Gwen Guthrie
| Gwen Guthrie | |
|---|---|
Gwen Guthrie
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gwendolyn Guthrie |
| Born | July 9, 1950 Newark, NJ, U.S. |
| Died | February 3, 1999 (aged 48) |
| Genres | R&B,soul,post-disco,dance-pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, pianist |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano |
| Years active | 1974–1999 |
| Labels | Island, Garage, Polydor, Warner Bros., Reprise |
Gwendolyn "Gwen" Guthrie (July 9, 1950 – February 3, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter and pianist, who also sang backing vocals for Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Peter Tosh, and Madonna, among others, and who wrote songs made famous by Ben E. King, Angela Bofill and Roberta Flack.
Guthrie was born in 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. In the 1970s she co-wrote "Satan's Daughter" with Patrick Grant for the rock/pop star Gary Glitter. Intended to be a single for the entertainer. However; another track was ultimately chosen, but it appeared on his album GG in 1976.
Guthrie soon began moonlighting as a singer of commercial jingles, sometimes with her friend Valerie Simpson (of 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".
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