Jim Gilstrap

James "Jim" Gilstrap (10 November 1946 – 18 July 2026; Daingerfield, Texas) was an American singer, vocalist, and session musician, celebrated for his prolific studio work and for two of the most recognisable vocal performances in American popular music.

Early Life
Gilstrap was born in Daingerfield, Texas, to Jodie and Pearlie Mae (Tolbert) Gilstrap, the last surviving member of a family of ten siblings. He served in the U.S. Navy Reserve during the Vietnam War, and began his professional music career upon his return, performing in the 1960s with the Doodletown Pipers and The Cultures.

Career
In the early 1970s, Gilstrap became one of the backing vocalists in Stevie Wonder's group Wonderlove, contributing to Wonder's albums Talking Book and Innervisions. He famously sang the opening two lines of Wonder's number-one hit "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," with singer Lani Groves taking the following two lines.

In 1974, alongside Motown vocalist Blinky Williams, he recorded the enduring theme song to the sitcom Good Times, composed by Dave Grusin with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, which ran from 1974 to 1979. He signed to Chelsea Records in 1975 and released his solo debut single, "Swing Your Daddy," written by Kenny Nolan, which reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and number 10 on the Billboard Black Singles chart; a further single from the same album, "I'm on Fire," reached number 20. He released two studio albums during the decade, Swing Your Daddy and Love Talk (1977).

Gilstrap can also be heard on Quincy Jones's 1974 composition "Soul Saga (Song of the Buffalo Soldier)," from the album Body Heat, and his song "I've Got You Where I Want You" appeared on the soundtrack to the 1975 film Three Days of the Condor. He later sang the theme song for the 1990s animated series TaleSpin, and contributed vocals to the soundtrack for the animated film Anastasia and to several Disney compilation albums, as well as making singing appearances on episodes of The Simpsons and contributing to the soundtrack for the 1978 film Grease. Over a five-decade session career,

Gilstrap lent his voice to recordings by Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Dolly Parton, Luther Vandross, Anita Baker, James Ingram, George Benson, Bill Withers, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Teddy Pendergrass, The Brothers Johnson, Kenny Loggins, and Kanye West, among many others, and worked as a session artist on Elkie Brooks's 1979 album Live and Learn.

Personal Life
In his later years, Gilstrap taught vocal technique at La Voix Studio, passing on his craft to a new generation of singers. He was the last surviving member of a family of ten siblings, and is survived by his wife, Gloria Gilstrap, and his children and grandchildren.

He died of natural causes on 18 July 2026 in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 79. In a statement, his family described him as admired by his peers for his professionalism, humility, generosity, and genuine love for music, noting that while many of his greatest contributions happened behind the scenes, his voice became an essential part of the soundtrack of generations.