Jim Gilstrap, Stevie Wonder and ‘Good Times’ Vocalist, Dies at 79
Categoria: Musica
Versatile tenor’s credits include Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin & Dolly Parton — plus his own international hit ‘Swing Your Daddy.’
Por Billboard | 19/07/2026
James “Jim” Gilstrap, the sonorous tenor heard on classics such as Stevie Wonder ’s “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” and as the co-lead on the television series theme song Good Times , has died. Gilstrap passed away of natural causes in Los Angeles on July 18. He was 79 years old. In a career that spanned more than five decades, Gilstrap crafted a sterling reputation as one of the music industry’s most versatile and in-demand session vocalists. He also charted a pair of R&B hits as a solo artist in 1975: “Swing Your Daddy” (No. 10 in the U.S.; No. 4 in the U.K.) and “I’m on Fire” (No. 20) — both featured on his Chelsea Records debut studio album, Swing Your Daddy. A year later, Gilstrap released a second studio album, Love Talk . Related Gone But Not Forgotten: Musicians We Lost in 2026 Noah Kahan Concert Among Shows Canceled in New York Due to Inclement Weather on Saturday Martin Garrix Debuts U2 Collab 'Fireflies' With The Edge at Tomorrowland in Belgium Born Nov. 10, 1946 in Texas, Gilstrap — following a stint in the military and work with other early music groups — became a featured vocalist with Stevie Wonder’s backing band and vocal group Wonderlove in the early ‘70s. It’s Gilstrap singing the opening lines on the Grammy Award-winning “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” from the Talking Book album. Gilstrap also worked on other seminal Wonder albums during this fertile chapter that legend’s career including Innervisions and Fulfillingness’ First Finale. In addition to his aforementioned solo foray and contribution to the Good Times theme song in 1974, Gilstrap lent his virtuoso tenor to host of projects by a diverse array of stars. Among them: Quincy Jones , Michael Jackson , Aretha Franklin , Whitney Houston , Bill Withers , Luther Vandross , Kenny Loggins , Dolly Parton , Stanley Clarke and Boz Scaggs . The last surviving member of 10 siblings, Gilstrap is survived by his wife Gloria as well as children and grandchildren. Memorial arrangements are pending.