Sir James Paul McCartney was born June 18, 1942 at Walton Hospital, where his mother had worked as a nurse. Walton Hospital is in the northern part of Liverpool not far from Paul's teen-age home at 20 Forthlin Road, Liverpool. His father, Jim, was a cotton salesman and a pianist leading the Jim Mac's Jazz Band in Liverpool. Young Paul McCartney was raised non-denominational. He studied music and art, and had a happy childhood with one younger brother, Michael. At age 11, he was one of only four students who passed the 11+ exam, known as "the scholarship" in Liverpool, and gained a place at Liverpool Institute for Boys. There he studied from 1953 to 1960, earning A level in English and Art.
At 15 Paul met John Lennon (at a church pinic) and the Quarrymen at the Woolton fete and they began a close working relationship. They would often practice at Paul’s house. They even collaborated on several songs. Paul then persuaded George Harrison to join the band, who joined the group as a lead guitarist. After trying out many names, The Beatles was finally formed. He and George Harrison were high school pals. Together they formed the heart of The Quarrymen, later changing their name to the Beatles.McCartney first rose to fame as the bassist, pianist, guitarist, singer and songwriter for The Beatles.
During the mid 1960s McCartney became interested in experimental music, and made tape loops and avant-garde recordings, both alone and with The Beatles. The first to take on a non-Beatles musical commitment, in 1966 McCartney wrote the score for the film The Family Way. It later won an Ivor Novello award for Best Instrumental Theme.
In August 1971 he formed Wings, and in 1977 released Mull Of Kintyre, which remained the UK's highest selling single until 1984. In the 1980s he collaborated with Elvis Costello, and in 1991 released his first classical work, the Liverpool Oratorio.
Paul had a long standing 5-year relationship with Jane Ashe. Paul and Jane had announced their engagement in 1967. In 1968, she accompanied Paul to India. She broke off their engagement upon their return when she discovered him in bed with another woman. In 1969, Paul married Linda Eastman. He adopted Heather Louise, Linda’s daughter from an earlier marriage. They had 3 children: Mary Anna, Stella Nina and James Louis. In 1998, Linda, Paul’s wife, died of breast cancer. In 2002, Paul married Heather Mills. They had one daughter, Beatrice Milly McCartney. They announced their separation in 2006.