Jim Gilstrap


James Gilstrap 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.

Career

Gilstrap was born November 10, 1946, in Daingerfield, Texas to Jodie and Pearlie Mae 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". 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 U.S. 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", "House of Strangers" and "Put Out the Fire". The second album, Love Talk, was not as successful.
He worked as a session artist for the UK singer Elkie Brooks on her album Live and Learn, among other performances.
He can be heard in a vocal performance on Quincy Jones' 1974 jazz-funk composition "Soul Saga ", 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" 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.

Discography

;Solo
  • Swing Your Daddy
  • House Of Strangers
  • I'm On Fire
  • Love Talk
;as Side Effect member
;with Tour De 4force 1
  • Quiet Moon
;with Joyce Vincent, Pam Vincent and the Altair All-Star Choir
  • La La Peace Song

    Credits

Gilstrap's other recording credits include:
Aaron Neville
Amaia Montero
  • Amaia Montero
  • 2
Amy Grant
Angela Bofill
Anita Baker
Aretha Franklin
Art Garfunkel
Barbra Streisand
Bill Withers
Billy Preston and Syreeta
  • Billy Preston & Syreeta
Boney James
Boz Scaggs
Brainstorm
Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
  • Sonny & Brownie
Candi Staton
  • Young Hearts Run Free
  • House of Love
Carl Anderson
  • Absence Without Love/On & On
Carrie Lucas
Céline Dion
Crowded House
  • Crowded House
Dana Glover
Dave Grusin
Dave Koz
David Foster
  • The Christmas Album
Dee Dee Bridgewater
  • Dee Dee Bridgewater
  • Bad for Me
  • Only the Best of Dee Dee Bridgewater
Diana DeGarmo
Dianne Reeves
Dionne Warwick
Disney
  • The Disney Afternoon Songbook: Music from Hit TV Shows
  • The Music of Disney: A Legacy in Song
  • Disney's Music from the Park
  • Disney's Rock-A-Bye Baby: Soft Hits for Little Rockers
  • Matrix Revolutions
Donald Byrd
  • Thank You...For F.U.M.L.
Donald Byrd and 125th St. NYC
  • Donald Byrd and 125th Street, N.Y.C.
Dr. John
Elkie Brooks
Elton John
England Dan & John Ford Coley
Erich Kunzel
  • The Magical Music of Disney
Eros Ramazzotti
Everlast
Funk
Gene Page
George Benson
George Duke
Gladys Knight
Hanne Boel
  • Misty Paradise
Harold Faltermeyer
  • Copout
Harry Styles
  • Harry Styles
Harvey Mason
  • Marching in the Street
  • Groovin' You
  • Sho Nuff Groovin' You: The Arista Records Anthology 1975-1981
Henry Mancini
  • "Easy Baby"
Herbie Hancock
Hiroshima
Irene Cara
Jackson Browne
James Ingram
James Newton Howard
James Taylor
Jean Carn
  • Sweet and Wonderful
Joe Cocker
  • Hymn for My Soul
Joe Sample
  • Roles
  • Sample This
  • The Best of Joe Sample
  • Introducing Joe Sample
  • Rhino Hi-Five: Joe Sample
Joey Lawrence
  • Joey Lawrence
John Hiatt
John Powell
  • Ice Age: The Meltdown
Johnny Gill
  • Chemistry
Johnny Gill and Stacy Lattisaw
  • Perfect Combination
Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
José Feliciano
June Pointer
  • Baby Sister
Kanye West
  • 808s & Heartbreak
Keith Moon
  • Two Sides of the Moon
Kelis
  • Kelis Was Here
Kenny G
Kenny Loggins
Leo Sayer
  • Leo Sayer
Leonard Cohen
Linda Lewis
Linda Ronstadt
Lionel Richie
Livingston Taylor
Luther Vandross
Lynn Ahrens / Stephen Flaherty / David Newman
Martha Davis
Martha Reeves
  • Martha Reeves
Masayoshi Takanaka
Melissa Manchester
Michael Bolton
Michael Jackson
Milira
Minnie Riperton
Nancy Wilson
Narada Michael Walden
Neil Diamond
Neil Young
Norman Connors
Olivia Newton-John
Patrice Rushen
Patrick Doyle
Patti Austin
  • Patti Austin
Patti LaBelle
Paul Williams
Paul Young
Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack
Peggy Lee
  • Let's Love
Phyllis Hyman
Priscilla Ahn
Quincy Jones
Rachelle Ferrell
  • Rachelle Ferrell
Ray Charles
Ricky Martin
Ringo Starr
Roberta Flack
Roy Ayers
Russ Freeman and The Rippingtons
Russell Hitchcock
  • Russell Hitchcock
Santana
Sarah Vaughan
Scherrie and Susaye
  • Partners
Seals & Crofts
Siedah Garrett
Stacy Lattisaw
Stanley Clarke
Stanley Clarke and George Duke
  • 3
Stanley Turrentine
Starship
  • No Protection
Stevie Wonder
Syreeta
Teddy Pendergrass
The Blackbyrds
  • Unfinished Business
  • Action
  • Night Grooves: The Blackbyrds' Greatest Hits
  • Better Days
The Brothers Johnson
The Jacksons
The Party
  • The Party
The Rippingtons
The Simpsons
  • Testify
Thelma Houston
Tower of Power
Whitney Houston
  • Whitney
Willy DeVille
Willy DeVille & The Mink DeVille Band