THE first songwriter to be signed by Brian Epstein to Apple, Paul Tennant, has died at the age of 64.

The Liverpool musician and father-of-three was at the very epicentre of the sixties music scene both in Liverpool and London and witnessed first hand the pressure cooker birth of Apple publishing in 1967.

Tennant famously got his big break with Apple by following Paul McCartney into Hyde Park as he walked his dog and convincing him to help a budding fellow artist from Liverpool.

He persuaded the rock star to set up an introduction to Brian Epstein and Terry Doran who wasted no time in signing the young songwriter and his band – who they would later name Focal Point – after an impromptu audition in the Apple offices at 94 Baker Street.

Born in Liverpool in 1945, Tennant spent his youth following the music scene in the city and witnessing the birth of the Beatles in their debut performances at The Cavern Club, The Casbah and the Blue Angel.

Inspired, he later formed his own group and went on to perform in these same historic venues after securing Epstein’s interest.

Impressed by the wealth of talent in his home city Tennant formed his band made up of musicians he admired on the Liverpool scene.

Together with his song writing partner Dave Rhodes, Tennant spent a year writing and recording songs under the guidance of Apple Publishing.