David Eric Rowberry was born on 4th July 1940, in Mapperley. He went on to a successful career as a pianist and songwriter, including the iconic rhythm and blues band,The Animals
Rowberry went on to study at Newcastle University in the late 1950s/ It was there that he got into blues and jazz music scene. He joined The Mike Cotton Jazzmen in 1962. The group made a living as a backing band for American blues and pop acts touring England. These included Solomon Burke, Stevie Wonder, the Four Tops and Gene Pitney.
Rowberry played on the group’s singles from 1962–1965, including their hit, “Swing That Hammer”.
His chance to join The Animals came because Alan Price had a fear of flying
Rowberry joined The Animals in 1965, after the original keyboard player Alan Price left the group. This was partly due to his fear of flying. According to lead singer Eric Burdon, Rowberry was chosen for his musicianship and his passing resemblance to Price.
There is an iconic photograph online from 27th May 1965, when “The Animals” were at London Airport before departing for New York with ‘new member’ Dave Rowberry (2nd from left)
Rowberry played on many of the group’s big hits, including We Gotta Get Out of This Place, It’s My Life, Don’t Bring Me Down. On a number of songs, Rowberry was credited as the arranger. He also sang backing vocals and did occasional song-writing for the group.
When the band split up in 1966, Rowberry became a session musician, playing on many albums by blues singer Dana Gillespie in the 1980s and 1990s.
He then reunited with some of the original members of The Animals and toured as Animals and Friends.
He died in June 2003 at the age of 62. The band had recently played a gig in South Shields on and were due to play in Poland the following weekend.
The New Musical Express reported that he was found dead in his east London flat by the band’s former bassist Jim Rodford. The group’s drummer John Steel said that the 62-year-old probably died of a heart attack.
“He loved playing with the band… He loved the social life of being on the road, eating, drinking, having a good gig and meeting new people.” He added, “It’s great that he did it almost up to the last minute.”
John Steel (bandmate and drummer)
We also have a memory of Dave Rowberry’s childhood in Mapperley.
David Wilson told us
I knew of him as he was one of my brothers best pals and at one time they formed a skiffle group whilst teenagers. I was 10 years younger than them and remember Dave coming round to our house and accidentally breaking my space gun! I think Dave lived on either Roseleigh or Fernleigh Avenue and his dad worked as an organ builder in that old tin building at the bottom of Porchester Rd junction with Carlton Hill (if anyone is old enough to remember that 
)
Many thanks to Wikipedia for collating the information: