Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

June 14, 1945 in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

Rod Argent is a British musician, songwriter, and record producer who is best known as the founder and keyboardist of the rock band The Zombies. Born on June 14, 1945, in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England, Argent grew up in a musical family. His father, Robert Argent, was a professional violinist, and his mother, Peggy Argent, was a piano teacher. Argent began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. He attended St. Albans School, where he formed his first band, The Argent Trio, with his cousin Jim Rodford on bass and Bob Henrit on drums. The trio played jazz and blues covers and performed at local clubs and pubs. In 1961, Argent enrolled at the Royal College of Music in London to study classical music. However, he soon became more interested in rock and roll and formed a new band, The Zombies, with his schoolmates Colin Blunstone on vocals, Paul Atkinson on guitar, Chris White on bass, and Hugh Grundy on drums. The Zombies quickly gained popularity in the London music scene and signed a record deal with Decca Records in 1964. Their debut single, "She's Not There," became a hit in the UK and the US, reaching the top 20 on both charts. The band's follow-up single, "Tell Her No," also charted in the top 40. In 1965, The Zombies released their debut album, "Begin Here," which featured a mix of original songs and covers. The album received critical acclaim and helped establish the band as one of the leading acts of the British Invasion. The Zombies continued to release successful singles and albums throughout the 1960s, including the hit songs "Time of the Season," "Care of Cell 44," and "A Rose for Emily." However, the band's commercial success began to decline, and they disbanded in 1968. After The Zombies, Argent formed a new band, simply called Argent, with his former bandmate Jim Rodford on bass, Bob Henrit on drums, and guitarist/vocalist Russ Ballard. The band released several albums in the 1970s, including the hit singles "Hold Your Head Up" and "God Gave Rock and Roll to You." In addition to his work with The Zombies and Argent, Argent has also worked as a session musician and record producer. He has played keyboards on albums by artists such as Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, and Tanita Tikaram, and produced albums for artists such as Colin Blunstone, The Kinks, and The Strawbs. Argent has also composed music for film and television, including the theme song for the British TV series "Jeeves and Wooster" and the score for the 1996 film "The Crow: City of Angels." Throughout his career, Argent has received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to music. In 2019, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Zombies. He has also been honored with the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection and the ASCAP Golden Note Award. In addition to his musical career, Argent is also a dedicated philanthropist. He has worked with organizations such as the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Prince's Trust to support young people in need. Today, at the age of 76, Rod Argent continues to perform and record music. He remains a respected figure in the music industry and a beloved icon of the British Invasion era.

More....