Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles (1960–1970) and Wings (1971–1981), McCartney is the most commercially successful songwriter in the history of popular music, according to Guinness World Records.
McCartney gained worldwide fame as a member of The Beatles, alongside John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. McCartney and Lennon formed one of the most influential and successful songwriting partnerships and wrote some of the most popular songs in the history of rock music. After leaving The Beatles, McCartney launched a successful solo career and formed the band Wings with his first wife, Linda Eastman, and singer-songwriter Denny Laine. McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100 million singles in the UK.
BBC News Online readers named McCartney the "greatest composer of the millennium", and BBC News cites his Beatles song "Yesterday" as the most covered song in the history of recorded music—by over 2,200 artists—and since its 1965 release, has been played more than 7,000,000 times on American television and radio according to the BBC. Wings' 1977 single "Mull of Kintyre" became the first single to sell more than two million copies in the UK, and remains the UK's top selling non-charity single. Based on the 93 weeks his compositions have spent at the top spot of the UK chart, and 24 number one singles to his credit, McCartney is the most successful songwriter in UK singles chart history. As a performer or songwriter, McCartney was responsible for 32 number one singles on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, and has sold 15.5 million RIAA certified albums in the US alone.
McCartney has composed film scores, classical and electronic music, released a large catalogue of songs as a solo artist, and has taken part in projects to help international charities. He is an advocate for animal rights, for vegetarianism, and for music education; he is active in campaigns against landmines, seal hunting, and Third World debt. He is a keen football fan, supporting both Everton and Liverpool football clubs. His company MPL Communications owns the copyrights to more than 3,000 songs, including all of the songs written by Buddy Holly, along with the publishing rights to such musicals as Guys and Dolls, A Chorus Line, and Grease. McCartney is one of the UK's wealthiest people, with an estimated fortune of £475 million in 2010.
Movies
A Hard Day's Night
Paul
Let It Be
Self (The Beatles) (uncredited)
Paul McCartney: In Red Square
Himself
The Society of the Spectacle
Self (archive footage)
Paul McCartney: Back in the U.S.
Self
Jimi Plays Monterey
Self (archive footage)
Imagine: John Lennon
Self
Magical Mystery Tour
Self / Major McCartney / Brown Nosed Magician
Give My Regards to Broad Street
Paul
Concert for George
Self
Live 8
Self
Help!
Paul
Paul McCartney: The Space Within Us
The Best British Rock Concert of All Time, Live at Knebworth
Self
Party at the Palace: The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace
Self - Performer
Live Aid
Self
Beatles chronology (1962-1970)
Self (archive footage)
The 4 Complete Ed Sullivan Shows Starring The Beatles
Self (archive footage)
Billy Joel: Live at Shea Stadium
Self - Musical Guest
The Making of Sgt. Pepper
Self
Wingspan
Himself
The Love We Make
Self
Paul McCartney: Good Evening New York City
Self
All You Need Is Klaus
Himself
The Beatles at Shea Stadium
Self
Rare and Unseen: The Beatles
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: A Magical History Tour
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Watching Rainbows
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles - Live at the Washington Coliseum
Self
The Beatles: Help!
Self (archive footage)
The Concert for New York City
Self
The Beatles Unauthorized
Self (archive footage)
Paul McCartney Really Is Dead: The Last Testament of George Harrison
Self (archive footage)
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live - The Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Self
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
Self
Fun with the Fab Four
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles on Record
Self
Paul McCartney: Live at the Cavern Club
Self - vocals & bass guitar
Paul McCartney: In Performance at the White House
Self
The Beatles - Unsurpassed Promos
Self (archive footage)
All Together Now
Himself
Paul McCartney: The Liverpool Sound
The Mersey Sound
Self
God Bless Ozzy Osbourne
Self
London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony: Isles of Wonder
Self
The Diamond Jubilee Concert 2012
Self - Performer
Paul McCartney: Put It There
Self
Mr. Blue Sky: The Story of Jeff Lynne & ELO
Self
Paul McCartney: Live Kisses
Self
Paul McCartney's Get Back
Vocals, Bass
Produced By George Martin
Sound City
Self
12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief
Self
Rockshow
Himself
Good Ol' Freda
Self (archive footage)
Ivor Cutler: Looking For Truth With a Pin
Self
The Beatles: Love Me Do - A Documentary
Self (archive footage)
Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train a Comin'
Self - Musician
You Can't Do That! The Making of 'A Hard Day's Night'
Self
Composing the Beatles Songbook: Lennon & McCartney 1966-1970
Self (archive footage)
In Search of James Bond with Jonathan Ross
A Beatle
The Beatles: A Celebration
Self (archive footage)
Alf Bicknell's Beatles Diary
Self
Paul McCartney: Out There Tokyo
Self - Vocals, Bass
Paul McCartney: The McCartney Years
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Reflections on Love
Self (archive footage)
A MusiCares Tribute To Paul McCartney
Self
Hard Rock Calling 2010
Self
The Beatles: Around the World
Self (archive footage)
Brian Wilson: On Tour
Self
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Self
Eat the Rich
Banquet Guest
Paul McCartney - Out There at Budokan
Himself
Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile
Self
Wings Over the World
Himself
The Beatles 1
Self (archive footage)
Paul McCartney: Chaos and Creation at Abbey Road
Self
The Beatles 1+
Self (archive footage)
Tony Bennett: Duets - The Making of an American Classic
Self
Bill Monroe: Father of Bluegrass Music
Self
The Beatles: Eight Days a Week - The Touring Years
Self
Music for Montserrat
Self
Paul McCartney: Something NEW
Himself
The Beatles: Fifty Fabulous Years
Self (archive footage)
Elvis Costello: Mystery Dance
Self
British Rock: The First Wave
Self (archive footage)
Paul McCartney: Up and Coming Brasil
The Beatles: Chronology Vol. 1 y 2
Self - bajo, vocalista
Rupert and the Frog Song
Various Characters
How the Beatles Rocked the Kremlin
Himself
Bang! The Bert Berns Story
Himself
Deconstructing the Beatles' White Album
Self (archive footage)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Uncle Jack
Paul McCartney: Ecce Cor Meum
Himself
Paul McCartney: From Rio to Liverpool
Self
Paul McCartney: Movin' On
Himself
Paul McCartney: Unplugged
Himself
The Paul McCartney Special
Himself
Paul McCartney & Friends: The PeTA Concert for Party Animals
Self
Paul is Live in Concert on The New World Tour
Himself
The Beatles Sing for Shell
Self
The Beatles in Australia
Self
Paul McCartney: The Complete Up Close Rehearsal
Self
Paul McCartney: Live at the Olympia Paris 2007
Mal Evans on Vacation
Self
GRAMMYS' Greatest Stories: A 60th Anniversary Special
Self
The Abbey Road Story
Himself
The Compleat Beatles
Self (archive footage)
I Was There: When the Beatles Played the Cavern
Self (archive footage)
It Was Fifty Years Ago Today! The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper & Beyond
Self
How the Beatles Changed the World
Self (archive footage)
Tuesday
voice
The Beatles: Get Back...Winter of Discontent
Self (archive footage)
Concerts for the People of Kampuchea
Self
Silver Clef Award Winners Show, Knebworth Park
Self
Beatles: The Journey
Self (archive footage)
Free to Rock
Self - The Beatles (archive footage)
Paul McCartney and Wings - Lightspeed
The Beatles In Australia: 30th Anniversary
Self (archive footage)
Sgt Pepper's Musical Revolution
Self (archive footage)
Annie Nightingale: Bird on the Wireless
Self
My Generation
Self (archive footage)
Tropic Island Hum
Wirral / Froggo / Bison / Various
Paul McCartney | Live at Grand Central Station
Self
Paul McCartney: Under the Staircase
Himself
Quincy
Self
Paul McCartney: Live at Austin City Limits Music Festival, 2018
Himself
Paul McCartney - The Music and Animation Collection
Himself
Paul McCartney: In the World Tonight
All You Need Is Love
Self
The Cooler
Prisoner/Country Musician/Cowboy On Horseback (uncredited)
The Beatles: Destination Hamburg
Self (archive footage)
The Bruce McMouse Show
Himself / Soily McMouse (voice)
Carpool Karaoke: When Corden Met McCartney Live From Liverpool
Himself
The Beatles: Live in Washington DC
Self
The Dave Clark Five and Beyond: Glad All Over
Self
Elvis: Viva Las Vegas
Self
Beatles: Big Beat Box
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Live in The Netherlands
Self
Children in Need Rocks the Royal Albert Hall
Self
James Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney & Wings: Wild Life
Saturday Night Live: A Tribute to Chris Farley
Self
The Beatles: The First U.S. Visit
Self (archive footage)
Deconstructing the Beatles' Abbey Road: Side 2
Self (archive footage)
Doctor Who: Origins
Self (archive footage)
The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles
Self
The Beach Boys: It's OK
Self
David Wants to Fly
The Beatles Story
Self (archive footage)
Deconstructing the Beatles' Abbey Road: Side 1
Self (archive footage)
Dark Glamour: The Blood and Guts of Hammer Productions
Self - Musician (archive footage)
Brüno
Self (uncredited)
Magical Mystery Tour Revisited
Self
George Harrison - All Things Pass
Self (archive footage)
Linkin Park and Friends - Celebrate Life in Honor of Chester Bennington
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Recovered Archives Vol. 4
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Recovered Archives Vol. 3
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Recovered Archives Vol. 1
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Recovered Archives Vol. 2
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Here There and Everywhere
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles - The Get Back Chronicles 1969 Volume One
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles - The Get Back Chronicles 1969 Volume Three
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles - The Get Back Chronicles 1969 Volume Two
Self (archive footage)
Die Beatles
Self (as The Beatles)
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em Sport Relief Special
Himself
Paul McCartney - Live on Hollywood Boulevard
Self
Yellow Submarine
Paul (uncredited)
One World: Together at Home
Self
Paul McCartney - Take It Away
Live Aid: 20 Years Ago Today
Self
Will the Real Mr. Sellers...
Self
Harry Benson: Shoot First
Self (archive footage)
Around the Beatles
Self
Pop Gear
Self
Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Show
Self - Performer
The Beatles: Live in Paris
Self
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live - Whole Lotta Shakin'
Meeting the Beatles in India
Self
Beatles Biggest Secrets
Self (archive footage)
Live Aid
Self
The Nation's Favourite Beatles Number One
Self (archive footage)
Braverman's Condensed Cream of the Beatles
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Love
Self
Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert
Self (archive footage)
Al's Brain
Man on the Street
Paul McCartney - Live in Quebec
What's Happening! The Beatles in the USA
Self - The Beatles Member
One Hand Clapping
The Winged Beetle
Self
Paul McCartney at the Cavern Club
Idris Elba Meets Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney: Live at BBC Electric Proms
Self
Billy Connolly: It’s Been a Pleasure...
Self
Rolling Stone 25: The MTV Special
Himself
Ballad of the Skeletons
Muhammad Ali: The Greatest
Self
The Cavern Club: The Beat Goes On
Self
Biggest Band Break Ups and Make Ups
Self
Monument
Self (archive footage)
Naqoyqatsi
Self (archive footage)
Ready Steady Go! The Beatles Live
Self
The Beatles: Budokan Tokyo 1966
Self (lead and backing vocals, bass guitar)
El Rey en Londres
Self (archive footage)
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
The Music of Lennon & McCartney
Self (archive footage)
There's Only One Paul McCartney
Self (archive footage)
John Lennon: Love Is All You Need
Self (archive footage)
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
Self (archive footage)
Under the Volcano
Self (archive footage)
Paul McCartney At The BBC
The Day the Music Died
Self
Inside John Lennon - Unauthorized
Self (archive footage)
Jealous Guy: The Assassination of John Lennon
Self (archive footage)
2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Self
Things They Said Today
Self (archive footage)
Live Aid Against All Odds
Self
Paul McCartney: Wings of a Beatle
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Get Back - The Rooftop Concert
Self (archive footage)
Paul Simon: Under African Skies
Self
Back to the Egg
Self
The Beatles and India
Self (archive footage)
The Queen: 70 Glorious Years
Self
Paul Is Live In Concert – On the New World Tour
Himself
Paul McCartney: Independence Concert - Live in Kiev
Self - Musician
Our World
Self
Paul McCartney - Live in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Brian Epstein: Inside the Fifth Beatle
Self (archive footage)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
Self (archive footage)
It's So Far Out, It's Straight Down!
Mighty Good: The Beatles
Self
The Beatles Explosion
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: In Chicago 1964-1966
Self
The Beatles – Ready Steady Go!
Self
Wings - First Flight 1969-1974
Paul McCartney - Eine Beatles-Legende
Himself (archive)
Paul McCartney at Glastonbury 2022
Self
The Queen Carries On: A Gayle King Special
Self
This Is Elvis
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Unity
Self (archive footage)
Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert
Self
The Sound of 007
Self (archive footage)
Holiday Greetings from 'The Ed Sullivan Show'
Self (archive footage)
Here, There and Everywhere: A Concert for Linda
Self
Paul McCartney: Live in Canada
Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar, Lead Guitars, Ukelele, Grand Piano
Paul McCartney - BBC Radio 2 in Concert
Self
If These Walls Could Sing
Self
Twiggy
Video AID
Self
Thriller 40
Self (archive footage)
Doctor Who: The Chase
Self (archive footage)
The Motown Invasion
The Rise & Fall of WCW
Self (archive footage)
P!NK: Staying True
Self
The Beatles - Abbey Road
Self - vocals, bass
Paul McCartney - Live at Glastonbury
Self
Paul McCartney Live at Zócalo
Self
I Wanna Hold Your Hand
Self (archive footage)
Beatles Stories
Self (archive footage)
Little Richard: I Am Everything
Self (archive footage)
Buddy Holly
Self
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! The Beatles in New York
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Let It Be
The Lost Weekend: A Love Story
Self (archive footage)
The Trials of Heather Mills
Self (archive footage)
Louder Than Rock
Self (archive footage)
The Rolling Stones - The First 20 Years
Self
Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape
Self (archive footage)
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
Self (archive footage)
Take Your Pills
Self (archive footage)
Squaring the Circle (The Story of Hipgnosis)
Self
Sounds of Liverpool at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
The Stones and Brian Jones
Self (voice) (archive material)
Help! War Child
Self
The Beatles: The Mini Documentaries
Self
Paul Newman: The Restless
Self (archive footage)
Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars
Self
Elton John: Glastonbury 2023
Self
George Michael: Freedom Uncut
Self (archive footage)
WHAM!
Self (archive footage)
Manson: Music From an Unsound Mind
Self (archive footage)
Reinventing Elvis: The 68' Comeback
Self (archive footage)
Parkinson at 50
Self (archive footage)
Go Cat Go!
Self
Lady Gaga Presents: The Monster Ball Tour at Madison Square Garden
Self (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live: 40th Anniversary Special
Self
Killing John Lennon
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles Come to Town
Self
I Am Chris Farley
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: REVOLUTION
Self
The Beatles: SOMETHING
Self
...Sings the Beatles
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: Parting Ways
Himself
Paul McCartney Live: Glastonbury Festival 2022
Self
Now and Then - The Last Beatles Song
Self
Wings Over Australia
Self
Desert Island Discs
Self
Beatles - Tokyo, Japan 66
Himself
The Beatles - In Germany 24-26 June, 1966
Self
The Beatles and the BBC
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles are Coming
The Beatles - Live at The Empire Theatre Liverpool
The Beatles - 1967-1970
Self (archive footage)
Spinal Tap II
Paul McCartney: Got Back
Self
Paul McCartney On the Run Tour - Estadio Azteca
Self
The Brian Epstein Story
Self
Understanding Lennon/McCartney
Self (archival footage)
The Beatles: HEY JUDE
Self
Paul McCartney - Live in Charlotte
Beatles på Sverigeturné
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles: 1964 US Tour Reconstruction
Goodnight Moon & Other Sleepytime Tales
Self (archive footage / uncredited)
Jim Carter: Lonnie Donegan and Me
Self
Tina Turner : Celebrate!
Genius
Self (archive footage)
Man on the Run
Self
Paul McCartney: Ghosts of the Past
him self
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Self (archive Footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
Self – The Beatles (archive footage)
The Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour Memories
Self (Archive Footage)
The Beatles Mod Odyssey
Self
The Beach Boys
Self (archive footage)
Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple
Self
The Bannfoot Ferry
Self (archive)
Shows
The Simpsons
Paul McCartney (voice)
The South Bank Show
Self
The Beatles
The Beatles Anthology
The Grammy Awards
Self
The Oscars
Self
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross
Self
MTV Unplugged
Self
Al TV
Self
Harty
Self
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
The Daily Show
Self
Wetten, dass..?
Self
Disco
Self
Wogan
Self
The Beatles Anthology
Self
Saturday Night Live
Self - Musical Guest
Musikladen
Self
Bambi Awards
Self
BoJack Horseman
Paul McCartney (voice)
Saturday Night Live
Self
Champs-Elysées
Self
The Graham Norton Show
Self
20th Century Greats
Self (archive footage)
Top of the Pops
Self
Die Drehscheibe
Self
Timewatch
Self (archive footage)
Great Performances
Self
The Morecambe & Wise Show
Self
Sacrée soirée
self
V.I.P.
Self
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
The Kenny Everett Video Show
Mentiras verdaderas
Self (archive footage)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self - Musical Guest
McCartney 3, 2, 1
Self
The Beatles: Get Back
Self (archive footage)
Britain's Got the Pop Factor... and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice
Self
This Is Pop
Self (archive footage)
Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson
Self
Mike Yarwood In Persons
Omnibus
Self
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self - Member of The Beatles
History 101
Self (archive footage)
Elvis Presley: The Searcher
Self (archive footage)
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
Self
Midi Première
Self
Legends
Self
Champs-Elysées
Self (Vidéoclip) (archive footage)
60 Minutes
Self
30 Rock
Paul McCartney
Leute heute
Self
Bread
Paul McCartney
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
Self
Top of the Pops
Self (archive footage)
The Beatles
Bass Guitar
Saturday Night Live