Linda McCartney Was a Famous Photographer & Paul McCartney Cried for a Year after Her Death

Linda McCartney has remained in her husband's heart, the legendary Sir Paul McCartney, for more than a decade after her passing, and he has even gone as far as fulfilling her wishes.

Linda McCartney's death evoked a deep sadness in her husband that led to him writing heart-wrenching quotes about his late wife, including a confession that he cried for a year after Linda's death. The American photographer died of cancer in April 1998 at age 56.

Although Linda McCartney was mainly known as Paul McCartney's wife, she also made a name for herself as an accomplished artist and famously recognized photographer.

LINDA MCCARTNEY'S LIFE

Linda Louise McCartney drew her first breath on September 24, 1941, in Scarsdale, New York. She finished her schooling career at Scarsdale High School and traveled to Arizona State University to pursue a degree in Art History.

McCartney was devoted to her degree. According to her page, she also attended night school, where she received only two lessons in photography. Hence she wasn't considered a trained photographer.

However, the late artist seemed naturally inclined toward the art form. McCartney was inspired by the work of Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, and Edward Weston.

Furthermore, she fostered a deep appreciation for the history of photography, which led her to do honourary work for one of its earliest pioneers, William Henry, by producing cyanotype prints.

Linda was interested in extending her photographic repertoire by experimenting with its subtypes throughout her career. She produced polaroids by the thousands.

She worked as an editorial receptionist for "Town and Country Magazine." During her time with the outlet, Linda took advantage of an unwanted invitation to a Rolling Stones promotional party.

She documented the event using a camera, with which she photographed the band. Her style was distinct and relaxed. Town and Country were so impressed with her work that they included her photos in an editorial feature.

It was the first of many editorial commissions that followed, and her career as a professional photographer began taking off in the mid-1960s. During the decade, her work comprised documenting its musical evolution. Linda also worked as a photographer in New York at Fillmore East.

She took photos of several artists, such as Otis Redding, The Doors, Traffic, Frank Zappa, B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, The Kink, The Rolling Stones, and more. In 1967, she was named the United States Photographer of the Year.

The following year, she collected another accolade, becoming the first female photographer for Rolling Stone magazine when she photographed Eric Clapton for their May 11, 1968 issue.

Photography wasn't Linda's only baby. She joined the music scene with her husband as a singer and keyboard player for the rock band "Wings" after receiving credits in Paul's solo album "Ram."

Throughout her time as a musician, her passion for photography was insistent. She always remembered documenting her life with her family during performances and off-stage.

Linda also wrote and created several solo records, such as her 1977 single "Seaside Woman," with Epic Records, going by the band name "Suzy and The Red Stripes." Her album "Wide Prairie" was released after the photographer's passing in 1998.

Alongside the photographic and musical scene, she expanded her artistic career within the film industry. Linda's song "Seaside Woman" inspired director Oscar Grillo to create a short animated film. It was entered into the Cannes Film Festival and received the 1980 "Short Film Palm D'Or."

McCartney took photos of the 1960s rock band "The Grateful Dead." Her work with them became the primary source of inspiration for their photo film, directed by her husband, Paul. The creation of "Grateful Dead: A Photofilm" included taking Linda's still pictures and morphing them to create movement.

It received honourary entries into the London and New York Film Festivals. Along with the "Seaside Woman" and "Oriental Nightfish" short films, Linda had worked on her last, which was named after her final music project, "Wide Prarie." Along with her album, the film was released in 1998

LINDA MCCARTNEY'S CAUSES

Linda and Paul were long-time vegetarians. In 1989, Linda began pursuing another passion of hers, where she started promoting her vegetarian lifestyle to support the cause dedicated to saving animal livelihood.

She published two cookbooks, "Linda McCartney's Home Cooking" and "Linda's Kitchen," which became international bestsellers. Linda also created a range of "ready-made" vegan food, now with a range of over 40 products.

It continues to grow today. Using her photography, she extended a lending hand to causes with a similar mission and others with varying aims. The artist worked with organizations such as "Greenpeace," "Friends of The Earth," "Lynx," "The Great Ormond Street Hospital," and more.

LINDA AND PAUL MCCARTNEY MET IN A CLUB

When the pair first met, Linda worked as a photographer and was on an assignment in London. It was in May 1967 when they met at a music club called Bag O'Nails. He was a regular there, and she had been invited over by her friends.

Paul later shared he had been attracted to Linda because of her smile and that she made him anxious. They instantly developed a connection but spent a year without seeing one another again and pursued other love interests.

However, they reunited in New York in May 1968 and remained together. The pair ended up walking down the aisle the following year in March.

Before becoming Mrs. McCartney, Linda already had a daughter from her previous marriage, Heather, who her husband adopted. Heather McCartney was born on December 30, 1962. Today she works as a potter and designer who has done exhibitions globally, such as in London, New York, Sydney, and Tokyo.

The year the couple married, they welcomed Mary on August 28, 1969. Like her late mother, Mary has a career as an English photographer and vegetarian cookery writer. Her younger sister, Stella, came into the picture on September 13, 1971. The Central St. Martins graduate is a recognized fashion designer.

James McCartney is the youngest of the family, born on September 12, 1977. He joined the music industry, pursuing a career as a vocalist and songwriter with credits in his parents' solo albums such as Linda's "Wide Prarie" and Paul's "Flaming Pie and Driving Rain."

LINDA'S DEATH

Linda died while on vacation in Santa Barbara with her husband and their three children. At the time, her publicist Geoff Baker announced and said it was a "blessing that the end came quickly, and she didn't suffer."

The statement released by Baker revealed that two days before the musician's death, she had been horseback riding which was one of her passions.

Los Angeles Times pop music critic Robert Hilburn said Linda and Paul "comprised one of the great improbable love stories in rock 'n' roll."

The pair announced in December 1995 that Linda, an animal rights activist, was being treated for breast cancer. At first, the treatment appeared to be working well, but doctors discovered that it had spread to her liver in March of that year.

After her death, songwriter Paul urged people who wanted to send flowers in his wife's memory to donate to cancer research and animal welfare charities.

Since Linda's passing, Paul, now 79 years old, has opened up about her death and how the loss affected him. The couple had been married for nearly 30 years before she passed.

The lovebirds were inseparable throughout their marriage, so much so that they only spent ten nights apart before she passed away.

THE GRIEVING PROCESS

In July 2019, speaking ahead of an exhibition of Linda's work in Glasgow, the Beatles star shared, "he cried for about a year on and off." "You expect to see them walk in, this person you love, because you are so used to them, he said.

"I cried a lot. It was almost embarrassing, except it seemed the only thing to do." The musician added before her death; they got together in Britain. He said the good thing about their reunion was that they wanted to be free. "We did what we wanted, and she took pictures of it all," he said.

In September 2018, Paul shared how he once took a potent drug that left him "nailed to the sofa." He said the intense drug session led to him seeing a vision of God – and later, Linda reincarnated as a squirrel.

He explained: "I saw God, this amazingly huge, towering thing, and I was humbled." He described the vision as a massive wall that he could not see the top of and was at the bottom.

SPEAKING TO LINDA

He once again talked about his spouse in 2006 and revealed he spoke to her and asked her what she thought of his new romance with model Heather Mills.

Paul said Mills is a good woman and had to talk to Linda about her. "You know…What am I doing, babe? How do you feel about this?" he told the Mirror.

REMEMBERING LINDA

In June 2011, Paul praised Linda and said she was a good photographer, recalling how he used to ask her when they would ever take a look at her photos.

He shared that she used to take family portraits, and they would decide on a day out of the year to look through the photos, and her photo project was part of the quality time spent.

In July 1997, he revealed they both had a great sense of humor and were honest with each other, "we spent a lot of time together," he said.

COPING MECHANISM

After Linda's death and being told to immerse himself in work, Paul did "Run Devil Run," the rock and roll album, because Linda had asked him to do it.

That was his coping mechanism, "Anything that was Linda-related I could just about cope with," he shared. Paul said she was his only love.

PAUL'S OTHER MARRIAGES

Although a part of him died after losing Linda, with whom he shared kids, Stella, Heather, and James, Paul found love again. He married Mills in 2002, and the couple welcomed their only child Beatrice McCartney a year later.

They divorced in 2008 after separating in 2006. Paul and Mills' separation gained much public attention, as was their divorce proceedings.

They settled for a $33.5 million divorce settlement. Paul then went to marry his third wife, Nancy Shevell, in 2011. The pair do not have children.