Jim Gilstrap facts for kids

James Earl Gilstrap (born November 10, 1946) is an American singer. He is also known as a session musician, which means he sings or plays instruments on recordings for other artists. He is most famous for his 1975 solo hit song "Swing Your Daddy." He also sang the main male vocals for the theme song of the popular 1970s TV show Good Times.

Jim Gilstrap's Music Journey

Jim Gilstrap was born on November 10, 1946, in Daingerfield, Texas. His parents were Jodie and Pearlie Mae Gilstrap. He joined the U.S. Navy Reserve. After serving in the Vietnam War, he started his career in music. Some of the first groups he worked with were the Doodletown Pipers and The Cultures.

Singing with Stevie Wonder

In the early 1970s, Jim Gilstrap was a backing vocalist for the famous singer Stevie Wonder. He was part of Wonder's group called "Wonderlove." You can hear his voice on Stevie Wonder's albums like Talking Book and Innervisions. Jim Gilstrap even sang the first two lines of Stevie Wonder's well-known song, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life."

Solo Success and Other Songs

After working with Stevie Wonder, Jim Gilstrap signed a record deal with Chelsea Records in 1975. His song "Swing Your Daddy" became a big hit! It reached number 4 on the music charts in the United Kingdom. In the United States, it was number 10 on the Billboard Black Singles chart.

Jim Gilstrap also released two of his own albums in the 1970s. The first album was called Swing Your Daddy. It included other songs like "I'm on Fire" and "House of Strangers." His second album, Love Talk, came out in 1977.

Movie and TV Show Themes

Jim Gilstrap's voice has been featured in many other projects. He sang on Quincy Jones's 1974 song "Soul Saga (Song Of The Buffalo Soldier)." He also provided the male lead vocals for the theme song of the 1970s TV show Good Times.

His 1975 song "I've Got You Where I Want You" was used in the movie Three Days of the Condor. Later, he sang the theme song for the 1990s cartoon series TaleSpin. He also sang an original song called "A Lament" for the Japanese movie Survive Style 5+.

Jim Gilstrap's Albums

Here are some of the albums Jim Gilstrap has released or been a part of:

Solo Albums

• Swing Your Daddy (1975)
• Love Talk (1976)

As a member of Side Effect

• Effective (1973)

With Tour De 4force 1

(This group included Joyce Vincent Wilson, Pam Vincent, Theresa Davis, and Scherrie Payne from The Supremes)

• Quiet Moon (2009)

With Joyce Vincent, Pam Vincent, and the Altair All-Star Choir

• La La Peace Song (2018)

See also

• List of performers on Top of the Pops