Rowetta is the voice on the renowned 1989 track "Reach Out", which has been sampled by many, including Black Eyed Peas (Boom Boom Pow), Cheryl Cole at the Brits on Fight For This Love, Steve Angello & Robin S (Show Me Love) and Todd Terry's Lime Life (Baby Can You Reach) Rowetta’s vocal was also used by Steve Angello & Laidback Luke on the hit “BE”
Rowetta was the female singer with Happy Mondays for 10 years, singing on all their hits, and touring the world. She played herself in the Michael Winterbottom film 24 Hour Party People Rowetta re-entered the spotlight in 2004 was the last woman standing on The X Factor. Rowetta released an album. She appeared on the BBC's Children in Need with the BBC Orchestra and on Celebrity Scissorhands. In 2006, Rowetta had a cameo as herself in Footballer's Wives:Extra Time. She made her musical theatre debut in The Best Of Broadway, and at the indigO2 with Stephen Gately and Marti Webb in Christmas on Broadway. Rowetta also spent August 2007 presenting the show The Terry & Ro Show on Gaydio with Terry Longden. She toured Japan. And in 2008 starred in The Songs Of Sister Act with Sheila Ferguson. A new version of "Reach Out" featuring Rowetta and mixed by Mobin Master spent Christmas 2008 and the first part of 2009 at number 1 in the Beatport Charts. Rowetta toured the UK with the London Community Gospel Choir in a new version of The Songs Of Sister Act. In 2009, The Black Eyed Peas sampled Rowetta on their global hit, Boom Boom Pow. She currently has 2 dance tracks out. Lights Out feat Rowetta with Tom Stephan (Superchumbo) and Pete Gleadell on New York label, Nervous Records and No More Comin' Down with J Nitti. She has also written some tracks with Serbian producer, Shomy Woodman (Say What I See and Count The Days) Rowetta appeared at the Manchester Evening News Arena in December 2009 for Manchester Versus Cancer. A duet with Tim Booth of James, Peter Hook on bass and the BBC Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Joe Duddell. In 2010, as well as making many solo appearances, Rowetta will be performing one-off shows with Peter Hook's supergroup, The Light, featuring Mani (Stone Roses/ Primal Scream), Andy Rourke (The Smiths) and Howard Marks. She will be appearing at many summer festivals with Peter Hook & The Light. She has also been writing with reggae legends Sly & Robbie. Another collaboration with Tom Stephan called Everlasting will be released on Stealth Records in 2010