A WORLD famous keyboard player and song writer who lives in Steep is to be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Rod Argent (74) was the founder of 1960s band The Zombies and later his own band, Argent, and has played on albums by The Who among other world famous musical names, and still tours today.

Rod, who lives near The Harrow pub with his wife Cathy, said: “It’s amazing, fantastic to be chosen to be alongside the greatest bands and singers in the world.

“I am completely blown way, I honestly thought it was unlikely we would be chosen after being shortlisted before and not being selected.” Rod formed The Zombies in 1961 and wrote the bands biggest hits, such as ‘She’s not there,’ which in 1964 reached number 12 in the UK charts, and peaked at number two in the United States.

He also founded the band ‘Argent,’ whose song ‘Hold Your Head Up’, reached number five in both the UK and USA, and has recorded solo albums, collaborative albums, classical albums, and produced other artists records.

Both bands had many more hits, and Rod, who has performed worldwide and at festivals like Glastonbury and the Isle of Wight festival, said: “We resumed touring as The Zombies in 2004, and since then there have been four sell out tours of the USA and Europe, and we go back to the USA in January, and have just started writing songs for another album.”

To be chosen for the hall of fame, its committee compiles a list of artists, and ballots go to more than 1,000 music historians, those in the music industry, and artists, and the five names with the most votes are inducted.

From 2012, fans could also vote for nominees.