KeyBank Center

Sir James Paul McCartney, born on 18 June 1942, is an English musician known for his work with the Beatles, where he served as bassist and keyboardist and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. He is recognized for his melodic bass-playing, versatile tenor vocal range, and exploration of various genres, including pop, classical, ballads, and electronica. McCartney's songwriting partnership with Lennon is considered the most successful in music history. He was born in Liverpool and taught himself piano, guitar, and songwriting as a teenager, influenced by his jazz-playing father and rock and roll artists such as Little Richard and Buddy Holly. He began his career in 1957 when he joined Lennon's skiffle group, the Quarrymen, which later became the Beatles in 1960. Often called "the cute Beatle," McCartney engaged with the London avant-garde scene and contributed to incorporating experimental aesthetics into the Beatles' studio work. From the 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band onward, he assumed a leadership role within the band, providing creative direction for many of their music and film projects.