Wings (with Linda McCartney) and as a solo artist. Following the announcement of his departure from The Beatles on 10 April 1970, McCartney launched a successful solo career, and then formed Wings. McCartney has also worked in the classical music field (with works such as Liverpool Oratorio) and ambient/electronic music (under the pseudonym of The Fireman). He has released a large catalogue of songs as a solo artist, and has taken part in many other musical projects to financially assist international charities.

McCartney is listed in The Guinness Book Of Records as the most successful musician in popular music history, and the most successful popular-music composer ever, with sales of 100 million singles and 60 gold discs. McCartney's song "Yesterday" is listed as the most covered song in history and it has been played more than 7,000,000 times on American TV and radio. After its release - in 1977 - the Wings single "Mull of Kintyre" became the highest-selling record in British chart history, and remained so until 1984. McCartney's company (MPL) owns the copyrights to more than three thousand songs, including all of the songs written by Buddy Holly, and owns the publishing rights to musicals such as Guys and Dolls, A Chorus Line, and Grease.

Aside from his musical work, McCartney is a painter, a strong advocate for animal rights, vegetarianism, music education (LIPA), and is active against landmines, and Third World debt.

McCartney was awarded the MBE on October 16 1965, by Queen Elizabeth II, and on 11 March 1997, he was knighted (Knight Bachelor) for his services to music.