Dick Rowe

Richard Paul "Dick" Rowe (9 June 1921 – 6 June 1986) 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 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:

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. 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).

...
Wikipedia