Paul McCartney was born James Paul McCartney at the Walton Hospital in Liverpool, England, on June 18, 1942. Paul’s mother, who died when he was in his teens, worked as a nurse and midwife. His father worked in the area’s cotton market. According to Vincent Perez Benitez’s “The Words and Music of Paul McCartney: The Solo Years,” Paul’s mother insisted that he have the middle name by which he would soon be known. She chose the name to distinguish the boy from his father and grandfather, both of whom were named James McCartney and had no middle name.Paul’s first major musical influence was his father, who had been a trumpeter with a group called Jim Mac’s Jazz Band in the 1920s. Paul joined the Quarrymen in 1957 after being introduced to the band’s lead singer, John Lennon. Soon, the group included George Harrison and eventually evolved into the Beatles, which would become what is generally recognized as the most popular band in the history of rock.Lennon and McCartney became one of the most prolific writing duos in music history, with such songs as “Yesterday” and “Hey Jude.” McCartney would go on to a successful solo career after the Beatles broke up in 1970. His post-Beatles work included songs like “Maybe I’m Amazed” and “Band On The Run.”