June 27
Gwinnett commissioners naming road at Gas South District for Paul McCartney
By: Curt Yeomans
Published: June 26, 2017
It’s not Abbey Road, but the new name of a street near the Gas South District shows how excited officials from the center and Gwinnett’s tourism office are with the fact Paul McCartney is coming to the county next month.
The folks at Explore Gwinnett and the Gas South District want to make the most of the former Beatle’s upcoming visit, and to that end the Board of Commissioners is expected to issue a proclamation at its 2 p.m. meeting Tuesday to name a new road at the center Paul McCartney Boulevard. Commission Chairwoman Charlotte Nash confirmed the road naming during a recent meeting with the Daily Post, saying it is being done at the request of the county’s tourism officials.
The naming is being done ahead of McCartney’s July 13 concert at the Infinite Energy Arena.
“The convention and visitor’s bureau wanted to basically play up the fact that he is coming to the center,” Nash said.
This is the first time the center has hosted McCartney, who has won 18 Grammy’s, been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and received France’s Legion of Honour. He is coming to Gwinnett County as part of his One On One Tour, which opened in April. Tickets to his concert at the center went on sale May 1.
Gas South District officials said the road being named for McCartney is a new one that provides access to the center property from Meadow Church Road. Signage with the new road’s name has already been posted at the street’s intersection with Meadow Church.
“It is a great honor for the county and Gas South District to have such a renowned performer visit,” the center’s General Manager, Joey Dennis, said in a statement. “The community is excited to show Paul true southern hospitality.”
The British music icon’s career extends far beyond the hits he wrote as a member of The Beatles to include success as both a member of his later band, Wings, and a solo career. His hits include “Yesterday,” “Hey Jude,” “Live and Let Die,” “Band on the Run,” “Maybe I’m Amazed,” “Let ‘Em In,” “Silly Love Songs” and, yes, "Penny Lane."
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Beatles in 1988, and as a solo artist in 1999. He has also received Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards as both a Beatle and as a solo artist.
He won an Academy Award in 1970 as a member of The Beatles for the “Let It Be” score, as well.
McCartney fans should not get their hopes up about catching a glimpse of the singer rubbing elbows with Nash and other county leaders on Tuesday, though. He is not expected to be present for the proclamation.