A Day in the Life is a good song to sing today because Paul McCartney was honored in on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Indeed, this member of the Beatles now has his very own star, and, with that, the boy from Liverpool landed a landmark in Tinseltown.
The sun shined for 69-year-old Sir Paul McCartney Thursday as the sidewalk lit up from natural light in front of the iconic Capitol Records building while the legendary Brit was given a prominent place devoted to him on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Passers by who did not happen to know about the event were shocked to see one of the remaining Beatles in the flesh, while knowing fans were there to honor their hero who looked just like the rock star he in a black leather jacket, long tresses, and a pair of groovy shades, the latter of which were necessary due to the afternoon glare.
It was there that Paul McCartney, along with his new wife Nancy Shevell, and his son James, accepted his plaque that now completes those special stars reminding everyone of the Fab Five and their immense contribution to the world of entertainment since Ringo Starr, George Harrison and John Lennon had already been immortalized at this must-see tourist spot on which you can literally stand on your favorite celebrity.
Paul spoke modestly at the beginning of the star ceremony, saying "When were kids in Liverpool listening to Buddy Holly and all the rock and roll greats, I would never thought the day would come when I would be getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame...that was an impossible thing to happen."
But, indeed, that did happen. In fact, this Hollywood Walk of Fame star, number 2,460 among all the prominent cement stars that make up the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was actually set into motion nearly a decade ago. But delays kept turning into more delays until, finally, on February 9, 2012, Macca's plaque was where it was supposed to be.
So why did Paul McCartney received his star just now and not earlier, or later for that matter, given the honor took so long in coming?
Because it was 48 years ago this week that the Beatles took the stage in Rockefeller Center in New York at The Ed Sullivan Show to entertain the screaming and fainting fans on this side of the pond for the first time on American TV. It was then and there that a phenomenon was born and even though the Mop Tops broke up long ago, they are still recognized as a group that changed the face of rock music.
As all music aficionados know, Paul McCartney continued contributing, and so it was only right that he showed up and that the ceremony went on with his long-time colleague, musician Neil Young delivering McCartney a heartfelt speech in honor of the 14-time Grammy winner.
He said, according to the LA Times, “When I was in high school and the Beatles came out, I loved the Beatles and I tried to learn how to play like them, and no one could figure out what Paul was doing on the bass. Not only was he playing differently because he plays left-handed, he played notes that no one had put together before in a way that made us stand in awe of this great musician.”
On hand to take in the admiration and the speeches that centered around Paul on Thursday were such music industry luminaries as British singer Elvis Costello and his wife, jazz singer Diana Krall, Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh and the venerable Herbie Hancock. Ringo Starr, the only remaining member of the Beatles still alive, couldn't make the event because, as Paul explained, his former bandmate was "under the weather."
But the famous drummer was there in spirit, for sure, since Paul said he would never have been standing there without Ringo, George and John.
Meanwhile, Paul McCartney, one of only two remaining Fab Four, released his newest disc this week called Kisses on the Bottom, with new songs like My Valentine and Only Our Hearts as part of a collection that also includes old favorites. With that offering being the latest from this prolific musician to be put on the shelves at this particular time of the year, lovers everywhere may just have found the perfect gift to give their sweetheart on February 14.
That said, Paul McCartney was due to drop a romantic new album given he married only a few months ago. And no doubt Nancy Chevell will enjoy walking all over her new husband in Hollywood thanks to the fresh star that's on the sidewalk in front of the familiar Capitol Records building as part of one of Los Angeles' most enduring visitors' attractions no tourist can leave LA without experiencing.
Image: Creative Commons
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