Rose Royce
Rose Royce is an American soul and R&B group formed in Los Angeles in the early 1970s, best known for their 1970s hits like "Car Wash" and "Wishing on a Star."
The group started as Total Concept Unlimited, with members from Watts and Inglewood backing bands uniting around 1970-1971. They toured Japan and England in 1973 with Edwin Starr, who introduced them to Motown producer Norman Whitfield. Whitfield signed them to his label, renamed them (initially Magic Wand, then Rose Royce), and added lead vocalist Gwen Dickey (stage name Rose Norwalt) after discovering her in Miami.
Key original members included Gwen Dickey (vocals), Kenny Copeland (trumpet/lead vocals), Lequient "Duke" Jobe (bass/vocals), Michael Moore (saxophone), Henry Garner (drums), Terral "Terry" Santiel (congas), Kenji Brown (guitar/lead vocals), Freddie Dunn (trumpet), and Victor Nix (keyboards).
Their 1976 debut album Car Wash (soundtrack tie-in) topped charts with the title track at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles. Follow-up albums like Rose Royce II: In Full Bloom (1977) yielded hits "I Wanna Get Next to You," "Do Your Dance," "Ooh Boy," plus "Wishing on a Star" and "Love Don't Live Here Anymore." They scored multiple Top 10 R&B and pop singles through 1979.
Gwen Dickey left in 1980; Ricci Benson replaced her for albums like Golden Touch (1980), with Lisa Taylor later succeeding Benson. The group continued recording into the 1980s and beyond, finding UK success, though never matching their peak. Dickey tours with her own Rose Royce version; the band persists with a changed lineup, performing regularly. Their songs have been covered by artists like Madonna and Beyoncé.
Music Magic
Producer – Bobby Eli
5:58
A2 Holding On To Love
Producer – Bobby Eli, Kenny Copeland
3:23
A3 New Love
Producer – Michael Nash
5:18
A4 Safe And Warm
Producer – Bobby Eli, Kenny Copeland, Michael Nash
4:45
B1 Work It
Producer – Bobby Eli
5:54
B2 Long Distance Love Affair
Producer – Bobby Eli, Kenny Copeland
4:22
B3 You're So Fine
Co-producer – Kenny Copeland, Michael Nash
Producer – Alvin Santiel, Terral Santiel
3:49
B4 Show Me
Producer – Michael Nash
4:27
Label: Montage Records – MA110
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: R&B Soul, Funk
Style: Eighties Soul, Boogie
Released in 1984, Music Magic by Rose Royce represents a post-Gwen Dickey era of the band, featuring a refined, funk-soul sound produced by Bobby Eli. The album is highly regarded for its standout track, "Magic Touch," which is often praised for its "ol'skool" soul-dance appeal. Despite being a later, less commercially successful release than their 70s hits, it holds a positive reputation among fans of the genre.
The album is noted for its "superb" production quality, particularly the work of Bobby Eli.
While many listeners associate the band with original lead singer Gwen Dickey, the replacement vocals (including lead by Rose Norwalt and Keith Patrick) are noted for being soulful and sophisticated.
While not reaching the same heights as their 1970s work (such as Car Wash), the album is well-received by collectors and fans of 80s funk, with this Discogs listing showing it is still valued by listeners.
The album was released on the Streetwave label in the UK and Hot Productions in the US, often recognized as a strong, post-prime effort from the band.
It is often compared to their earlier masterpieces like In Full Bloom, but viewed as a more "refined" and "cool" evolution of their sound rather than a retread of their disco-era hits.
Rainbow Connection IV
Written-By – Robert Daniels 3:37
A2 Is It Love You're After
Written-By – Miles Gregory 5:01
A3 Shine Your Light
Written-By – Robert Daniels 5:26
A4 What You Waitin' For
Written-By – Norman Whitfield 8:54
B1 Bad Mother Funker
Written-By – Norman Whitfield 4:41
B2 You Can't Run From Yourself
Written-By – Norman Whitfield 5:43
B3 Lock It Down
Written-By – Miles Gregory 5:59
B4 Pazazz
Written-By, Producer – Michael Nash 4:47
Label: Whitfield Records – WHS 3387
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1979
Genre:
R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Funk, Disco
Rose Royce IV: Rainbow Connection is the fourth album by the funk and soul band Rose Royce, released in August 1979 on the Whitfield label. The album features a mix of funk, soul, disco, and quiet storm tracks and was the final album to include lead singer Gwen Dickey before she began a solo career.
The album was primarily produced by Norman Whitfield, a key figure in the band's history. It was a commercial success, reaching #22 on the R&B albums chart and #74 on the Billboard 200. The album is noted for its soulful tracks and danceable funk, disco songs.
It album produced two singles, the most successful being "Is It Love You're After," which reached #13 on the UK Singles Chart. The ballad "I Wonder Where You Are Tonight" is also highly regarded by fans.
The album marked the end of an era as Gwen Dickey's final album with the group, cementing their sound before her departure.