Formed in the USA as a multi-purpose backing group, the original nine-piece worked under a variety of names. In 1973 Kenji Brown (guitar), Victor Nix (keyboards), Kenny Copeland, Freddie Dunn (trumpets), Michael Moore (saxophone), Lequient ‘Duke’ Jobe (bass), Henry Garner and Terrai Santiel (drums) backed Edwin Starr as Total Concept Limited, before supporting Yvonne Fair as Magic Wand. This line-up later became the regular studio band behind the Undisputed Truth and Temptations, before embarking on their own recording career following the addition of singer Gwen Dickey. The group took the name Rose Royce in 1976 when they recorded the successful soundtrack to the motion picture Car Wash, the title song of which was a platinum-selling single. Two further songs from the movie reached the R&B Top 10 before the band joined producer Norman Whitfield’s label. Two atmospheric releases, ‘Wishing On A Star’ and ‘Love Don’t Live Here Anymore’ (both 1978), reached the Top 3 in the UK despite disappointing sales at home. This feature continued the following year with ‘Is It Love You’re After’, another UK Top 20 record. Their popularity in the UK was verified in 1980 when the Greatest Hits collection reached number 1 in the album charts. Since then the group has continued to record, but their releases have only made the lower reaches of the charts.
