Along with Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, the Bee Gees and several other acts, Stigwood found success as producer of musicals including Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar, and movies such as Saturday Night Fever, Grease and The Who's Tommy.

He'd started out as a co-owner of Robert Stigwood Associates, a theatrical agency that led to his career as the UK's first independent record producer, alongside colleague Joe Meek.