Whitney Houston's Death: Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell Pay Respects at Hilton Hotel Memorial (Video)

At Friday's MusiCares Person of the Year gala honoring Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello had some poignant words to describe the guest of honor. "Off stage, he's a human and always has been," said Costello. "That's human as in -manitarian."

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It's a character trait McCartney demonstrates time and time again and as recently as the Monday morning after the Grammy Awards. That's when the founding Beatle and new wife Nancy Shevell stopped at the corner of Santa Monica and Wilshire boulevards in Beverly Hills, yards away from the driveway to the Beverly Hilton, where Whitney Houston died on Saturday, to lay down flowers at a makeshift memorial in honor of the late R&B star. Already well-stocked with letters, candles and photos, it's is growing in size by the hour.

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In the video below, you can see photographers and passers by dumbstruck by the presence of rock royalty -- wearing sweatpants, no less -- as he lays down a bouquet of yellow roses, blows a kiss and then jumps into a waiting convertible, demonstrating yet again his utter coolness. 

The previous night, McCartney and Shevell hit their share of Grammy afterparties, including Warner Music Group's bash at the Chateau Marmont. There, McCartney and the Mrs., who had changed from a red carpet gown into jeans and boots (McCartney also offered his jacket for the chilly L.A. night), were spotted cutting a rug on the dance floor to the tune of Michael Jackson -- Macca with fists in the air. Houston's breakout hit "How Will I Know" was also pumped through the speakers, eliciting the loudest cheer of the night.  

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After catching his breath, the two were later introduced to members of Wilco who were flabbergasted to hear from McCartney that he had watched their Austin City Limits performance on television.  

Twitter: @shirleyhalperin