Atlanta Boy Band

Atlanta Liverpool Boy Band

ATLANTA were an unsigned Liverpool Boyband who toured the UK during 1993-1997. Apart from appearing on all major Commercial Radio Stations and Roadshows, they also supported the likes of Boyzone, Backstreet Boys, Take That and Ant & Dec.

The 4 members of the group included brothers Gary Mahoney, Denny Mahoney and friends Jamie Greaves and Mark Taylor started the group to give themselves something to do while they were out of work. They came from the deprived Kirkdale area of Liverpool and named themselves after seeing the name on a local chippy. The group applied for a grant from The Prince's Trust and were successful and it started what became a superb supporting role from The Trust. HRH Prince Charles took a keen interest through his then Private Secretary and ATLANTA became Young Ambassador's for The Trust and appeared at many major events both for and on behalf of the Prince's Trust. Gary wrote the groups songs while Jamie mastered the dance routine choreography. They met their soon to be Manager * John B Sheffield at a local Under 18's Road Show he had staged as part of his job for Liverpool Radio Station - Radio City at the Paradox Nightclub in Aintree. With John's Guidance and investment the group went on to promote themselves all over the country first in Under 18's Disco's and then in the big chain night clubs. ATLANTA joined Roadshows and Tours such as Mizz Magazine, Smash Hits and BBC Radio One and Capital Radio. This eventually gave them an early initial fan base of over 3 thousand. The lads endeared themselves to a lot of people with their down to earth attitude and likability.

In the summer of 1995 ATLANTA were approached by Granada TV to do a Boy Band documentary. Although this did not show them in the most favourable light they did get to meet a then unknown A&R man named Simon Cowell from RCA/Arista. He liked the lads so much that he paid for them to go into the studio and produce a track "One More Chance" with Major Pop Producer Ray Hedges (Producer for Take Than and Boyzone etc) at his famous "Mothership Studio's". Unfortunately due to Simon's commitments to TV Stars turned singers Robson and Jerome the Atlanta project never got off the ground. In 1996 another friend Neil Haskins replaced Mark Taylor. The Group continued into early 1997 after an appearance at the Children's BBC show * The Big Bash at the NEC, Birmingham and they continued with a more independent studio work before deciding to call it a day.

Considering the group remained unsigned they achieved a lot in a short space of time and played in some of the biggest venues in Great Britain including, The Liverpool Empire, The NEC Birmingham, Earls Court London, Wembley Stadium, Hammersmith Palais and Shepherds Bush Empire to name a few.

Atlanta's TV appearances included, Nickelodeon, BBC TV's Blue Peter and Granada TV's NWA - Magazine Features, Smash Hits, Live and Kicking and Mizz Magazine.

Gary continues to write today and had a top ten hit with Russell Watson's 'Someone Like You'. He is also the lead singer of Kainam who appear regularly at Liverpool's prestige venues such as the Carling Academy and The Picket.

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