Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as a member of the Beatles. Born in Liverpool, England, he grew up in a working-class family and formed early bands before meeting John Lennon and forming the Beatles with George Harrison and Ringo Starr. As the Beatles' bassist and one of its principal songwriters, McCartney helped create many of pop music's most enduring songs, earning a reputation as a versatile melodic writer and performer. After the group's breakup in 1970, he formed Wings with his wife Linda McCartney and scored further hits such as Band on the Run while continuing a prolific solo career. Over six decades, McCartney has released dozens of albums, won numerous awards, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians in history. He was knighted in 1997 for services to music and has remained an active performer and recording artist into the 2020s.