Ogden was born in Manchester, England,[1] the son of a church organist, and had several years of piano lessons, before taking up the organ at the age of twelve.

[2] As a child, his family took him to Blackpool Tower Ballroom to hear performances on the Wurlitzer organ there, by Reginald Dixon.

[2] From 1972, he started appearing on The Organist Entertains, eventually taking over from Robin Richmond as presenter in March 1980.

[2] Ogden is also a composer[1] and a touring musician, playing both theatre and church organs,[2] and was the organist for the Channel 4 production of Dennis Potter's Lipstick on Your Collar.

[3] Ogden was awarded with a British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors Gold Badge of merit on 17 October 2012.