Paul McCartney saw young Motown star Stevie Wonder perform on this day at the Scotch Of St James club in London.
The Beatles were all fans of Motown’s recordings, and after the performance McCartney and Wonder chatted backstage.
Wonder’s tutor, Ted Bull, accompanied the 15-year-old singer on his tours.
When on tour I have to write essays about the places I visit. In the essay I’ll be writing when I get back I’ll certainly include my meeting with Paul McCartney. I met him in the Scotch Of St James club. He’s a really swinging guy, the only Beatle I’ve met.
Stevie Wonder
NME, 18 February 1966
NME, 18 February 1966
Many years later, in 1982, the pair released a single, ‘Ebony And Ivory’, which topped the charts in both the UK and US.
Last updated: 20 July 2021
Also on this day...
- 2009: The Beatles’ former Apple HQ goes on sale
- 2002: Paul McCartney live: Super Bowl XXXVI, Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans
- 1970: Recording, mixing: Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing by Ringo Starr
- 1969: Allen Klein is appointed The Beatles’ manager
- 1968: Recording: Lady Madonna, Across The Universe
- 1967: Recording: A Day In The Life
- 1964: The Beatles live: Olympia Theatre, Paris
- 1963: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
- 1962: The Beatles live: Cavern Club, Liverpool (evening)
- 1961: The Beatles live: St John’s Hall, Bootle
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
Here’s some trivia: Paul has called The Funk Brothers’ bassist James Jamerson his biggest influence on his bass playing. I’m sure that he would’ve studied Jamerson’s basslines on many of Motown’s releases.