Jim Gilstrap Dies at 79, Voice of 'Good Times' and Stevie Wonder Classic

Q: Why is the man behind countless hit songs not a household name?

Jim Gilstrap was not a household name largely because he built his career as a session and background vocalist, not as the billed star. His voice was everywhere, but his name usually was not on the marquee. That pattern defined his biggest contributions. He sang the opening lines of Stevie Wonder’s “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” worked with Wonder’s Wonderlove during the singer’s classic 1970s run, and was a co-lead on the widely recognized *Good Times* theme. Those were high-profile performances, but they were attached to bigger brands: Stevie Wonder, a hit TV show, and albums led by other artists. The same was true across the rest of his career. Gilstrap became one of the industry’s most trusted vocalists, recording with Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Bill Withers, Dolly Parton and many others. In music, that kind of behind-the-scenes role often brings deep professional respect without broad public recognition, because casual listeners tend to remember the headline artist rather than the supporting singer. He did have solo success. In 1975, “Swing Your Daddy” reached the Top 10 on the U.S. R&B chart and No. 4 in the U.K., and “I’m on Fire” also charted. But that solo run was brief and never matched the visibility of the stars whose records he helped elevate. So Gilstrap’s relative anonymity was not a measure of his impact. It was the result of a career spent shaping famous songs from just outside the spotlight.

3 articles · Updated · Billboard · Jul 19

Los Angeles singer Jim Gilstrap died of natural causes on July 18 at 79, his family said, ending a five-decade career as one of pop and R&B's most in-demand session vocalists.
Gilstrap was best known for singing the opening lines of Stevie Wonder's Grammy-winning "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" and for co-leading the 1974 "Good Times" TV theme song.
His solo career also produced 2 R&B hits in 1975: "Swing Your Daddy," which reached No. 10 in the U.S. and No. 4 in the U.K., and "I'm on Fire," which hit No. 20.
Born in Texas in 1946, Gilstrap later worked with Wonder's Wonderlove and recorded with artists including Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston; memorial arrangements are pending.