Ten Favorite Southpaw Musicians: Paul McCartney (#2)

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I'm having linner (lunch/dinner...hey, if you can have "brunch," why can't I have linner?) at one of my favorite restaurants, ready to go chase the golf ball up and down the carpet for the weekly tournament. Before I do, here's the penultimate person on my list of favorite left-handed musician. #2: Paul McCartney I want to know who didn't think he'd show up on this list. Sir Paul. What can you say about him that hasn't been said? One of the most revered singers and songwriters in rock music history, McCartney and his three buddies from Liverpool did more than change rock and roll: they changed culture. There are only a handful of entertainers that you can say that about: we have had fads throughout my lifetime (Fonzie on Happy Days was one when I was in junior high), but the fads didn't alter the world the way the Beatles did. After the Beatles broke up McCartney launched his solo career, which was far and away the most commercially successful of any of the solo Beatles' careers. While the other Beatles managed a couple of number one hits as solo acts, McCartney tallied up six. And yes, he did do some fabulously horrid songs. John Lennon mocked him in the song "How Do You Sleep," saying, "The sound you make is Muzak to my ears." Paul cried all the way to the bank, I'm sure, cashing those checks for his "Silly Love Songs" (the #1 song of 1976). But he also has the distinction of having two singles banned by the BBC: "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" (wonder why that was banned in the early 70s? ) and "Hi Hi Hi" (banned for perceived sexually explicit and drug lyrics). McCartney made what is, in my opinion, the best solo Beatle album, too: 1973's Band on the Run. McCartney has endured a number of tragedies: the loss of two former Beatle bandmates (George Harrison, who died of cancer in 2001, and John Lennon's senseless murder in 1980) as well as the loss of his Wings guitarist, Jimmy McCulloch, to a drug overdose in 1979. Most significantly, the love of his life, Linda, died of breast cancer in 1998. Sir Paul is an elder statesman of rock and roll. He's one of the richest musicians in history. And he's proudly a southpaw. Paul McCartney Born James Paul McCartney, June 18, 1942, Liverpool, England (age 75) Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - 1988 (Beatles) and 1999 (solo) Songwriters Hall of Fame - 1987 Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (knighthood) - 1997 One of my favorite McCartney songs: