Gwen Dickey

{{Infobox musical artist

| background = person

| name = Gwen Dickey

| image =

| alt = Gwen Dickey

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|12|1}}

| birth_place = Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.

| alias = Rose Norwalt

| genre = {{hlist|R&B|pop|disco|soul|funk}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|singer|songwriter|record producer}}

| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|}}

| years_active = 1973–present

| label = Whitfield

| current_member_of = Rose Royce

}}

Gwen Dickey (born December 1, 1953) is an American musician. She is best known as the lead singer of the R&B band Rose Royce, where she performed under the name Rose Norwalt. Notable songs from the group include "Car Wash" and "Wishing on a Star". In 1976, their US Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "Car Wash" brought Dickey and the band acclaim and success. After leaving the band in 1980, Dickey moved to the United Kingdom, where she continued a solo career.{{cite web |last1=Waring |first1=Charles |date=30 July 2015 |title=A Rose by any other name – Ex-Rose Royce singer Gwen Dickey talks |url=http://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/interviews/3528-a-rose-by-any-other-name-ex-rose-royce-singer-gwen-dickey-talks.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810235415/http://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/interviews/3528-a-rose-by-any-other-name-ex-rose-royce-singer-gwen-dickey-talks.html |archive-date=August 10, 2018 |access-date=10 August 2018 |website=www.soulandjazzandfunk.com}}

Career

Gwen Dickey formed her own version of Rose Royce in 2017 - Gwen Dickey's Rose Royce and in 2021 and 2022 toured the UK nationally. In 2022 Gwen featured on the Giants of Soul Tour - taking in 15 UK venues performing with Deniece Williams, Alexander O'Neal, Tunde (Lighthouse Family) and Jaki Graham.{{Cite magazine |last=Wooley |first=Ian |date=7 Oct 2022 |title=Beat Magazine |url=https://www.beat-magazine.co.uk/2022/silky-smooth-with-the-giants-of-soul/ |magazine=Billboard |pages=22 |via=www.beat-magazine.co.uk}} In 2023 [https://allevents.in/london/its-soultime-at-the-london-palladium-with-the-real-thing-and-gwen-dickeys-rose-royce/200023592763052?ref=past-event-page Gwen Dickey's Rose Royce headlined at The London Palladium.]

In 2024 Dickey released the EP “This is Gwen Dickey”,{{cite web |title=Gwen Dickey – This Is Gwen Dickey - Press Release|url=https://www.pr.com/press-release/922857 |website=pr.com|year=2024|access-date=21 October 2024}}{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS) given that it's a press release|date=October 2024}} featuring four tracks.{{Cite magazine |last=Buckley |first=Bill |date=18 Oct 2024 |title=EP - This Is Gwen Dickey - Review|url=https://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/news/this-is-gwen-dickey/ |magazine=Soul & Jazz & Funk |via=soulandjazzandfunk.com}} The EP is a collaboration with producer, songwriter, and guitarist Eric Jackson (who has worked with artists like Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Usher, and Robin Thicke) and songwriter/producer Robert Elijah Storm Daniels (whose credits include Usher, Mary J. Blige, Robin Thicke, and Lil Wayne).

Personal life

In 2010, Dickey experienced a spinal cord injury in her London home, leaving her reliant on a wheelchair. As of 2023, she still performs concerts while seated on stage.{{cite news |last1=Brennan |first1=Stuart |title=Review: David Gest's Legends of Soul Spectacular @ Stockport Plaza |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/david-gests-legends-soul-spectacular-6710994 |access-date=10 August 2018 |work=Manchester Evening News|date=14 February 2014}}