Gwen Guthrie was born in Newark, New Jersey. Her father tought her to play the piano, when she was only eight years old and later she sang in local bands, such as the Ebonettes. Gwen became a teacher in an elementary school, but accepted an offer to substitute for a sick backup vocalist and harmonized in her first go-round with Cissy Houston. The backup vocals were for Aretha Franklin's "I'm in love", which became that singer's 15th No.1 hit. Several top-producers were so impressed by Gwen's vocal abiilities that they wanted her to sing on their albums too. This is how she made her big break into the business. People Gwen worked with include Quincy Jones, Mtume and Reggie Lucas. She also sang commercial jingles for Chevrolet and Kentucky Fried Chicken. After working with Luther Vandross, she teamed up with Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. In june 1986, Gwen released her first solo single called "Ain't nothing goin' on but the rent". The song went straight to No.1 in the Billboard charts. During the rest of the 1980's and 1990's, she released several albums. Gwen Guthrie's last live performance was on 13 October 1998, when she appeared on Ashford & Simpson's WRKS in New York. Gwen performed with them to Valerie's piano accompaniment. No listener could have guessed from Gwen's vibrant sound that she was seriously ill. Gwen Guthrie passed away on 3 February 1999.

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D i s c o g r a p h y

It should have been you	1982	Island
Ticket to ride	1983	4th & B'way
Portrait	1983	Island
Padlock	1983	Island
(They long to be) close to you	1986	Boiling Point
Ain't nothin' goin' on...	1986	Boiling Point
Outside in the rain	1986	Polydor
Good to go lover	1986	Polydor
Lifeline	1988	Warner Bros.
Ultimate collection	1999	Hip-O