1921–1986 · British record producer · head of A&R (Singles), Decca Records
Richard Paul Brutton Rowe ran Decca’s singles A&R department from the 1950s to the 1970s and was known in the trade as “the man with the golden ear” — he discovered or signed the Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Tom Jones, Cat Stevens, the Moody Blues, Procol Harum and the Animals. Popular music history remembers him for one decision instead: the Beatles auditioned for Decca on 1 January 1962 and were turned down in favour of Brian Poole and the Tremeloes. He spent the rest of his life denying he ever said the sentence that made him famous.