Residents remember Paul McCartney’s time in Lebanon, 50 years later

LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Beatles never played in Nashville, but five decades ago, Paul McCartney set up shop in Wilson County. It was June of 1974 when one superstar came to Lebanon. That summer, the former Beatle and his band Wings landed in Middle Tennessee.

Lebanon resident Sandra Bryant referred to those days as Paul McCartney fever and her husband Tick remembered those days vividly.

“Everybody in town eventually knew, they were trying to keep it secret, but he was spotted in so many places,” Bryant said.

Castle Heights: Inside the Allman Brothers’ formative years in Tennessee

Fifty years later, those stories are still being shared today.

“He’s really cute! Haha, he was so cute! I thought I was going to faint!” said Sandra Bryan.

Legend has it, Paul and Linda McCartney were looking for a summer escape and through music industry connections, they found a farm in Lebanon on Franklin Road.

“It was these two houses, a house here, a house there, 133 acres,” said Troy Putman.

Putman’s father, Curly, sealed the deal, and in return a trip of a lifetime in exchange for their family home.

“At age 12, we went to Hawaii for six weeks that was sort of a paid vacation,” said Putnam.

Paul McCartney and his band Wings were spotted all over the square in downtown Lebanon in the summer of 1974. But is was a home on Franklin Road Paul McCartney called home in Middle Tennessee for six weeks.

The man behind the restoration of Marathon Village

“Paul McCartney spotting’s all summer, ya know, like Pokémon or something,” said Bryan.

Sandra Bryan was 15 years old when she spotted the music superstar herself. She said he was riding a motorcycle on Franklin Road, but that didn’t stop her from trying to meet the music man.

“Can you give me your autograph, please?! He’s on his motorcycle and says it’s not a good time,” Bryan remembered.

Come to find out, the motorcycle belonged to Troy who said Paul found it on the property and wasn’t aware of the rules that came with it.

“Without helmets, I don’t think they knew Tennessee had a helmet law,” said Putman.

For neighbor Vickie Eads, that summer a job landed on her front door. Literally. She lived in front of the farm on Franklin Road and would eventually end up working for the McCartney clan.

Hidden Tennessee | Discover some of the Volunteer State’s best-kept secrets

“We would saddle horses for them,” said Eads. “They wanted to ride horses, go to the grocery stores, babysit the kids.”

Eads said she was sworn to secrecy, but some things just can’t be kept in.

“Paul went to town one day in the local drug store and then that was it,” Eads laughed.

Fifty years later, Troy still holds on to the memories his parents helped create while holding on to a calendar titled “Nashville Diary.” All photos in the calendar were taken by Linda McCartney.

A few months after their stay, Paul McCartney and Wings would release Junior’s Farm. Locals believe it was inspired from his stay in Lebanon.

“They used to practice in the garage and you could stand down here and listen,” Eads remembered.

⏩ Read today’s top stories on wkrn.com

Five decades later, Putman still has the memories in hand and a song he’ll sing forever.

“It always coincides with the green green grass of home,” said Eads.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.