Who recorded the hit single "Car Wash" in 1977?

Who recorded the hit single "Car Wash" in 1977? Rose Royce recorded it. The song became the American R&B group’s signature hit and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1977.

"Car Wash" was written and produced by Norman Whitfield for the soundtrack to the 1976 film Car Wash, directed by Michael Schultz. Whitfield was commissioned to create the film’s music, and the song’s upbeat funk-and-disco sound matched the movie’s lively setting. Rose Royce’s recording served as the soundtrack’s lead single and helped establish the group nationally.

The date can cause confusion: the film and soundtrack appeared in 1976, while the single’s major chart success carried into 1977. The soundtrack later won the 1977 Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack Album. The song is also sometimes associated with later versions, including the 2004 remake featuring Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott, but Rose Royce made the original hit recording.