Singer/songwriter Greg Guidry was born in St. Louis, MO on January 23, 1954, and started out singing gospel music as a child. He remained active with music growing up and sang in bands through high school and college, including several with future Doobie Brother (and St. Louis native) Michael McDonald. He signed a publishing deal in 1977, spending the next several years writing for other artists and even singing backup for the Allman Brothers Band in 1981. Columbia Records signed Guidry as an artist in 1982 and issued his debut, Over the Line. With its adult pop sound, Over the Line produced a hit with the first single culled from it, "Goin' Down." The song peaked at number 17 in the spring of 1982 and managed to do even better on the adult contemporary charts, where it reached Top Ten status. The follow-up track, a duet with sister Sandy Guidry, failed to duplicate the success of "Goin' Down" and spent a mere two weeks on the charts. Guidry would continue to write for others, but it would be nearly 20 years before he would issue additional material, with 2000's self-released Soul'd Out and Private Session. Guidry died on July 28, 2003 at his home in Fairview, TN. His burned body was found in a car parked in his garage, and his death was ruled a suicide. He was 49 years old. ~ Tom Demalon, Rovi
