Dick Rowe

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Dick Rowe was an A&R man at Decca Records from the 1940s to the 1960s.

He is historically presented in popular musical history as, "the man who turned down The Beatles". He famously said "Guitar Groups are out of fashion, Mr Epstein". Brian Epstein had already been turned down by nearly all the record companies in London during the preceding year, before getting The Beatles signed to Parlophone; a label owned by EMI, which had - up to that point - only been a label that had released novelty songs.

Dick Rowe did sign, amongst others: Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, The Rolling Stones because of a recommendation by George Harrison, Vera Lynn, Mantovani, Tom Jones, The Bachelors and Them, Rowe produced some tracks by the last two.

Rowe died of diabetes on 6 June 1986.