Dick Rowe
Encyclopedia
Richard Paul Rowe was an A&R
man at Decca Records
from the 1950s to the 1960s.
He was one of the most important producers and record executives in the United Kingdom
in the 1950s and early 1960s and is the man who signed The Rolling Stones
, Them (Van Morrison)
, The Moody Blues
, The Animals
, The Zombies
, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, The Brumbeats, The Tornados
, Tom Jones
, The Small Faces
, The Marmalade and Eternal Triangle among others.
As a producer he had several number ones in the singles chart, and his discography includes:
In addition:
He is historically presented in popular musical history as the man who did not sign The Beatles
, even after their manager Brian Epstein paid Decca to provide a one hour audition. George Harrison
says he told their manager, "Guitar groups are on their way out, Mr. Epstein". He later signed The Rolling Stones
after their audition, thanks to an introduction and encouragement from Harrison.
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).
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
man at Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, 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 Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the 1950s and early 1960s and is the man who signed The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, Them (Van Morrison)
Them (band)
Them were 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 Blues
The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues are an English rock band. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their 1967 album Days of Future Passed....
, The Animals
The Animals
The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London...
, The Zombies
The Zombies
The Zombies are an English rock band, formed in 1961 in St Albans and led by Rod Argent, on piano and keyboards, and vocalist Colin Blunstone. The group scored a UK and US hit in 1964 with "She's Not There"...
, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, The Brumbeats, The Tornados
The Tornados
The Tornados were an English instrumental group of the 1960s that acted as backing group for many of record producer Joe Meek's productions and also for singer Billy Fury. They enjoyed several chart hits in their own right, including the UK and U.S. Number One "Telstar" , the first U.S...
, Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
, The Small Faces
The Small Faces
The Small Faces were an English rock and roll band 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, although by 1966 Winston was replaced by Ian McLagan as the band's...
, The Marmalade and Eternal Triangle among others.
As a producer he had several number ones in the singles chart, and his discography includes:
- The Stargazers: "Broken Wings" released Feb 1953
- Lita RozaLita RozaLita 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?(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?" That Doggie in the Window?" is a popular novelty song written by Bob Merrill and Ingrid Reuterskiöld in 1952. The best-known version of the song was recorded by Patti Page on December 18, 1952 and released by Mercury Records as catalog number 70070, with the flip side being "My Jealous Eyes". It...
" Mar 1953 - Jimmy YoungJimmy Young (disc jockey)Sir Jimmy Young CBE was a British singer, disc jockey and radio interviewer.-Early life:...
: "Unchained MelodyUnchained Melody"Unchained Melody" is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. It has become 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 YoungJimmy Young (disc jockey)Sir Jimmy Young CBE was a British singer, disc jockey and radio interviewer.-Early life:...
: "The Man from LaramieThe Man from LaramieThe Man from Laramie is an American Technicolor Western film directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart in the fifth and final of their Western collaborations, and their seventh collaboration overall. It was adapted from a story of the same title by Thomas T...
" Sep 1955 - Dickie ValentineDickie ValentineDickie Valentine was an English pop singer in the 1950s.-Early life:Valentine was born Richard Maxwell , though Valentine was known as Richard Bryce as his mother later married Bryce and gave her young son the same name. He was born in Marylebone, London...
: "Christmas Alphabet" Nov 1955 - Jet HarrisJet HarrisJet Harris, MBE was an English musician. He 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....
and Tony MeehanTony MeehanDaniel Joseph Anthony "Tony" Meehan was a founder member of the British group The Shadows with Jet Harris, Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch...
: "DiamondsDiamonds (Jerry Lordan song)Diamonds 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: "Gloria"
In addition:
- Al HibblerAl HibblerAlbert George "Al" Hibbler was an American baritone vocalist, who sang with Duke Ellington's orchestra before having several pop hits as a solo artist. Some of his singing is classified as rhythm and blues, but he is best classified as a bridge between R&B and traditional pop music...
: "Unchained MelodyUnchained Melody"Unchained Melody" is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. It has become 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 FuryBilly FuryBilly Fury, born Ronald William Wycherley , was an internationally successful English singer from the late-1950s to the mid-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 BachelorsThe BachelorsThe 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 the man who did not sign The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, even after their manager Brian Epstein paid Decca to provide a one hour audition. George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
says he told their manager, "Guitar groups are on their way out, Mr. Epstein". He later signed The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
after their audition, thanks to an introduction and encouragement from Harrison.
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).