12 Facts About Neil Ardley

Neil Richard Ardley was a prominent English jazz composer and pianist, who made his name as the author of more than 100 popular books on science and technology, and on music.

Neil Ardley read Chemistry at Bristol University, where he played both piano and saxophone in jazz groups, and from which he graduated in 1959 with a BSc.

Neil Ardley joined the John Williams Big Band as pianist, writing both arrangements and new compositions, and from 1964 to 1970 was the director of the newly formed New Jazz Orchestra, which employed some of the best young musicians in London, including Ian Carr, Jon Hiseman, Barbara Thompson, Dave Gelly, Mike Gibbs, Don Rendell, and Trevor Tomkins.

However, as he began work on an all-electronic album in 1980, Neil Ardley's recording contract was suddenly terminated, and he fell back on his writing and publishing career.

Neil Ardley continued to play and compose, especially with Zyklus, the electronic jazz group he formed with composer John L Walters, Derbyshire musician Warren Greveson and Ian Carr.

At the time of his death, Neil Ardley had begun to gig and record again with a slimmed down Zyklus consisting of himself, Warren Greaveson, and Nick Robinson.

Neil Ardley joined the editorial staff of the World Book Encyclopedia in 1962, when the London branch of the American publisher was producing an international edition.

In 1984 Neil Ardley began to write mainly for Dorling Kindersley, producing a series of books which included the best-selling and award-winning The Way Things Work, illustrated by David Macaulay, as well as the Eyewitness volume Music, first published in 1989.

When he retired in 2000, Neil Ardley had written 101 books, with total sales of about ten million.

In 1960, Neil Ardley married Bridget Gantley, and the couple had one daughter.

Neil Ardley died in Milford, Derbyshire, where Vivien still lives.

Neil Ardley published a full-length biography of Neil Ardley in 2023.