Rhidian Jones hails from Aberdare in South Wales where he attended school and learnt the piano and organ. He read music at the University of Oxford and taught the subject for some years in various schools. He then became a local government officer, acquiring legal qualifications on the way. He was an associate tutor in music for the Open University for twenty years. He is married to Sally, and they live in Maidenhead, where he was an education officer for the local authority. He is now semi-retired, and catching up on his organ practice.