Rhythm and Blues Musician, Songwriter. A native of Okemah, Oklahoma, she is best known for her recording of The Carpenters, hit, 'Close To You,' and her number one hit, 'Ain't Nothin' Goin' On But The Rent.' A talented singer at an early age, she began singing while attending high school in Newark, New Jersey. She became a member of a female quartet called, 'The Ebonettes,' along with Brenda White King (who later became a well-known session singer), and then became the lead singer of a East Coast Band formed by Larry Blackmon (of Cameo fame), in New York. It was there that she got her big break doing background session for Aretha Franklin, on the number one hit, 'I'm In Love,' in 1974. Later that year, she joined the production company of Bert Coteaux, and helped write another recording entitled, 'Love Don't Go Through No Changes,' a first hit for the group Sister Sledge. The partnership soon fell apart and Guthrie continued writing songs throughout the 1970s with several different people, of one who was reggae singer Peter Tosh. Through her meeting with Peter Tosh, she also became acquainted with reggae stars Sly Dunbar, and Robbie Shakespeare, who in turn invited the singer to Nassau, Bahamas, to record vocals on an album they were working on. She was heard by Chris Blackwell of the Island Record Label and was signed to a contract. Assisted by David Conley of Surface she released her first solo album, simply entitled, "Gwen Guthrie." This was followed by the release of the 1983 recording, 'It Should Have Been You,' and an album, "Portrait." Over the next few years she continued her success with releases of the albums, "Just For You" (1985), "Good To Go Lover" (1986), "Lifeline" (1988), and "Ticket To Ride" (1988), for the Fourth & Broadway Records Label. She also appeared in "The Wiz," with Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, a remake of 1939 classic, "The Wizard Of Oz." In 1990, Guthrie called it quits after the release of her final album, "Hot Times." On February 3, 1999, Guthrie passed away at the age of 48, in Orange, New Jersey, after battling uterine cancer. Other recordings by Guthrie include, 'It Should Have Been You,' 'Never Knew Love Like This Before,' 'You Touched My Life,' 'Destiny,' 'Bye Bye Lover,' 'Can't Love You Tonight,' and 'Rockin' Chair,' among several others.