- Musical family: Born to a musical family in Liverpool, England. His father, Jim McCartney, was a professional pianist, and his uncle Mike McGear was a member of the Merseybeat group The Scaffold.
- Skiffle: Inspired by the 'Skiffle' Craze of the late 1950s, which mixed elements of Jazz, Blues, and American Country music. McCartney learned basic chords on his father's guitar around age 14.
The Quarrymen:
- Joined the local skiffle group, The Quarrymen, led by his classmate John Lennon in 1957.
- McCartney quickly made an impression with his natural musical ability, and he became a core member of the group, contributing vocals, and songwriting talents.
Collaboration with John Lennon:
- The partnership between Paul McCartney and John Lennon became one of the most successful in music history. Together, they wrote numerous hit songs and developed the sound that became synonymous with The Beatles.
The Beatles Formation:
- In 1960, The Beatles were formed with McCartney as the lead bassist, Lennon as the lead guitarist and vocalist, George Harrison as the lead guitarist, and Ringo Starr as the drummer.
- The band gained local popularity in the Liverpool area and eventually became one of the biggest and most influential bands in the world.