In 1987, Rowetta released two singles with the Vanilla Sound Corps. She also sang on
Inner City songs. During this time, she released two songs: "Back Where We Belong" and "Passion". In 1988, she collaborated with Dynasty of 2 on the single "Stop This Thing". She worked as a backing singer on albums, including
Simply Red's 1991 album
Stars. Rowetta is the voice on the 1989 track "Reach Out" with
Sweet Mercy. The track has been sampled by many, including
Laidback Luke,
Slam,
Steve Angello and
Todd Terry, and was remixed and re-released in 2008.
Happy Mondays in 2010 In 1990, Rowetta joined the
Happy Mondays. She featured on their single "
Step On" which charted at number 5. This was followed by two albums, ''
Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches and Yes Please!'', and three world tours. The group split and reformed a few times. After the break-up of the Happy Mondays, she did not return to the music business immediately, although she did play herself in the
Michael Winterbottom film
24 Hour Party People, which depicted the band's most successful years. Rowetta rejoined the Happy Mondays in 2012 with the full original lineup. A tour followed and a new album and world tour were planned for 2013. In 2023, Rowetta was featured on the single "
In Ecstasy" by
Shed Seven. In 2024, Happy Mondays announced Rowetta’s departure from the band.
The X Factor Rowetta re-entered the spotlight in 2004 when she auditioned for a place in the live shows of
The X Factor. After impressing the judges with her rendition of "
Lady Marmalade", she was placed in the over-25 category, which was mentored by
Simon Cowell, who described her as "Amazing, but barking bloody mad". Her soulful, powerful voice proved to be a hit with audiences, although she was criticised for competing as an established singer against
amateurs. The producers defended her, stating that the show was open to anybody. In 2006, Rowetta had a cameo as herself in ''
Footballer's Wives:Extra Time''. A year later, she made her musical theatre debut at the
Palace Theatre, Manchester in
The Best of Broadway, alongside
Suranne Jones, and appeared at the
IndigO2 with
Marti Webb,
Stephen Gately and
Maria Friedman in
Christmas on Broadway. Rowetta also spent August 2007 presenting the show
The Terry & Ro Show on
Gaydio with Terry Longden, and also became the station imaging on community station
Salford City Radio. In addition, she toured Japan, where she has
a huge fanbase. She also appeared on a Reality TV Special of
The Weakest Link where she was voted off in the seventh round. According to a 2008
BBC 6 Music interview with
Peter Hook, Rowetta recorded vocals for a track on the debut album by his new band
Freebass. A new version of "Reach Out" featuring Rowetta and mixed by
Mobin Master spent Christmas 2008 and the first part of 2009 at number one on the
Beatport charts. Rowetta also presented her own radio show on Saturdays at 4 pm on Gaydio 88.4FM and co-presented the
Manchester United fanzine show
Red Wednesday on
BBC Radio Manchester. She starred in a nationwide tour of
The Songs of Sister Act with
Sheila Ferguson. Rowetta toured the UK with the
London Community Gospel Choir in a new version of
The Songs of Sister Act. In 2010, Rowetta appeared with
Peter Hook and the Light, for many dates of Hook's
Unknown Pleasures tour and has collaborated with Tom Stephan (
Superchumbo) and J Nitti on new dance tracks. Also in 2010, Rowetta appeared in the Pop Goes the '80s UK theatre tour. In 2011, she recorded with Peter Hook and the Light, Mirror People and the Kino Club. In 2014, Rowetta appeared on stage at
Party in the Park's Poole. On 18 May 2015, she performed with the Light for their 35th anniversary of the death of
Joy Division frontman
Ian Curtis. In 2015, Rowetta toured again with the Happy Mondays for their 25th-year anniversary of the album ''
Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches''. ==Personal life==