Gwen Guthrie
Encyclopedia
Gwen Guthrie was an American singer-songwriter
, who also sang backing vocals for Aretha Franklin
, Billy Joel
, Stevie Wonder
, and Madonna
, among others, and who wrote songs made famous by Ben E. King
, and Roberta Flack
.
and raised in Newark, New Jersey
. In school, she studied classical music
, and her father began teaching her piano
when she was eight years old. By the early 1970s, she had joined vocal groups such as the Ebonettes and the Matchmakers, meanwhile working as an elementary school teacher. When a backup singer scheduled to sing on Aretha Franklin
's 1974 single "I'm in Love" fell ill, Guthrie took the vocalist's place beside Cissy Houston
; thus Guthrie would happily state that her career on record began "at the top".
Guthrie soon began moonlighting as a singer of commercial jingles, sometimes with her friend Valerie Simpson (of the Ashford & Simpson
fame). A songwriting partnership with her then boyfriend, trombonist/bassist Haras Fyre
(professionally known as "Patrick Grant") resulted in Ben E. King
's comeback single, "Supernatural Thing", and "This Time I'll Be Sweeter", covered by numerous artists. Together they wrote seven tracks on the Sister Sledge
's 1975 album Circle of Love: "Cross My Heart", "Protect Our Love", "Love Don't You Go Through No Changes on Me", "Don't You Miss Him Now", "Pain Reliever", "You're Much Better Off Loving Me", and "Fireman". She was also the writer of Roberta Flack
's "God Don't Like Ugly".
As Guthrie's solo career developed, she worked extensively with Sly and Robbie
on dub-influenced club cuts, and began racking up dance
hits. She was dubbed "The First Lady of the Paradise Garage
" as several of her songs became anthems at the venue, helped by the frequent and dynamic performances she gave there. She soon teamed musically with famed Paradise Garage DJ Larry Levan
, and recorded her first major landmark hit, "Padlock" in 1983 with the Compass Point All Stars
in Nassau, Bahamas
which became a club
and radio
hit two years later.
Guthrie is probably best known for her 1986 dance anthem "Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent
", a self-written and -produced track which garnered some controversy for its misandric
and materialistic lyrics
such as: "You've got to have a j-o-b if you want to be with me/No romance without finance". A literal reading suggests a man only require the finances to make a relationship work. However, Guthrie's lyrics intend to motivate her partner into being responsible
for maintaining equality and financial stability.
"Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent" was later sampled
by numerous dance and hip hop
artists, notably by Foxy Brown in her 1998 song "JOB" featuring Mýa
and by Utah Saints
for the original version of their hit "What Can You Do for Me". The song is referenced in the Eddie Murphy
monologue "No Romance Without Finance", in his Eddie Murphy Raw
concert and film (also available on DVD). Guthrie also had a hit in 1986 with a cover
of "(They Long to Be) Close to You
", which reached number twenty-five on the UK Singles Chart
the same year.
Her single "Can't Love You Tonight" boldly addressed AIDS
at a time when the disease was a taboo subject. Guthrie was an ally to the gay community
, and to people with AIDS long before the masses caught up. Proceeds from the single went to the AIDS Coalition.
Other club hits of hers include the Compass Point All Stars-produced "Seventh Heaven", "Peanut Butter", and "Peek-a-Boo". "Padlock" was later covered by M People
, who included it on their 1995 album Bizarre Fruit
, featuring vocalist Heather Small
.
on February 3, 1999, at the age of 48, and was interred in Fairmount Cemetery
in Newark
, New Jersey
.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, who also sang backing vocals for Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
, Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, and Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, among others, and who wrote songs made famous by Ben E. King
Ben E. King
Benjamin Earl King , better known as Ben E. King, is an American soul singer. He is perhaps best known as the singer and co-composer of "Stand by Me", a U.S...
, and Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
.
Life and career
Guthrie was born in Okemah, OklahomaOkemah, Oklahoma
Okemah is a city in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Okfuskee County. It is the birthplace of folk music legend Woody Guthrie. Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, a federally recognized Muscogee Indian tribe, is headquartered in Okemah...
and raised in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. In school, she studied classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, and her father began teaching her piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
when she was eight years old. By the early 1970s, she had joined vocal groups such as the Ebonettes and the Matchmakers, meanwhile working as an elementary school teacher. When a backup singer scheduled to sing on Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
's 1974 single "I'm in Love" fell ill, Guthrie took the vocalist's place beside Cissy Houston
Cissy Houston
Emily "Cissy" Houston is a Grammy Award–winning American soul and gospel singer. She led a very successful career as a backup singer for such artists as Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Wishbone Ash and Aretha Franklin, and is now primarily a solo artist...
; thus Guthrie would happily state that her career on record began "at the top".
Guthrie soon began moonlighting as a singer of commercial jingles, sometimes with her friend Valerie Simpson (of the Ashford & Simpson
Ashford & Simpson
Nickolas Ashford , and Valerie Simpson , were a husband and wife songwriting/production team and recording artists....
fame). A songwriting partnership with her then boyfriend, trombonist/bassist Haras Fyre
Haras Fyre
In 1971, Haras joined a local band called the Matchmakers, where he met vocalist and pianist Gwen Guthrie. The two became romantically involved, moved in together and, with The Matchmakers' saxophonist James Wheeler & trumpeter Jerome McCoggle, they joined the New York City based band "East...
(professionally known as "Patrick Grant") resulted in Ben E. King
Ben E. King
Benjamin Earl King , better known as Ben E. King, is an American soul singer. He is perhaps best known as the singer and co-composer of "Stand by Me", a U.S...
's comeback single, "Supernatural Thing", and "This Time I'll Be Sweeter", covered by numerous artists. Together they wrote seven tracks on the Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge is an American musical group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 1972 and consisting of four sisters: Kim Sledge Debbie Sledge , Joni Sledge , and Kathy Sledge . They are granddaughters of the former opera singer Viola Williams. The sisters used to perform under the name of "Mrs...
's 1975 album Circle of Love: "Cross My Heart", "Protect Our Love", "Love Don't You Go Through No Changes on Me", "Don't You Miss Him Now", "Pain Reliever", "You're Much Better Off Loving Me", and "Fireman". She was also the writer of Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
's "God Don't Like Ugly".
As Guthrie's solo career developed, she worked extensively with Sly and Robbie
Sly and Robbie
Sly and Robbie is the prolific Jamaican rhythm section and production team of drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare who joined in the mid 1970s after having established themselves separately in Jamaica as professional musicians...
on dub-influenced club cuts, and began racking up dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
hits. She was dubbed "The First Lady of the Paradise Garage
Paradise Garage
The Paradise Garage was a discotheque notable in the history of modern gay and nightclub cultures and in dance and pop music. It was founded by Michael Brody, its sole proprietor, and was located at 84 King Street, in the Hudson Square neighborhood of New York City. It operated from 1976 to 1987...
" as several of her songs became anthems at the venue, helped by the frequent and dynamic performances she gave there. She soon teamed musically with famed Paradise Garage DJ Larry Levan
Larry Levan
Larry Levan was a DJ best known for his decade-long residency at the New York City night club Paradise Garage, which has been described as the prototype of the modern dance club. He developed a cult following who referred to his sets as "Saturday Mass"...
, and recorded her first major landmark hit, "Padlock" in 1983 with the Compass Point All Stars
Compass Point All Stars
The Compass Point phenomenon was designed to be to reggae-based pop/rock music of the 80s, what Nashville was to country music, or the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section was to soul and R&B in the 60s: a recording facility animated by in-house sets of artists, musicians, producers and engineers, all...
in Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas...
which became a club
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
and radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
hit two years later.
Guthrie is probably best known for her 1986 dance anthem "Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent
Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent
"Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent" is a hit song recorded by R&B singer Gwen Guthrie. Released as a single in 1986 on Polydor Records, the song became the biggest hit of Guthrie's career, and the song's title became a semi-popular catchphrase among many women throughout the late 1980s and early...
", a self-written and -produced track which garnered some controversy for its misandric
Misandry
Misandry is the hatred or dislike of men or boys.Misandry comes from Greek misos and anēr, andros . Misandry is the antonym of philandry, the fondness towards men, love, or admiration of them...
and materialistic lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
such as: "You've got to have a j-o-b if you want to be with me/No romance without finance". A literal reading suggests a man only require the finances to make a relationship work. However, Guthrie's lyrics intend to motivate her partner into being responsible
Moral responsibility
Moral responsibility usually refers to the idea that a person has moral obligations in certain situations. Disobeying moral obligations, then, becomes grounds for justified punishment. Deciding what justifies punishment, if anything, is a principle concern of ethics.People who have moral...
for maintaining equality and financial stability.
"Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent" was later sampled
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
by numerous dance and hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
artists, notably by Foxy Brown in her 1998 song "JOB" featuring Mýa
Mya
-A person:* Bo Mya , Chief Commander of the Karen National Union* Mýa , American R&B singer-songwriter and actress** Mýa , a 1998 album by Mýa-A code:* Burmese language, ISO 639-3 code is mya* Moruya Airport's IATA code...
and by Utah Saints
Utah Saints
Utah Saints is a dance band based in Leeds, England. The music is produced by Jez Willis and Tim Garbutt, who are joined on-stage by other musicians whenever the band plays live...
for the original version of their hit "What Can You Do for Me". The song is referenced in the Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
monologue "No Romance Without Finance", in his Eddie Murphy Raw
Eddie Murphy Raw
Eddie Murphy Raw is an American stand-up comedy film directed by Robert Townsend and starring Eddie Murphy. It was Murphy's second feature stand-up video, following Eddie Murphy Delirious...
concert and film (also available on DVD). Guthrie also had a hit in 1986 with a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "(They Long to Be) Close to You
(They Long to Be) Close to You
" Close to You" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was first recorded by Richard Chamberlain and released as a single in 1963 as "They Long to Be Close to You," without parentheses. However, it was the single's flip side, "Blue Guitar," that became a hit...
", which reached number twenty-five on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
the same year.
Her single "Can't Love You Tonight" boldly addressed AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
at a time when the disease was a taboo subject. Guthrie was an ally to the gay community
Gay community
The gay community, or LGBT community, is a loosely defined grouping of LGBT and LGBT-supportive people, organizations and subcultures, united by a common culture and civil rights movements. These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality...
, and to people with AIDS long before the masses caught up. Proceeds from the single went to the AIDS Coalition.
Other club hits of hers include the Compass Point All Stars-produced "Seventh Heaven", "Peanut Butter", and "Peek-a-Boo". "Padlock" was later covered by M People
M People
M People are a British house music act from Manchester, who formed in 1990 and achieved success throughout most of the 1990s. The name M People is from the initials of Mike Pickering, who formed the group.-Career:...
, who included it on their 1995 album Bizarre Fruit
Bizarre Fruit
- Release history :...
, featuring vocalist Heather Small
Heather Small
Heather Small is a British soul singer, best known for being the lead singer in the Manchester based band M People. Her debut solo album was Proud in 2000...
.
Death
Guthrie died of uterine cancerUterine cancer
The term uterine cancer may refer to any of several different types of cancer which occur in the uterus, namely:*Uterine sarcomas: sarcomas of the myometrium, or muscular layer of the uterus, are most commonly leiomyosarcomas.*Endometrial cancer:...
on February 3, 1999, at the age of 48, and was interred in Fairmount Cemetery
Fairmount Cemetery, Newark
thumb|190px|The Krueger Mausoleumthumb|190px|The Setters' MonumentFairmount Cemetery is a Victorian cemetery in the West Ward of Newark, New Jersey, in the neighborhood of Fairmount. It opened in 1855, shortly after the Newark City Council banned burials in the central city due to fears that...
in Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
Albums
- 1973: East Coast (Encounter)
- 1982: Gwen Guthrie (Island) - R&B #28
- 1983: Portrait (Island)
- 1985: Just for You (4th & Broadway/Island) - R&B #55
- 1985: Padlock (Garage Records/Island) - R&B #47
- 1986: Good to Go Lover (Polydor) - US #89, R&B #20, UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#42 - 1987: Ticket to Ride (4th & Broadway/Island)
- 1988: Lifeline (Warner Brothers)
- 1990: Hot Times (Reprise/Warner Brothers)
- 1999: Ultimate Collection (Hip-O)
Singles
- 1979: "Never (Gonna Let You Go)" (Charme featuring Gwen Guthrie)
- 1981: "Nothing But Love" (with Peter ToshPeter ToshPeter Tosh, born Winston Hubert McIntosh , was a Jamaican reggae musician who was a core member of the band The Wailers , and who afterward had a successful solo career as well as being a promoter of Rastafari.Peter Tosh was born in Grange Hill, Jamaica, an illegitimate child to a mother too young...
) - R&B #43 - 1982: "It Should Have Been You" - R&B #27
- 1982: "Peek-a-Boo"
- 1982: "For You (With a Melody Too)"
- 1983: "Peanut Butter" - R&B #83
- 1983: "Hopscotch"
- 1984: "Love in Moderation" - US #110, R&B #17
- 1985: "Say Yeah" (with The Limit)
- 1985: "Just for You" - R&B #53
- 1985: "Padlock" (Larry Levan Remix) - US #102, R&B #25
- 1985: "Peanut Butter" (Larry Levan Remix) - R&B #75
- 1986: "Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the RentAin't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent"Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent" is a hit song recorded by R&B singer Gwen Guthrie. Released as a single in 1986 on Polydor Records, the song became the biggest hit of Guthrie's career, and the song's title became a semi-popular catchphrase among many women throughout the late 1980s and early...
" - US #42, R&B #1, UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#5 - 1986: "Seventh Heaven" - UK #85
- 1986: "Outside in the Rain" - R&B #51
- 1986: "(They Long to Be) Close to You(They Long to Be) Close to You" Close to You" is a popular song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was first recorded by Richard Chamberlain and released as a single in 1963 as "They Long to Be Close to You," without parentheses. However, it was the single's flip side, "Blue Guitar," that became a hit...
" - R&B #69, UK #25 - 1986: "You Touched My Life" - BR #10
- 1987: "Good to Go Lover" / "Outside in the Rain" - UK #37
- 1987: "Family Affair" (Larry Levan Remix)
- 1987: "Ticket to Ride"
- 1987: "Friends and Lovers" (with Boris GardinerBoris GardinerBoris Gardiner is a Jamaican singer, songwriter and bass guitarist.-Career:Gardiner performed on the tourist circuit for much of the 1960s and was a member of Carlos Malcolm & the Afro Caribs and Byron Lee's Dragonaires...
) - UK #97 - 1988: "Can't Love You Tonight" - UK #79, R&B #83
- 1988: "Rockin' Chair"
- 1990: "Miss My Love"
- 1990: "Say It Isn't So"
- 1991: "Sweet Bitter Love" - R&B #74
- 1992: "Eyes (You Never Really Cared)" - UK #95
- 1993: "Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent" (Remix) - UK #42
- 1993: "This Christmas Eve"
- 1994: "What a Life" (Joey NegroJoey NegroDave Lee is a British DJ and house music producer, also known by the stage name Joey Negro. Lee was born on the Isle of Wight. He has released music under a variety of pseudonyms, including the name Jakatta...
featuring Gwen Guthrie)
External links
- Gwen Guthrie at Discogs.com
- Patrick Grant (Haras Fyre) at Discogs.com
- Patrick Grant (Haras Fyre) at Fyremusic.com
- Podcast feature on Guthrie's life