Jim Rodford
Encyclopedia
Jim Rodford is a musician
who played with The Kinks
, The Swinging Blue Jeans
and was a founding member of Argent
. Rodford played in The Animals
II for two years, leaving to join the reformation of The Zombies
in 2001; he also works with a group of former Kinks members, in The Kast Off Kinks
.
In the late 1950s, and early 1960s he was a member of The Bluetones, the biggest band in St.Albans at the time. Later, although he did not become a band member at this stage, Rodford was instrumental in helping his younger cousin Rod Argent
form The Zombies in 1964.
Rodford later joined the Mike Cotton Sound as bass guitarist
.
Along with Rod Argent, Rodford was one of the founding members of Argent. When Rod Argent quit the band, the remaining three members (Rodford, Henrit and Verity) formed the short-lived band Phoenix. Eventually, Rodford joined The Kinks, as bassist, in 1978, and played with them until their final disintegration in 1996.
From 1999–2001, Rodford appeared in a band that ex-Animals guitarist Hilton Valentine
formed, The Animals II, which also featured former Animals drummer
John Steel
and keyboardist
Dave Rowberry
. Rodford continued on with this band (which changed its working name to "The Animals and Friends" after Valentine left) until joining with Argent and Colin Blunstone
in the revival of The Zombies.
Having never played with The Zombies in the 1960s, despite having been closely involved with them, he now plays bass
with the band's reincarnation in the early years of the 21st century, with his son Steve on drum
s.
In 2008, Rodford joined The Kast Off Kinks, on the retirement of John Dalton
, whom he had followed into the Kinks after Andy Pyle.
Jim Rodford continues to be a significant figure in the local St Albans music scene in 2009 and regularly plays in "The Rodford Files" along with Steve Rodford (Blunstone/Argent band) on drums, Russ Rodford on guitar, and Derek Timms on guitar and vocals.
In 2010 the original line-up of Argent reformed and are gigging.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
who played with The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
, The Swinging Blue Jeans
The Swinging Blue Jeans
The Swinging Blue Jeans were a four piece 1960s British Merseybeat band, best known for their hit singles with the HMV label; "Hippy Hippy Shake", the follow-up, Little Richard's "Good Golly Miss Molly", and "You're No Good", a Clint Ballard song that provided a change of pace and furnished the...
and was a founding member of Argent
Argent (band)
Argent are an English rock band founded in 1969 by keyboardist Rod Argent, formerly of The Zombies.-Career:The first three demos from Argent, recorded in the autumn of 1968 featured Mac MacLeod on bass guitar though he was not meant to become a member of the group.Original members of the band were...
. Rodford played in The Animals
The Animals
The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London...
II for two years, leaving to join the reformation of The Zombies
The Zombies
The Zombies are an English rock band, formed in 1961 in St Albans and led by Rod Argent, on piano and keyboards, and vocalist Colin Blunstone. The group scored a UK and US hit in 1964 with "She's Not There"...
in 2001; he also works with a group of former Kinks members, in The Kast Off Kinks
The Kast Off Kinks
The Kast Off Kinks are a band composed of members formerly in the British Invasion band The Kinks. They mostly tour Europe and attend reunion for fans and for charity, such as the Leukemia Research Fund...
.
In the late 1950s, and early 1960s he was a member of The Bluetones, the biggest band in St.Albans at the time. Later, although he did not become a band member at this stage, Rodford was instrumental in helping his younger cousin Rod Argent
Rod Argent
Rod Argent is an English rock musician and a founding member of the 1960s English pop group The Zombies and the 1970s band Argent....
form The Zombies in 1964.
Rodford later joined the Mike Cotton Sound as bass guitarist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
.
Along with Rod Argent, Rodford was one of the founding members of Argent. When Rod Argent quit the band, the remaining three members (Rodford, Henrit and Verity) formed the short-lived band Phoenix. Eventually, Rodford joined The Kinks, as bassist, in 1978, and played with them until their final disintegration in 1996.
From 1999–2001, Rodford appeared in a band that ex-Animals guitarist Hilton Valentine
Hilton Valentine
Hilton Valentine is an English musician, who was the original guitarist in the The Animals.-Biography:Valentine was influenced by the 1950s skiffle craze...
formed, The Animals II, which also featured former Animals drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
John Steel
John Steel (drummer)
For other persons named John Steele, see John Steele .John Steel was the original drummer of the band, The Animals, and is the owner of the rights to the band's name, by virtue of a trademark registration.Steel went to the Gateshead Grammar School...
and keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
Dave Rowberry
Dave Rowberry
Dave Rowberry was an English piano and organ player, most known for being a member of the rock and R&B group The Animals in the 1960s....
. Rodford continued on with this band (which changed its working name to "The Animals and Friends" after Valentine left) until joining with Argent and Colin Blunstone
Colin Blunstone
Colin Blunstone is an English pop singer-songwriter, best known as a member of the pop group The Zombies, and for his participation on various albums with The Alan Parsons Project.-Biography:...
in the revival of The Zombies.
Having never played with The Zombies in the 1960s, despite having been closely involved with them, he now plays bass
Bass (instrument)
Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
with the band's reincarnation in the early years of the 21st century, with his son Steve on drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s.
In 2008, Rodford joined The Kast Off Kinks, on the retirement of John Dalton
John Dalton (musician)
John Dalton is a British bass guitar player, best known as a member of The Kinks' from 1969 to 1976, replacing original member Pete Quaife.- Biography :...
, whom he had followed into the Kinks after Andy Pyle.
Jim Rodford continues to be a significant figure in the local St Albans music scene in 2009 and regularly plays in "The Rodford Files" along with Steve Rodford (Blunstone/Argent band) on drums, Russ Rodford on guitar, and Derek Timms on guitar and vocals.
In 2010 the original line-up of Argent reformed and are gigging.