Known as, "the man with the golden ear," Rowe discovered and signed The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Tom Jones, Cat Stevens, The Moody Blues, Procol Harum, The Animals and Engelbert Humperdinck amongst others.
In 1953, he produced "Broken Wings" by vocal group the Stargazers, the first locally-produced and non-American record to reach number one on the newly-published British singles chart.
There, he discovered singer Craig Douglas, promoted Bert Weedon – the first British performer to use the electric guitar as a lead instrument – and authorised the successful release in Britain of many American singles including those by Chubby Checker, The Ventures, and Freddy Cannon.
Rowe and Smith agreed to accept the latter group and reject the Beatles, partly because the Tremeloes were based closer to London and would be easier to work with.
[3] In the 1960s, he remained one of the most important producers and record executives in the United Kingdom, and signed Them (featuring Van Morrison), the Moody Blues, the Zombies, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Tom Jones, the Small Faces, the Marmalade, the Animals, Cat Stevens, Procol Harum, Kathy Kirby, and Gilbert O'Sullivan amongst others.
Rowe spent the evening explaining to Jackson why this deal would transform the world of music publishing and give the artists power over their legacy.