Rod Melvin is an English, London-based pianist and singer, appearing regularly at residencies such as the Groucho Club and previously Le Pont de la Tour. He studied Fine Art at Chelsea School of Art and

Reading University The University of Reading is a public research university in Reading, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1892 as the University Extension College, Reading, an extension college of Christchurch College, Oxford, and became University College, ...

where he was a co-founder of The Moodies, a performance-art/cabaret group which included Anne Bean. After touring with The Moodies and appearing in two films in Germany, Melvin joined Kilburn and the High Roads, the band of

Ian Dury Ian Robins Dury (12 May 1942 27 March 2000) was an English singer, songwriter and actor who rose to fame in the late 1970s, during the punk rock, punk and new wave music, new wave era of rock music. He was the lead singer and lyricist of Kilburn ...

. The band recorded two singles and an album '' Handsome'' which included two compositions by Melvin in collaboration with Dury. After the band's demise, Dury and Melvin continued writing and this work produced "England's Glory" recorded by Max Wall and " What a Waste", later recorded by Ian and The Blockheads which became Dury's first Top Ten hit. As well as playing on

Brian Eno Brian Peter George Jean-Baptiste de la Salle Eno (, born 15 May 1948), also mononymously known as Eno, is an English musician, songwriter, record producer, visual artist, and activist. He is best known for his pioneering contributions to ambien ...

's albums '' Another Green World'', ''

Music For Films ''Music for Films'' is the seventh solo studio album by Brian Eno, released in September 1978 on E.G. Records, EG Records. His third release of Experimental music, experimental Electronic music, electronic material (the others being that year's ...

'' and ''

Nerve Net ''Nerve Net'' is the eleventh solo studio album by Brian Eno, released on 1 September 1992 on Opal and Warner Bros. Records. It marked a return to more rock-oriented material, mixed with heavily syncopated rhythms, experimental electronic com ...

'', Melvin has worked with performers Lindsay Kemp, Evelyn Kunneke and Immodesty Blaize and has continued his work as a live pianist and singer in many different venues. More recent work has included live accompaniment of incidental music for several productions at the National Theatre and collaboration with film director Peter Richardson on several films including '' Stella Street'' (2004), '' Churchill: The Hollywood Years'' (2004) and TV commercials; some of his music was also used in '' Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll'' (2010). Melvin took part in a series of performances in February 2013 at the ICA, London for Will Gompertz, the BBC arts editor at the time. In 2013, Melvin was invited to play on the

Mick Ronson Michael Ronson (26 May 1946 – 29 April 1993) was an English musician, songwriter, arranger, and producer. He achieved critical and commercial success working with David Bowie as the guitarist of the Spiders from Mars. He was a session musici ...

tribute album, ''Sweet Dreamer'', produced by Maggi Ronson. A live showcase of this work was previewed at the ICA in April 2013.

Work in film

Composer

*
Beyond Biba: A Portrait of Barbara Hulanicki
' (Documentary)(2009) * '' The Comic Strip Presents...'' (TV Series) ;; - Sex Actually (2005) ;; - War (1983) * '' Churchill: The Hollywood Years'' (2004) * '' Stella Street'' (2004) * ''Coilin and Platonida'' (1976)

Soundtrack

* ''

Top of the Pops ''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British record chart television programme, made by the BBC and broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show. For most of its histo ...

: The Story of 1978'' (TV Movie documentary) (writer: "What a Waste") (2013) * '' Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll'' (writer: "What a Waste") (2010) * '' Churchill: The Hollywood Years'' (performer: "For All We Know") (2004) * ''

'' (TV Series), episode dated 25 May 1978 (writer: "What a Waste") (1978)

Music department

* '' Chemical Wedding'' (musician: additional keyboards) (2008) * ''

The Comic Strip The Comic Strip are a group of British comedians who came to prominence in the 1980s. They are known for their television series ''The Comic Strip Presents...'', which was labelled as a pioneering example of the alternative comedy scene. The c ...

'' (TV short) (musician) (1981)

Actor

* '' Alexei Sayle's Stuff'' – Whistling Calculus for Tax Purposes (TV Series) (1989)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Melvin, Rod Year of birth missing (living people) Living people English male singer-songwriters English singer-songwriters Alumni of Chelsea College of Arts Alumni of the University of Reading