Rose Royce, the Los Angeles-based group comprised of Henry Garner (drums), Terral "Terry" Santiel (congas), Lequeint "Duke" Jobe (bass), Michael Moore (saxophone), Rose Norwalt (lead vocals), Kenny Copeland (trumpet, lead vocals), Kenji Brown (guitar, lead vocals), Freddie Dunn (trumpet) and Michael Nash (keyboards) was actually formed by Copeland and Garner. Both were preparing for graduation from high school, and contemplating their careers. Joined by Dunn and Moore, the two decided to go the route of the music business under the name Total Concept Unlimited (and later as Magic Wand). They auditioned for Edwin Starr, and he hired them as his backup band.
The group's association with Starr enabled them to interact with numerous music industry personalities. One in particular was Motown producer Norman Whitfield. Whitfield gradually became associated with the group by hiring them for recording sessions; the group also worked with Yvonne Fair, the Undisputed Truth and the Temptations through Whitfield's influence. After a couple of years of seasoning, the group began production on their debut album under Whitfield's supervision. Also during this time, MCA Records was seeking an artist for the soundtrack to the movie Car Wash. Whitfield convinced executives that the band was more than competent for the job. So the material that Whitfield had assembled for the group's debut album became the soundtrack's material.
The movie Car Wash and the soundtrack were big hits, and it also propelled the group, now known as Rose Royce, into national notoriety. Released in late 1976, the soundtrack featured three Billboard R&B Top Ten singles: "Car Wash," "I Wanna Get Next to You" and "I'm Going Down." The former was also a number one single on the Billboard pop charts.
To offset any negative rhetoric regarding their legitimacy, the group released its follow-up album, In Full Bloom, and bloom it did. The group returned to the Top Ten with "Do Your Dance" and "Ooh Boy," silencing all critics. In 1978, they released their third album entitled Rose Royce Strikes Back, and it featued "I'm in Love (and I Love the Feeling)" and "Love Don't Live Here Anymore." Both singles cracked the Billboard R&B Top Five.
The group followed with a string of hits that roamed the charts, but never gained the chart status that their previous songs did. They became very popular in England and remain a marquee attraction there. -- Craig Lytle All Music Guide
01. Car Wash 02. 6 O'Clock DJ 03. I Wanna Get Next to You 04. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 05. Zig Zag 06. You're on My Mind 07. Mid Day DJ Theme 08. Born to Love You 09. Daddy Rich |
10. You Gotta Believe 11. I'm Going Down 12. Yo Yo 13. Sunrise 14. Righteous Rhythm 15. Water 16. Crying 17. Doin' What Comes Naturally 18. Keep on Keepin' On |
01. Wishing on a Star 02. You Can't Please Everybody 03. Ooh Boy 04. Do Your Dance |
05. You're My World Girl 06. Love, More Love 07. Funk Factory 08. It Makes You Feel Like Dancin' |
01. Get Up Off Your Fat 02. Do It, Do It 03. I'm In Love(and I love the feeling) 04. First Come, First Serve 05. Love Don't Live Here Anymore |
06. Angel In The Sky 07. Help 08. Let Me Be The First To Know 09.That's What's Wrong With Me |
01. Pop Your Fingers 02. It Makes You Feel Like Dancing 03. First Come, First Serve 04. Car Wash 05. Is It Love You're After 06. Do Your Dance 07. You're A Winner |
08. Oooh Boy 09. I Wanna Get Next To You 10. Wishing On A Star 11. I'm In Love(and I love the feeling) 12. I'm Going Down 13. I Wonder Where You Are Tonight 14. Love Don't Live Here Anymore |
01. And You Wish for Yesterday 02. I Wanna Make It With You 03. Funkin' Around 04. Golden Touch |
05. Love Is in the Air 06. You're a Winner 07. Would You Please Be Mine 08. Help Yourself |
01. Jump Street 02. Illusions 03. R.R. Express 04. Famous Last Words |
05. Tell Me That I'm Dreaming 06. Please Return Your Love to Me 07. Fight It |
01. Dance With Me 02. Sometimes Lady 03. Best Love 04. Still in Love |
05. You Blew It 06. Somehow We Made It Through the Rain 07. Fire in the Funk 08. Talk to Me |
01. Magic Touch 02. Holding on to Love 03. New Love 04. Safe and Warm |
05. Work It 06. Long Distance Love Affair 07. You're So Fine 08. Show Me |
01. Is It Love You're After 02. I Love The Feeling 03. Wishing On A Star 04. The Magic Touch 05. Introductions |
06. Do Your Dance 07. I Wanna Get Next To You 08. Love Don't Live Here Anymore 09. Car Wash |
01. Car Wash Whitfield 02. I Wanna Get Next To You Whitfield 03. Wishing On A Star 04. Love Don't Live Here Anymore 05. Is It Love You're After 06. Do Your Dance 07. I'm In Love(and I love the feeling) 08. It Makes you Feel Like Dancin' |
09. Oooh Boy 10. I'm Going Down 11. Car Wash II 12. People Make The World Go Round 13. Fall In Love 14. Wishing On A Star(Remix) 15. Car Wash (Remix) |