Career
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 Tremeloes, the Zombies, John Mayall"s Bluesbreakers, the Brumbeats, the Tornados, Tom Jones, the Small Faces, the Marmalade the Circus and Eternal Triangle amongst others As a producer he had several number ones in the singles chart, and his discography includes:
The Stargazers: "Broken Wings" released February 1953
Lita Roza: "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?" March 1953
Jimmy Young: "Unchained Melody" April 1955
Jimmy Young: "The Manitoba from Laramie" September 1955
Dickie Valentine: "Christmas Alphabet" November 1955
Jet Harris and Tony Meehan: "Diamonds" 1963
Engelbert Humperdinck: some tracks on Greatest Love Songs
Them (featuring Van Morrison): "Gloria"
Billy Fury: "Halfway to Paradise" (reached number 2 in 1961 in the United Kingdom)
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: "Marta" July 1967 (reached number 20)
Neil Reid: "Mother Of Mine" December 1971 (reached number 2)
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 is also attributed as having said "Not to mince words, Mr. Epstein, but we don"t like your boys" sound." 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.
