Jim Gilstrap

James Gilstrap (born November 10, 1946) is an American singer and session musician. He is best known for his 1975 solo hit single "Swing Your Daddy", as well as singing co-lead to the theme from the TV series Good Times. Gilstrap was born in Daingerfield, Texas to Jodie and Pearlie Mae (Tolbert) Gilstrap. He joined the U.S. Navy Reserve. He began his career in the music industry when he returned from serving in the Vietnam War. Early groups he worked with include the Doodletown Pipers and The Cultures. In the early 1970s, Gilstrap was one of the backing vocalists in Stevie Wonder's backing outfit, "Wonderlove", appearing on Wonder's albums, Talking Book and Innervisions. Gilstrap sang the opening two lines of the Wonder song, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (with Lani Groves singing the next two lines). He subsequently signed a recording contract with Chelsea Records in 1975. His recording of the Kenny Nolan-penned "Swing Your Daddy" was a number 4 hit in the UK Singles Chart in April 1975, and reached number 10 in the US Billboard Black Singles chart. The song peaked at number 64 in Australia. Gilstrap also recorded two albums of his own during the 1970s. The first, titled Swing Your Daddy, contained three more singles in "I'm on Fire" (covering 5000 Volts; it made number 78 in the U.S.), "House of Strangers" and "Put Out the Fire". The second album, Love Talk (1977), was not as successful. He worked as a session artist for the UK singer Elkie Brooks on her album Live and Learn (1979), among other performances. He can be heard in a vocal performance on Quincy Jones' 1974 jazz-funk composition "Soul Saga (Song Of The Buffalo Soldier)", from Jones' Body Heat album. Gilstrap also provided the male lead vocals for the theme music to the 1970s television program Good Times. "I've Got You Where I Want You" (1975) was used in the soundtrack of the film Three Days of the Condor. In addition, he sang the theme song for the 1990s cartoon series TaleSpin. More recently he did an original song for the Japanese film Survive Style 5+ entitled "A Lament". He worked with the group Side Effect on their track "Run, Run, Run" that was released on Bell Records. Solo Swing Your Daddy (1975) House Of Strangers (1975) I'm On Fire (1976) Love Talk (1976) as Side Effect member Effective (1973) with Tour De 4force 1 (with Joyce Vincent Wilson, Pam Vincent, Theresa Davis, and Scherrie Payne of The Supremes) Quiet Moon (2009) with Joyce Vincent, Pam Vincent and the Altair All-Star Choir La La Peace Song (2018) Gilstrap's other recording credits include: Aaron Neville Aaron Neville's Soulful Christmas (1993) (Choir Member, Background Vocals) The Tattooed Heart (1995) (Background Vocals) Believe (2003) Christmas & Hits Duos (2008) I Know I've Been Changed (2010) Amaia Montero Amaia Montero (2008) 2 (2011) Amy Grant A Christmas to Remember (1999) (Choir Member) Angela Bofill Something About You (1981) Too Tough (1983) Anita Baker The Songstress (1983) Rapture (1986) The Best of Anita Baker (2002) Sweet Love: The Very Best of Anita Baker (2002) Aretha Franklin Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985) Aretha (1986) Greatest Hits: 1980–1994 (1994) Knew You Were Waiting: The Best of Aretha Franklin 1980–1998 (2012) Art Garfunkel Fate for Breakfast (1979) Barbra Streisand Songbird (1978) Higher Ground (1997) Bill Withers Making Music (1975) The Essential Bill Withers (2013) Billy Preston and Syreeta Billy Preston & Syreeta (1981) Boney James Boney's Funky Christmas (1996) Boz Scaggs Silk Degrees (1976) Down Two Then Left (1977) Hits! (1980) My Time: The Anthology (1969–1997) (1997) Brainstorm Funky Entertainment (1979) Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee Sonny & Brownie (1973) Candi Staton Young Hearts Run Free (1976) (Background Vocals) House of Love (1978) (Background Vocals) Carl Anderson Absence Without Love/On & On (2009) Carrie Lucas Simply Carrie (1977) (Background Vocals) Céline Dion Let's Talk About Love (1997) My Love: Essential Collection (2008) Crowded House Crowded House (1986) Dana Glover Testimony (2002) Dave Grusin 3 Days of the Condor Soundtrack (1975) Dave Koz Lucky Man (1993) Off the Beaten Path (1996) David Foster The Christmas Album (1993) (Choir Member) Dee Dee Bridgewater Dee Dee Bridgewater (1976) Bad for Me (1979) Only the Best of Dee Dee Bridgewater (2009) Diana DeGarmo Blue Skies (2004) Dianne Reeves Never Too Far (1989) Dionne Warwick Aquarela do Brasil (1994) (Additional Vocals on "Flower of Bahia") Disney The Disney Afternoon Songbook: Music from Hit TV Shows (1990) The Music of Disney: A Legacy in Song (1992) Disney's Music from the Park (1996) Disney's Rock-A-Bye Baby: Soft Hits for Little Rockers (1996) Matrix Revolutions [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] (2003) Donald Byrd Thank You...For F.U.M.L. (Funking Up My Life) (1978) Donald Byrd and 125th St. NYC Donald Byrd and 125th Street, N.Y.C. (1979) Dr. John Tango Palace (1979) Elkie Brooks Rich Man's Woman (1975) Live & Learn (1979) Elton John The Fox (1981) Duets (1993) England Dan & John Ford Coley Dr. Heckle & Mr. Jive (1978) The Very Best of England Dan & John Ford Coley (1996) Erich Kunzel The Magical Music of Disney (1995) Eros Ramazzotti Tutte storie (1993) Dove C'e Musica (1996) Eros (1997) Calma apparente (2005) Ali e radici (2009) Everlast Eat at Whitey's (2000) Love, War and the Ghost of Whitey Ford (2008) Funk Priced to Sell (1974) Gene Page Lovelock! (1976) Close Encounters (1978) George Benson Give Me the Night (1980) While the City Sleeps (1986) The Greatest Hits of All (2003) The Very Best of George Benson: The Greatest Hits of All (2004) George Duke Snapshot (1992) Illusions (1995) (Additional Vocals on "The Simple Things", Background Vocals) Best of George Duke: The Elektra Years (1997) Is Love Enough? (1997) Cool (2000) Face the Music (2002) Duke (2005) Ultimate George Duke (2007) Dukey Treats (2008) Dreamweaver (2013) George Duke Collection (2014) Gladys Knight Miss Gladys Knight (1978) (Background Vocals as a member of the Jim Gilstrap Singers) Good Woman (1991) (Background Vocals on "Where Would I Be") Hanne Boel Misty Paradise (2001) Harold Faltermeyer Copout (2010) Harry Styles Harry Styles (2017) Harvey Mason Marching in the Street (1976) Groovin' You (1979) Sho Nuff Groovin' You: The Arista Records Anthology 1975–1981 (2017) Henry Mancini "Easy Baby" (from the film 99 and 44/100% Dead) Herbie Hancock Lite Me Up (1982) Hiroshima Hiroshima (1979) (Background Vocals) Odori (1980) (Background Vocals) Third Generation (1983) (Can Do Choir Member, Additional Background Vocals) Another Place (1985) Go (1987) (Background Vocals) Ongaku (1988) East (1989) (Additional Lead & Background Vocals) Providence (1992) L. A. (1994) (Background Vocals) Irene Cara Carasmatic (1987) Jackson Browne Looking East (1996) James Ingram It's Your Night (1983) It's Real (1989) James Newton Howard King Kong: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2005) James Taylor Dad Loves His Work (1981) Jean Carn Sweet and Wonderful (1981) Joe Cocker Hymn for My Soul (2007) Joe Sample Roles (1987) Sample This (1997) The Best of Joe Sample (1998) Introducing Joe Sample (2006) Rhino Hi-Five: Joe Sample Joey Lawrence Joey Lawrence (1993) John Hiatt Little Head (1997) John Powell Ice Age: The Meltdown [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] (2006) Johnny Gill Chemistry (1985) Johnny Gill and Stacy Lattisaw Perfect Combination (1984) Johnny Mathis Mathis on Broadway (2000) Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams That's What Friends Are For (1978) José Feliciano Just Wanna Rock 'n' Roll (1975) June Pointer Baby Sister (1983) Kanye West 808s & Heartbreak (2008) Keith Moon Two Sides of the Moon (1975) Kelis Kelis Was Here (2006) Kenny G Breathless (1992) Kenny Loggins Back to Avalon (1988) The Unimaginable Life (1997) Leo Sayer Leo Sayer (1978) Leonard Cohen Recent Songs (1979) Linda Lewis Woman Overboard (1977) Linda Ronstadt Hasten Down the Wind (1976) Simple Dreams (1977) Living in the USA (1978) Greatest Hits, Volume Two (1980) The Linda Ronstadt