Jim Gilstrap, the R&B singer and session musician behind the unforgettable Good Times theme and Stevie Wonder’s “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life,” has died.
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Gilstrap passed away on Saturday from natural causes, according to a statement his nephew Gil Gilstrap made to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 79.
Gilstrap was born in Daingerfield, Texas, on Nov. 10, 1946, and began his music career after serving in the Vietnam War. He performed early on with the Doodletown Pipers and The Cultures before breaking through in the early 1970s as a backing vocalist for Stevie Wonder’s Wonderlove.
He appeared on Wonder’s acclaimed albums Talking Book, which won the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, and Innervisions. Gilstrap also sang alongside Lani Groves on Wonder’s iconic “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life.”
Gilstrap kept busy with session work across TV and film. Each week, audiences tuning into the 1970s sitcom Good Times (1974-79) were greeted by his unmistakable voice alongside Blinky Williams on the show’s iconic theme song. That catchy, gospel-tinged earworm (“Keepin’ your head above water/Making a wave when you can”) was composed by Dave Grusin with lyrics by the legendary duo Alan and Marilyn Bergman… and it’s still nearly impossible to get out of your head today.
In 1975, Gilstrap signed with Chelsea Records and released “Swing Your Daddy,” written by Kenny Nolan. The single was a commercial success, reaching No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 10 on the U.S. Billboard Black Singles chart. Gilstrap also contributed vocals to Quincy Jones’ jazz-funk track “Soul Saga (Song Of The Buffalo Soldier)” from Jones’ Body Heat album.
How Jim Gilstrap Left His Mark on Pop Culture
Gilstrap’s voice also graced numerous film and TV projects, from the Miami Vice Season 2 episode “The Fix” to Dave Grusin’s “I’ve Got You Where I Want You” on the Three Days of the Condor soundtrack (1975). He also lent his talents to the beloved TaleSpin cartoon theme song and composed an original piece, “A Lament,” for the Japanese film Survive Style 5+.
Over his 50-year career, Gilstrap worked alongside some of the biggest names in music, including Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Dolly Parton, Luther Vandross, and Anita Baker. He also sang on recordings by James Ingram, George Benson, Bill Withers, Gladys Knight, Patti LaBelle, Kenny Loggins, and many others.
Gilstrap outlived all nine of his siblings and leaves behind his wife, Gloria, and his children.