Richard Paul Rowe (9 June 1921 - 6 June 1986) was an
A&RArtists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
man at
Decca RecordsDecca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; later the link with the British company was broken for several decades...
from the 1950s to the 1960s.
He was one of the most important producers and record executives in the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
in the 1950s and early 1960s and is the man who signed
The Rolling StonesThe Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in 1962 in London when multi-instrumentalist Brian Jones and pianist Ian Stewart were joined by vocalist Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards. Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early lineup...
,
Them (Van Morrison)Them was a Northern Irish band formed in Belfast in April 1964, most prominently known for the garage rock standard "Gloria" and launching singer Van Morrison's musical career...
,
The Moody BluesThe Moody Blues are an English band originally from Erdington in the city of Birmingham. Founding members Michael Pinder and Ray Thomas performed an initially rhythm and blues-based sound in Birmingham in 1964 along with Graeme Edge and others, and were later joined by John Lodge and Justin...
,
The AnimalsThe Animals were an English music group of the 1960s known in the United States as part of the British Invasion. Known for their gritty, bluesy sound and deep-voiced frontman Eric Burdon, as exemplified by their signature songs "The House of the Rising Sun" and "We Gotta Get Out of This Place", the...
,
The ZombiesThe Zombies are an English rock band. Formed in 1959 in St Albans and led by Rod Argent on piano and Colin Blunstone on vocals, the band scored US hits in the mid- and late-1960s with "She's Not There", "Tell Her No", and "Time of the Season"...
, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers,
The TornadosThe Tornados were an English instrumental group of the 1960s which acted as in-house backing group for many of record producer Joe Meek's productions.-Career:...
,
Tom JonesSir Thomas Jones Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer. Since 1965, Jones has sold over 100 million records.-Early life:...
, and
The Small FacesSmall Faces were an English rock group from East London, heavily influenced by American rhythm and blues. The group was founded in 1965 by members Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Kenney Jones, and Jimmy Winston ....
, among others.
As a producer he had several number ones in the singles chart, and his discography includes:
- The Stargazers
The Stargazers were a British vocal group, jointly founded in 1949 by Cliff Adams and Ronnie Milne. Other original members were Marie Benson, Fred Datchler and Dick James. Very shortly after the group made their first broadcasts with BBC Radio on such programs as Worker's Playtime, Dick James...
: "Broken Wings" released Feb 1953
- Lita Roza
Lita Roza was a British singer. Her 1953 number one hit record " That Doggie in the Window?" afforded Roza the privilege of being the first British female singer to top the UK Singles Chart, and the first Liverpudlian to do so.-Biography:Born Lilian Patricia Lita Roza in Liverpool, Lancashire,...
: "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?" That Doggie in the Window?" is a popular novelty song written by Bob Merrill in 1952. It was adapted from a well-known Victorian music hall song...
" Mar 1953
- Jimmy Young
Sir Jimmy Young CBE is a well-known former singer, British disc jockey and radio interviewer.-Early life:The son of a baker, he attended East Dean Grammar School...
: "Unchained Melody"Unchained Melody" is a popular song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. It is one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, by some counts having spawned over 500 versions in hundreds of different languages....
" Apr 1955
- Jimmy Young
Sir Jimmy Young CBE is a well-known former singer, British disc jockey and radio interviewer.-Early life:The son of a baker, he attended East Dean Grammar School...
: "The Man from LaramieThe Man from Laramie is a 1955 American western movie directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart in their seventh collaboration. It was adapted from a story of the same title by Thomas T...
" Sep 1955
- Dickie Valentine
Dickie Valentine was a popular singer in the 1950s.-Career:Valentine was born Richard Bryce, in Marylebone, London. He first trained as a singer during his work as a child actor, and during that time developed a flexible vocal style and skills as an impersonator of famous singers...
: "Christmas Alphabet" Nov 1955
- Jet Harris
Jet Harris was the bass guitarist of The Shadows until April 1962, and had subsequent success as a soloist and as a duo with the drummer, Tony Meehan.-Life and career:...
and Tony MeehanDaniel Joseph Anthony 'Tony' Meehan was a founder member of the British group The Shadows with Jet Harris, Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch. He played drums on early Cliff Richard and The Shadows hits and on early Shadows instrumentals.-Biography:Tony Meehan was born at New End Hospital, New End,...
: "DiamondsDiamonds is an instrumental written by Jerry Lordan. It was a #1 hit in the UK for Jet Harris and Tony Meehan.The guitar Jet Harris used on the record was a Fender six string bass.The recording features Jimmy Page on acoustic rhythm guitar....
" 1963
- Engelbert Humperdinck: some tracks on "Greatest Love Songs"
- Them/Van Morrison: "Baby Please Don't Go" and "Gloria"
- The Bachelors: "My Charmaine"
In addition:
- Al Hibbler
Al Hibbler was an American vocalist with several pop hits. He is best known for his million selling recording of "Unchained Melody" . Once described by Duke Ellington as "our major asset", the bandleader was referring to Hibbler's deep-toned, dramatic vocal style, with its heavy vibrato.....
: "Unchained Melody"Unchained Melody" is a popular song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. It is one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, by some counts having spawned over 500 versions in hundreds of different languages....
(reached number 3 in the Billboard charts in 1955)
- Billy Fury
Billy Fury, born Ronald William Wycherley , was an internationally successful British pop singer from the late 1950s to the early 1960s, and remained an active songwriter until the 1980s. Rheumatic fever which he first contracted as a child, damaged his heart and ultimately contributed to his death...
: "Halfway to Paradise" (reached number 2 in 1961 in the UK)
- Billy Fury: "Jealousy" (reached number 2 in 1961)
- Jet Harris and Tony Meehan: "Scarlett O'Hara" (reached number 2 in 1963)
- Jet Harris and Tony Meehan: "Applejack" (reached number 4 in 1963)
- The Bachelors
The Bachelors are a popular music group, originating from Dublin, Ireland.-Career:The founding members of the group were Conleth Cluskey , Declan Cluskey , and John Stokes...
: "Marta" Jul 1967 (reached number 20)
- Neil Reid: "Mother Of Mine" Dec 1971 (reached number 2)
He is historically presented in popular musical history as one of the men who did not sign
The BeatlesThe Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960 who became one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands in the history of popular music...
. This is somewhat unfair as he, unlike most A&R men, was at least willing to give the Beatles an audition. He has often been quoted as saying "Guitar groups are on their way out, Mr. Epstein". However, this attribution is uncertain and unproven, as the Beatles were turned down in favour of
Brian Poole and The TremeloesThe Tremeloes are an English rock and roll band, founded in 1958 in Dagenham, Essex. The Tremeloes are one of the longest surviving, still playing regularly more than 50 years after the group's founding. They had fourteen UK and two U.S. Top 20 hit singles...
, who themselves were a guitar group. He did not make the same gaffe twice as he made an offer to
The Rolling StonesThe Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in 1962 in London when multi-instrumentalist Brian Jones and pianist Ian Stewart were joined by vocalist Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards. Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early lineup...
after their audition, thanks to an introduction and encouragement from
George HarrisonGeorge Harrison MBE was an English rock guitarist, singer-songwriter and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist in The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison embraced Indian mysticism, and helped broaden the horizons of the other Beatles, as well as...
.
Rowe died of diabetes on 6 June 1986. His son, Richard Rowe works in music publishing (and made the deal to create a joint partnership with Michael Jackson to publish The Beatles catalogue as Sony/ATV when he ran the publishing division of Sony Music).