Gwen Dickey
- Soundtrack
Beautiful and charismatic soul and R&B singer Gwen Dickey was born in
Biloxi, Mississippi. Gwen was discovered by the band Undisputed Truth
singing in Miami, Florida in a local group called the Jewels. Dickey
was subsequently chosen by legendary Motown producer and songwriter
Norman Whitfield to be the lead singer for the R&B outfit Rose Royce.
Rose Royce had a massive #1 hit with the rousing and syncopated "Car
Wash" in 1976. The group scored additional substantial R&B chart hits
with such songs as "I Wanna Get Next to You," "I'm Going Down," ""Do
Your Dance," "Ooh Boy," "I'm in Love (And I Love the Feeling)," and
"Wishing on a Star" throughout the late 70s. Gwen left Rose Royce in
April, 1980 to pursue a solo career. In 1994 she joined forces with KWS
on a cover of Chaka Khan's classic hit "Ain't Nobody." Dickey sang a
duet with noted international rap star Jay-Z on a cover of Rose Royce's
lovely and poignant soul gem "Wishing on a Star" in 1998; this
particular song peaked at #13 on the UK charts the first week it was
released as a single. Gwen sang vocals on the song "Flying" by Romeo
for the soundtrack of the movie "Albeltje" in 1999. In the first half
of 2001 she headlined a musical tour called What A Feeling which played
in major theaters throughout England. Dickey opened for James Brown at
the One Grand Prix ball in Monte Carlo and shared a bill with Meatloaf
in Antwerp, Belgium for Night of the Proms to a sold out show for three
nights that same year. In 2004 Gwen performed at the Glastonbury music
festival in England. Dickey performed once again with James Brown at
Monte Carlo for Formula 1 in 2005. Gwen did an encore performance for
the Formula 1 Drivers Annual Charity Ball in 2006. Dickey performed
throughout the United Kingdom and Europe in both 2007 and 2008. She
continues to tour all over Europe with her band Gwen Dickey's Rose
Royce.
