Paul McCartney turns 63 - audio available

Paul McCartney, the most successful songwriter in the history of popular music, is 63 on Saturday.

McCartney met original songwriting partner John Lennon on July 6, 1957 at a church social where Lennon was performing. After joining Lennon's band, the Quarrymen, McCartney persuaded Lennon to add his friend George Harrison in 1958, and the seeds of the Beatles were born. Ringo Starr joined the group in 1962.

McCartney married photographer Linda Eastman in 1969 and they had four children - Mary, Stella and James - and McCartney adopted Linda's daughter Heather from her previous marriage. After the Beatles' breakup the next year, the pair formed the solo group Wings in 1971, which scored a number of Top Ten hits, including the Number Ones "My Love," "Band On The Run," "Listen To What the Man Said," "Silly Love Songs," "With A Little Luck," and "Coming Up." McCartney disbanded the group in 1981.

After Linda McCartney's death from cancer in 1998, McCartney met and married activist Heather Mills in 2002 and had one child with her, Beatrice Milly, born in 2003.

McCartney is currently working on a new album due out later this summer, and launches his latest US tour on September 16 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami.

McCartney told us that every time he hits the road there's an element of risk:
[ click here to listen if you have a Backstage Pass] "The thing is you think about, the first time we ever went out with the Beatles was risky. I mean, you know, we were no one and we had to build the whole thing up. I think every time you go out, from time to time, you're just not in your hottest period, you know, record-wise. So you just go, I just do my best, you know, try to play some good music. If people come and see me, you know, then great. If they buy the album -- better."