Rose Royce's Biography (Band)

“Rose Royce” are an American Funk, Soul and R&B music group, originally from Los Angeles. The band consisted of Gwen Dickey (vocals), Henry Garner (drums), Terral "Terry" Santiel (congas), Lequeint "Duke" Jobe (bass), Michael Moore (saxophone), Kenny Copeland (trumpet, lead vocals), Kenji Brown (guitar, lead vocals), Freddie Dunn (trumpet) and Victor Nix (keyboards). The founders of the musical group were Copeland and Gardner, who were later joined by Dunn and Moore. The four musicians united under the name “Total Concept Unlimited” and the band later called itself “Magic Wand”. In 1973, they teamed up on a tour of England and Japan alongside soul star “Edwin Starr”. “Magic Wand” began working with the famous production company “Motown” and singer Gwen Dickey (under the stage name Rose Norwalt) joined them. Director Michael Schultz contacted producer Norman Whitfield asking him to create the soundtrack for the film “Car Wash”. Whitfield decided to entrust the work to "Magic Wand" who in the meantime decided to change the name of the band calling it "Rose Royce" (clearly inspired by the famous car brand). The film “Car Wash” and the soundtrack achieved great success, bringing the group international fame. Whitfield won the award for best music at the Cannes Film Festival and the album received the Grammy Award for best soundtrack of the year. The group's second album, "Rose Royce II: In Full Bloom," included three Top 10 singles: "Do Your Dance," "Ooh Boy" and "Wishing on Star." "Wishing on Star" also made the Top 10 in the UK and in the following years it was rearranged several times (the most famous cover was that of “The Cover Girls” which entered the Top 10 in 1992. In 1978 they released their third album, “Rose Royce III: Strikes Again !”, which contained "I'm in Love (And I Love the Feeling)" and "Love Don't Live Here Anymore". Both singles entered the Top 5 on the R&B Billboard. "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" reached number two in the UK Singles Chart, and was subsequently covered by "Madonna" achieving further success. Gwen Dickey left the group in April 1980 and the band "Rose Royce" broke up temporarily. Singer Ricci Benson replaced Dickey, taking on the role of lead female vocalist. In 1980 the album "Golden Touch" was released and in 1981 the LP "Jump Street" was released which included the hit single "R.R.Express". In 2010, former singer Gwen Dickey of "Rose Royce" suffered irreversible damage to her spine due to a domestic accident which left her with paralysis of her lower limbs.

Discography :

Album

1976 - Car Wash (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

1977 - Rose Royce II - In Full Bloom

1978 - Rose Royce III - Strikes Again

1979 - Rose Royce IV - Rainbow Connection

1980 - Golden Touch

1981 - Jump Street

1982 - Stronger Than Ever

1984 - Music Magic

1985 - Special Edition With Sid McCoy

1986 - Fresh Cut