Rod Argent British rock musician, keyboardist Date of Birth: 15.06.1945 Country: Great Britain

1. Rod Argent's Early Life and Inspirations
2. The Zombies
3. Argent
4. Later Career and Collaborations
5. Reunion and Performances

Rod Argent's Early Life and Inspirations

Rodney Terence Argent was born on June 14, 1945, in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. Growing up, he sang in the St Albans Cathedral Choir and took piano lessons for two years. His love for rock and roll ignited in 1956 after hearing Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog" on the radio. Inspired by his older cousin, Jim Rodford, Rod formed his first band, The Zombies, at the age of 16. During this time, Rod's musical influences expanded beyond rock and roll and pop to include jazz and classical European music, particularly Bach, Stravinsky, Ravel, and Bartok.

The Zombies

While attending St Albans School, Rod met Paul Atkinson on guitar and Hugh Grundy on drums. They joined forces with vocalist Colin Blunstone and bassist Chris White to form The Zombies. In addition to playing piano and keyboards, Rod co-wrote hits such as "She's Not There," "Tell Her No," and "Time of the Season" with Chris White.

Argent

After The Zombies disbanded in 1968, Rod spent several years developing a new band that would fully align with his vision. The band's self-titled debut album featured "Liar," a song written by vocalist Russ Ballard, which became a hit when covered by Three Dog Night. Their third album, "All Together Now" (1972), was a major success, and the single "Hold Your Head Up" became a hit. Argent also recorded the original version of the rock anthem "God Gave Rock and Roll to You," which has been covered by Petra, KISS, and others.

Later Career and Collaborations

Throughout his career, Rod played keyboards with various musicians, including The Who, Gary Moore, Julian Lloyd Webber, and Andrew Lloyd Webber. He also composed music for events such as the 1986 World Cup and television. In 1999, Rod released a solo piano album, "Rod Argent Classically Speaking," featuring works by Bach, Ravel, Grieg, Chopin, and original compositions.

Reunion and Performances

Rod and Blunstone reunited and recorded the album "As Far as I Can See" in 2004. They also received critical acclaim for their live album, "Colin Blunstone & Rod Argent of The Zombies Live at the Bloomsbury Theatre," and toured the US in 2007. Rod Argent has also toured with Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band alongside Hamish Stuart, Richard Marx, Billy Squier, Edgar Winter, and Sheila E.