Rod Argent
| Rod Argent | |
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Argent performing live in 2005
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Rodney Terence Argent |
| Born |
14 June 1945 St Albans, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom |
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| Years active | 1959–present |
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| Website | rodargent |
Rodney Terence "Rod" Argent, (born 14 June 1945), is an English musician, singer, songwriter, composer, and record producer. In a career spanning more than 50 years, Argent came to prominence in the mid 1960s as the founder and keyboardist of the English rock band The Zombies, and went on to form the band Argent after the first break-up of The Zombies.
Argent is one of the main composers of The Zombies' music and made major lyrical contributions to the band's songs. As the band's keyboardist he used a variety of instruments, including the Mellotron, the harpsichord, and the organ.
In addition to his work with the Zombies and Argent, Argent has made music for television series, been a session musician, produced albums by other artists, and has had a solo career which has included three studio albums: "Moving Home", "Red House", and "Classically Speaking".
As a child, Argent sang as a boy chorister in the St Albans Cathedral Choir. While at St Albans School, he met Paul Atkinson, and Hugh Grundy. Argent, Atkinson, and Grundy first played together at a jam on Easter 1961 in St Albans, Hertfordshire.
Argent wanted to form a band and initially asked his cousin Jim Rodford to join as a bass guitarist. Rodford was playing in local band called the Bluetones at the time, so declined. Colin Blunstone and Paul Arnold joined the new band in early 1961, while all five members were still at school. Arnold left not long after and was replaced by Chris White. After the band won a local contest, they recorded a demo as their prize. Argent's song "She's Not There" got them a recording contract with Decca.
In addition to playing the piano and keyboards in The Zombies, Argent was (with White) one of the group's two main songwriters, penning the hits "She's Not There", "Tell Her No", and "Time of the Season", amongst others. Argent was initially the group's lead singer, with Blunstone on guitar. When Argent's keyboard talents became apparent, he became the group's full-time keyboard player, conceding the role of lead singer to Blunstone. The group continued to record through the 1960s, but disbanded in December 1967, reportedly over management disagreements.
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