Happy Birthday, Sir Paul McCartney - We Still Love You, Now You're 70! (PHOTOS)

Happy 70th Birthday, Sir Paul McCartney
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Sir Paul McCartney is rocking into old age - the Beatles legend turns 70 on today.

The iconic artist has been entertaining the masses since his teens, when he met a local kid named John Lennon from his native Liverpool, England and joined his group The Quarrymen.

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Sir Paul McCartney - 70, and still writing and touring, with his ever-trusty guitar

The band soon changed its name to The Beatles, and the rest is... history, and still continuing.

McCartney has established himself as a great solo star too and continues to rock audiences around the world, including a rather royal crowd at Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee concert in London earlier this month.

He remains the most successful composer and recording artist of all time with sales of over 100 million albums and 100 million singles around the world, and the superstar isn't showing any signs of retiring.

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It all started back in Liverpool in the 1960s

In celebration of his huge success, here are 10 fascinating facts about the man of the hour to say, "Happy Birthday, Macca!"

- He idolised rock star Little Richard during his youth.

- McCartney faced a heartbreaking tragedy at the age of 14 when his mother, Mary, died of complications following a mastectomy. He honoured his mum's memory by naming his first daughter after her.

- The musician taught himself to play the Spanish guitar, trumpet and piano - all by ear.

- The singer had the minor planet 4148 renamed McCartney in his honor in 1990.

- The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was made an honorary Doctor of Music from America's prestigious Yale University in 2008.

- He famously married three times - he was widowed when his beloved first wife Linda Eastman died from breast cancer in 1998 and he divorced former model Heather Mills in a highly-publicised court battle in 2008, after six years of marriage. He's hoping it'll be third time lucky after wedding New York socialite Nancy Shevell last year.

- His hit Beatles song Yesterday is the most covered song in the history of recorded music - more than 2,200 artists have performed their own renditions of the track.

- McCartney became the last of the Fab Four to be awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame when he unveiled the honour earlier this year.

- He boasts an estimated fortune of $760 million (£475 million), making him one of Britain's wealthiest people.

- He owns the publishing rights to more than 25,000 songs via his company MPL Communications, including those of Buddy Holly and those in hit musicals Guys and Dolls and Grease.

Some key moments in Sir Paul's 70 years...

Paul McCartney Turns 70
(01 of13)
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Sir Paul McCartney and his new wife Nancy Shevell arrive at their north London home following their wedding at Westminster Registry Office. (Photo credit: PA)
(02 of13)
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Paul McCartney performing on stage. (Photo credit: PA)
(03 of13)
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Paul McCartney performs during the Super Bowl XXXIX Halftime Show at Alltell Stadium in Jacksonville, FL on February 6, 2005. (Photo credit: PA)
(04 of13)
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Paul McCartney performs during the Super Bowl XXXIX Halftime Show at Alltell Stadium in Jacksonville, FL on February 6, 2005. (Photo credit: PA)
(05 of13)
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Paul McCartney with his pregnant wife, Heather Mills McCartney, at the 3rd Annual Adopt-A-Minefield benefit in Los Angeles. The McCartneys hosted the event which raises money to clear minefields and provides aid to people injured by landmines. (Photo credit: PA)
(06 of13)
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Sir Paul McCartney and his wife Heather Mills arriving for the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards 2003 at the London Hilton Hotel on Park Lane. * 28/05/03 The couple, announced they were expecting their first child and were said to be "delighted" with the news.
(07 of13)
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British rock and roll legend Paul McCartney and his wife, Linda McCartney, mess around with 'Kiss Me Quick' hats at the seaside (Circa 1989).
(08 of13)
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Paul McCartney and wife Linda pause for a break during rehearsals at the Playhouse Theatre in London.
(09 of13)
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The Beatles perform on the "Ed Sullivan Show" in New York on February 9, 1964. From left, front, are Paul McCartney, George Harrison and John Lennon. Ringo Starr plays drums. (AP Photo)
(10 of13)
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Paul McCartney in The Beatles. (Photo credit: PA)
(11 of13)
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The Beatles released he album Abbey Road on this day in 1969. EMI Group, the music company which numbers The Beatles and The Spice Girls among its artists, confirmed that it had received an approach over a possible offer for the company. (Photo credit: PA)
(12 of13)
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The Beatles, from left, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon and George Harrison, are shown in this November 1963 photo. (AP Photo)
(13 of13)
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The Beatles in rehearsal at the Royal Command Performance. (Photo credit: PA)