Gwen Guthrie

Biography

Gwen branched out into writing lyrics (Ben E. King; Supernatural Thing). She wrote songs for Sister Sledge's debut LP, Circle Of Love, Linda Lewis, and Martha Reeves.

Her solo debut was with the self titled album that featured Should Have Been You was released in 1982 (Island Records). Although her solo artist career was mostly overlooked, she did have that his single Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent (Polydor, 1986). This song yielded the quotable quote "No romance without finance". A high point of Gwen's career are the recordings with Sly, Robbie and Larry Levan, the Garage Record Years. Gwen was one of the top club performers of the eighties. She will be remembered for her subtle ballads, catchy riffs and ear catching jingles

Since some of Gwen's records are already out of print you should stash those vinyl's in a good storage site.

Garage Years

1982/1983 The mixes Larry's does for Island with Sly and Robbie and Gwen Guthrie are among the most exciting records of that era. The Padlock mini-LP which was released in 1983 on the Garage label includes 'Hopscotch', 'Seventh heaven', 'Getting hot', 'Peanut butter' and ends with the brilliant title track 'Padlock'. The sleeve of the German Island pressing was done by Tony Wright, who was also responsible for Lee Perry's 'Return Of Superape' album.

The link with The Paradise Garage (New York) is through Larry Levan. The Paradise Garage was a hot night club in New York. It has recently closed.

Obituary

Gwen Guthrie, a singer and songwriter who recorded several dance and R&B hits during the 1980s, died Wednesday of uterine cancer. She was 42.

Source: The Independent - London
Date: 2/15/1999
Summary:

THE AMERICAN soul diva Gwen Guthrie is best remembered for"Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But the Rent", one of the biggest dance anthems of the Eighties, which captured the public imagination with its catchphrase: "No romance without finance. You gotta have a J.O.B. if you wanna be with me." Over the course of a varied career, the disco star contributed to dozens of albums as a composer, lead and backing vocalist and was one of the first recording artists to raise money for the fight against Aids. Born in 1950 in the suburban town of Newark, New Jersey, Guthrie studied classical music and piano at school. This grounding would stand her in good stead when she later developed her skills as a composer. She was already a rather good singer and, in the early Seventies, joined the Ebonettes and the Matchmakers alongside Larry Blackmon, later the frontman with Cameo. Having graduated, Guthrie opted for a career in teaching but kept her hand in by doing jingle sessions for radio commercials singing the praises of Chevrolet, Avon or Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Source: Newsday
Date: 2/10/1999
Summary:

WORLD / NATION Gwen Guthrie, 42, a New Jersey-based singer and songwriter who recorded several dance and R&B hits during the 1980s, died last Wednesday of uterine cancer. The New Jersey native got her show business break in the mid-1970s when she was hired as a background vocalist for Aretha Franklin and later worked with Roberta Flack and Luther Vandross. She became a popular recording session singer, performing on albums by Kenny Loggins and Steely Dan, among others. Her biggest solo success came in 1986 with "Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But the Rent." Words from that song - "no romance without finance" - became a popular catch-phrase. Guthrie's self-titled debut album was released in 1982, featuring the song "Should Have Been You," which helped establish her as one of the top club music performers of the period. Guthrie also was an accomplished songwriter, and co-wrote a number of hits, including Ben E. King's "Supernatural Thing" and Angela Bofill's "This Time I'll Be Sweeter."

Source: The Village Voice
Date: 16-Feb-1999
Summary:

Gwen Guthrie 1950-1999
Singer, producer and songwriter Gwen Guthrie died last Wednesday. Guthrie's music career began in 1974 when she did a background vocal session for Aretha Franklin.

Subject: Gwen Guthrie
Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2006
To:ClappersP@aol.com

Hello,
I would like to point out Gwen Guthrie was 48 when she passed away, not 42, as stated on your site.
Born July 9 in Okemah, Oklahoma, Gwen left us on February 3 1999. She didn't quite make it to 49.
Best wishes,
Russtti Gaynor

Gopher Kay: I agree with you about the dates. Death at 42, is a quote from the news source that is listed.