Sir Paul McCartney is a British singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer who rose to fame as a member of the Beatles. He is widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential musicians of all time. After the Beatles disbanded in 1970, McCartney pursued a solo career and formed the band Wings with his first wife, Linda. He has since released numerous albums and singles, and has won multiple awards, including 18 Grammy Awards. He is also an activist and philanthropist, and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997 for his services to music.