Background
Paul Atkinson was born in Cuffley, Hertfordshire, and educated at Street Albans School.
Paul Atkinson was born in Cuffley, Hertfordshire, and educated at Street Albans School.
At Street Albans, Atkinson met Rod Argent and Hugh Grundy, and the three formed a band initially called the Mustangs. Colin Blunstone and Paul Arnold joined the new band in early 1961, but Arnold soon left and was replaced by Chris White. Argent"s song "She"s Not There" got them a deal with Decca and was a hit in the United Kingdom and United States. The group continued to record successfully through the 1960s, but disbanded in December of 1967, reportedly over management disagreements.
Atkinson later became an artists and repertoire executive at Dick James Music, the Beatles" publishing company, which developed into a production company, discovering and signing such bands as Elton John, Agnetha/ Björn/ Benny/ Anni-Frid, Bruce Hornsby, Mr.
Mister, Judas Priest, Michael Penn and Grayson Hugh, who Atkinson brought to Master of Computer Applications Records from Radio Corporation of America Records in 1991. The Zombies reunited for the event.
Atkinson died at the age of 58 in a Santa Monica hospital due to liver and kidney disease on 1 April 2004. He had been suffering from cancer for some time, and had two liver transplants.