Gwen Guthrie

Gwen Guthrie, best known for her 1986 dance anthem “Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ on but the Rent”, was born in Newark, US in 1950.

She made her real break in music when a backup singer listed to sing on Aretha Franklin's "I'm in Love" fell ill. Guthrie took the vocalist's place beside Cissy Houston and the rest is history.

Gwen worked with artists like Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Madonna, Ashford & Simpson, Sly and Robbie, Peter Tosh among others. She also wrote songs made famous by Ben E. King, Gary Glitter, Sister Sledge and Roberta Flack.

Dubbed “The First Lady of the Paradise Garage” her musical partnership with celebrated - DJ Larry Levan saw a number of her songs become dance floor anthems in the 80s. Her club hits included "Padlock", "Peanut Butter", "Peek-a-Boo" and the remarkable “Getting Hot”. She also had a chart topping hit in the United Kingdom with a cover of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David song "(They Long to Be) Close to You".

Gwen was a prolific songwriter and a good pianist. She sadly died of uterine cancer on February 3, 1999, at the age of 48.

Listen to Gwen Guthrie on Rhapsody or Last.fm

Carrie Lucas

Born in Los Angeles California, Carrie Lucas was a background singer for the Whispers. A gorgeous and genuinely talented vocalist, Carrie secured an album deal with Soul Train Records and released her first album in 1977. The album was titled “Simply Carrie”, and the track “I Gotta Keep Dancing" secured her place in soul history.

Carrie released a couple of albums in the late 70s, but it was the release of “Portrait of Carrie” in 1980 that once more brought her back to everyone’s notice. The album released on the Solar label, had hits like "Keep Smilin'.", "It's Not What You Got (It's How You Use It)" and the pro-feminist anthem "Career Girl”.

In 1982, she recorded and released "Still in Love" under the banner of Solar Records which was now distributed by Elektra/Asylum. One of the memorable tracks on this album was “Show Me Where You're Coming From".

Her last full length album was released in 1985. It included singles like "Charlie," "Horsin' Around," "Summer in the Street" and "Hello Stranger."

Her remake of the Barbara Lewis classic, "Hello Stranger" featuring the Whispers reached number 20 on the R&B charts. It was Carrie’s most outstanding track.