Amongst his songwriting credits were the chart hits "I've Waited So Long", "Apache", "Wonderful Land", "Atlantis", "Diamonds", and "A Girl Like You".

He attended Finchley Catholic High School and went into National Service in the Royal Air Force as a radar operator.

[2] He began song-writing, and in 1958, with the help of contacts made in the advertising business a demo of one of his songs was heard by a record producer.

[2] It did not sell well, but the song was successfully covered by the American rockabilly star, Dale Hawkins, on the Checker label.

A later song, "I've Waited So Long" was recorded by the young Anthony Newley on Decca and got to number 3 on the UK Singles Chart in May 1959.

[2] He became involved with the Cornish band the Onyx who under his guidance changed their name to Vineyard and released two singles on Decca and Deram in 1974.

[citation needed] Lordan's first marriage was in 1963 to Petrina Forsyth who (credited as Petrina Lordan) wrote the Shadows hit "A Place in the Sun" (1966) and also, with Hank Marvin, "Love, Truth and Emily Stone" for Cliff Richard on his album Tracks 'n Grooves (1970).