Jim Gilstrap

James Gilstrap was born on November 10, 1946, in Daingerfield, a small town in northeast Texas, to Jodie and Pearlie Mae (Tolbert) Gilstrap. He grew up in a large family of ten siblings and, according to his family, was the last of them to survive. His nephew said that no matter how far his talent took him, he never forgot his roots, his family or the values that shaped him.

Gilstrap joined the U.S. Navy Reserve and served during the Vietnam War. He began his professional music career after returning from that service.

After the military, Gilstrap sang in the late 1960s with the Doodletown Pipers and the Cultures. In the early 1970s he joined Wonderlove, Stevie Wonder's backing band and vocal group, and sang on Talking Book (1972), Innervisions (1973) and Fulfillingness' First Finale (1974). He sang the opening two lines of "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," with Lani Groves singing the next two, and the song went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 1974 he recorded the Good Times theme with Blinky Williams and sang on Quincy Jones' "Soul Saga (Song of the Buffalo Soldier)" from Body Heat. Signed to Chelsea Records in 1975, he released the Kenny Nolan song "Swing Your Daddy," a number 4 hit in the UK, number 10 on the US R&B chart and number one in the Netherlands. Follow-up single "I'm on Fire" reached number 20 R&B and number 19 in Canada. His version of "I've Got You Where I Want You" was used in Three Days of the Condor, and his second album, Love Talk, followed in 1976.

From then on his career centred on session work. Over five decades he sang with Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson and the Jacksons, Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, James Ingram, George Benson, Bill Withers, Gladys Knight, Luther Vandross, Patti LaBelle, Kenny Loggins, Dolly Parton, Teddy Pendergrass, Stanley Clarke, Boz Scaggs, Linda Ronstadt, Elton John, Celine Dion, Michael Bolton, Ricky Martin, Kenny G, Kanye West and Harry Styles, among many others. He also worked with the group Side Effect and later recorded with Tour De 4force and with Joyce Vincent and Pam Vincent on "La La Peace Song" (2018).

Gilstrap's best known screen work is the Good Times theme, heard weekly on the Norman Lear sitcom from 1974 to 1979. He was part of the chorus on the Grease soundtrack (1978), sang "I've Got You Where I Want You" for Three Days of the Condor (1975), and had his song "The Water's Too Deep" featured in the Miami Vice second-season episode "The Fix." He sang the theme song for Disney's TaleSpin, contributed vocals to the Anastasia soundtrack, appeared as a singer on The Simpsons and wrote and performed "A Lament" for the Japanese film Survive Style 5+.

Gilstrap was married to Gloria Gilstrap. They had children and grandchildren, whose names were not made public in obituaries. He died in Los Angeles. His family remembered his kindness, humility, humour and generosity, and the homemade sweet potato pies that brought the family together.

Gilstrap built his reputation on reliability and generosity in the studio. His family said he was admired by his peers for his professionalism, humility, generosity and genuine love for music, and SoulTracks described him as one of the most dependable background vocalists of the 1970s. He was content to let many of his greatest contributions happen behind the scenes.

Gilstrap is remembered as one of the most respected session vocalists of his generation. Though his name rarely appeared at the top of the bill, his voice became part of the soundtrack of generations, from the opening notes of the Good Times theme to the first lines of "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" and backing parts on records by Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston. His solo hit "Swing Your Daddy" topped the Dutch chart and remains a well-loved 1970s soul record in Britain and the Netherlands.

Solo: Swing Your Daddy (1975), with the singles "Swing Your Daddy," "I'm on Fire," "House of Strangers" and "Put Out the Fire"; Love Talk (1976). With Side Effect: Effective (1973). With Tour De 4force: Quiet Moon (2009). With Joyce Vincent, Pam Vincent and the Altair All-Star Choir: "La La Peace Song" (2018). Selected session credits: Stevie Wonder's Talking Book, Innervisions and Fulfillingness' First Finale; Quincy Jones' Body Heat, Mellow Madness and The Dude; Michael Jackson's Off the Wall; Boz Scaggs' Silk Degrees; Linda Ronstadt's Simple Dreams; Whitney Houston's Whitney; Aretha Franklin's Who's Zoomin' Who?; Celine Dion's Let's Talk About Love.

Jim Gilstrap died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 18, 2026. He was 79. His family announced his death on social media the following morning, and his nephew and family spokesperson, Geoffrey "Geoff Gil" Gilstrap, confirmed it to Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter. He is survived by his wife, Gloria, his children and grandchildren. Memorial arrangements were pending when his death was announced, and his resting place has not been made public.