Biography

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.
- IMDb mini biography by: woodyanders

Continues to perform live onstage, despite suffering a serious spinal cord injury at her London home in 2010.

My life is totally changed. It would be tough if it wasn't for my audiences. They respect my voice and couldn't care less about my legs. For that I'm very grateful.

[on still performing after injuring her spinal-cord in 2010] I have hurt my back, not my voice. I have faith in the idea that people come to listen to me, not to see me. It doesn't matter that I'm in a wheelchair or on a stool or using a walker, it's the music which counts.

[on her spinal-cord injury] I knew instantly something was wrong. I was in so much pain. I realised I was not able to move my legs, they were completely paralysed... I was staring at nurses walking around and thinking, a few days ago I could do that too - but I couldn't even get out of bed. My consultant asked me what my life had been like before my injury. I said, "Well, you know the song Car Wash? That was me, that was who I was.