Gwendolyn Guthrie (July 9, 1950 – February 3, 1999)[2] was an American singer-songwriter and pianist[1] who also sang backing vocals for Aretha Franklin, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Peter Tosh, The Limit and Madonna, among others, and who wrote songs made famous by Ben E. King, Angela Bofill and Roberta Flack.
A song-writing partnership with then-boyfriend, trombonist/bassist Haras Fyre (professionally known as "Patrick Grant") resulted in Ben E. King's comeback single "Supernatural Thing," an R&B #1 (#5 pop) hit in 1975,[2] and the follow-up, "Do It In the Name of Love (#4 R&B).
As Guthrie's solo career developed, she worked extensively with Sly and Robbie on dub-influenced club cuts and began racking up dance hits.
Guthrie is probably best known for her 1986 dance anthem "Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent", a self-written and produced track that garnered some controversy for its materialistic lyrics such as: "You've got to have a j-o-b if you want to be with me/No romance without finance.
"[2] "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."
[citation needed] Guthrie died of uterine cancer on February 3, 1999,[1] at the age of 48,[5] and was interred at Fairmount Cemetery in Newark, New Jersey.