Jim Gilstrap
James Earl Gilstrap (born November 10, 1946)[1][2] is an American singer and regarded as one of the most prolific session musicians in the industry. He is best known for his 1975 solo hit single "Swing Your Daddy",[3] as well as singing co-lead to the theme from the TV series Good Times.
Jim Gilstrap | |
---|---|
Birth name | James Earl Gilstrap |
Born | Daingerfield, Texas, United States | November 10, 1946
Genres | Pop music Soul music |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 1967–present |
Labels | Chelsea Records |
Career
Gilstrap was born November 10, 1946, in Daingerfield, Texas to Jodie and Pearlie Mae (Tolbert) Gilstrap. He joined the U.S. Navy Reserve. He began his career in the music industry when he returned from serving in the Vietnam War.[4] Early groups he worked with include the Doodletown Pipers and The Cultures.[4]
In the early 1970s, Gilstrap was one of the backing vocalists in Stevie Wonder's backing outfit, "Wonderlove", appearing on Wonder's albums, Talking Book and Innervisions.[4] Gilstrap sang the opening two lines of the Wonder song, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (with Lani Groves singing the next two lines). He subsequently signed a recording contract with Chelsea Records in 1975.[4] His recording of the Kenny Nolan-penned "Swing Your Daddy" was a #4 hit in the UK Singles Chart in April 1975,[5] and reached #10 in the U.S. Billboard Black Singles chart.[6] The song peaked at number 64 in Australia.[7]
Gilstrap also recorded two albums of his own during the 1970s.[4] The first, titled Swing Your Daddy, contained three more singles in "I'm on Fire" (covering 5000 Volts; it made #78 in the U.S.), "House of Strangers" and "Put Out the Fire".[4] The second album, Love Talk (1977), was not as successful.[4]
He worked as a session artist for the UK singer Elkie Brooks on her album Live and Learn (1979), among other performances.[4]
He can be heard in a vocal performance on Quincy Jones' 1974 jazz-funk composition "Soul Saga (Song Of The Buffalo Soldier)", from Jones' Body Heat album. Gilstrap has also provided the male lead vocals for the theme music to the 1970s television program Good Times. "I've Got You Where I Want You" (1975) was used in the soundtrack of the film Three Days of the Condor.[3] In addition, he sang the theme song for the 1990s cartoon series TaleSpin. More recently he did an original song for the Japanese film Survive Style 5+ entitled "A Lament".
He worked with the group Side Effect on their track "Run, Run, Run" that was released on Bell Records.[3]
Credits
Gilstrap's recording credits include:
- Aaron Neville's Soulful Christmas (1993)
- The Tattooed Heart (1995)
- Devotion (2000)
- Believe (2003)
- 20th Century Masters: The Christmas Collection (2003)
- Gospel Roots (2005)
- Christmas & Hits Duos (2008)
- I Know I've Been Changed (2010)
- Best of Al Jarreau (1996)
- Championship Wrestling (1982)
Altair All-Star Choir / Jim Gilstrap / Joyce Vincent / Pam Vincent
- La La Peace Song (2018)
- Amaia Montero (2008)
- 2 (2011)
- A Christmas to Remember (1999)
Andy Griffith
- Just as I Am: 30 Favorite Old Time Hymns (1998)
- Something About You (1981)
- Too Tough (1983)
- The Songstress (1983)
- Rapture (1986)
- The Best of Anita Baker (2002)
- Sweet Love: The Very Best of Anita Baker (2002)
- Aretha (1980)
- Who's Zoomin' Who? (1985)
- Aretha (1986)
- Greatest Hits: 1980-1994 (1994)
- Knew You Were Waiting: The Best of Aretha Franklin 1980-1998 (2012)
- Fate for Breakfast (1979)
- King of Blues: 1989 (1988)
- Higher Ground (1997)
- Songbird (1978)
- Bodacious (1984)
- Right Here and Now (1982)
- Making Music (1975)
- The Essential Bill Withers (2013)
- B.C. (1979)
- Billy Preston & Syreeta (1981)
- Motivation (1977)
- New Warrior (1977)
- The Journey (1990)
- Boney's Funky Christmas (1996)
- Try and Love Again (1978)
- I Want You (1981)
- Silk Degrees (1976)
- Down Two Then Left (1977)
- Hits! (1980)
- My Time: The Anthology (1969-1997) (1997)
- The Collection: Slow Dancer/Silk Degrees/Down Two Then Left (2004)
- Funky Entertainment (1979)
Brandon Burrows
- On the Move (2008)
Brownie McGhee / Sonny Terry / Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee
- Sonny & Brownie (1973)
- Dream a World: A Child's Journey to Self-Discovery (2004)
- Music For Young Masters: Secrets Of The Heart (2007)
- House of Love (1978)
- The Best of Candi Staton [Warner Bros.] (1995)
- Candi/Young Hearts Run Free (2013)
- Music Speaks Louder Than Words/House of Love (2013)
- Absence Without Love/On & On (2009)
- Simply Carrie (1977)
- Let's Talk About Love (1997)
- Let's Talk About Love/Celine Dion (2008)
- My Love: Essential Collection (2008)
- Let's Talk About Love/A New Day Has Come (2009)
- The Collection: Let's Talk About Love/Falling into You/A New Day Has Come (2009)
Christina Ashley
- Let It All Go
- Celestine Prophecy (1996)
Country Joe & Energy Crisis
- Rock N Roll from Planet Earth (1978)
- Classics (1989)
Country Joe McDonald / Country Joe & Energy Crisis
- Paradise with an Ocean View (1976)
- Crowded House (1986)
- Crowded House/Temple of Low Men (2005)
- The Message Man: The Best of DJ Rogers (1998)
- Testimony (2002)
- Inspired by a True Story
Daryle Chinn
- From the Heart (1996)
- 3 Days of the Condor [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] (1975)
- Lucky Man (1993)
- Off the Beaten Path (1996)
- The Christmas Album (1995)
- David T Walker (1973)
- Time Will Reveal: The Complete Motown Albums (2011)
Debra Hurd
- Debra Hurd (1983)
- Dee Dee Bridgewater (1976)
- Just Family (1977)
- Bad for Me (1979)
- Only the Best of Dee Dee Bridgewater (2009)
- Dee Dee Bridgewater [1976]/Just Family/Bad for Me/Dee Dee Bridgewater [1980] (2020)
- Straight from the Heart (2001)
- Blue Skies (2004)
- Dreams (2004)
- Never Too Far (1990)
- Aquarela do Brasil (1995)
- Sings Cole Porter/Aquarela do Brasil (2011)
Dirk Hamilton
- You Can Sing on the Left or Bark on the Right (1976)
- The Disney Afternoon Songbook: Music from Hit TV Shows (1990)
- The Music of Disney: A Legacy in Song (1992)
- Disney's Music from the Park (1996)
- Disney's Rock-A-Bye Baby: Soft Hits for Little Rockers (1996)
- Matrix Revolutions [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] (2003)
- Raven (1990)
- Native Land (1993)
- Thank You...For F.U.M.L. (Funking Up My Life) (1978)
Donald Byrd / Donald Byrd and 125th St.
- Tango Palace (1979)
Elaine Norwood
- Double Blessing (2006)
- Jungle Wave
- Rich Man's Woman (1975)
- Live & Learn (1979)
- The Fox (1981)
- Duets (1993)
- Dr. Heckle & Mr. Jive (1978)
- The Very Best of England Dan & John Ford Coley (1996)
- The Magical Music of Disney (1995)
- Todo Historias (1993)
- Tutte Storie (1993)
- Donde Hay Música (1996)
- Dove C'e Musica (1996)
- Eros (1997)
- Cosas De La Vida (Can't Stop Thinking Of You) (1998)
- Calma Apparente (2005)
- Alas y Raices (2009)
- Ali e Radici (2009)
- Eat at Whitey's (2000)
- Love, War and the Ghost of Whitey Ford (2008)
- Poor Man's Son (2003)
- Priced to Sell (1974)
- Lovelock! (1976)
- Close Encounters (1978)
- Give Me the Night (1980)
- The George Benson Collection (1981)
- While the City Sleeps (1986)
- The Best of George Benson [Warner Bros.] (1995)
- Les Incontournables (2000)
- The George Benson Anthology (2000)
- The Greatest Hits of All (2003)
- Very Best of George Benson: The Greatest Hits of All (2004)
- Rhino Hi-Five: George Benson (2005)
- The Essential George Benson (2006)
- Snapshot (1992)
- Illusions (1995)
- Best of George Duke: The Elektra Years (1997)
- Is Love Enough? (1997)
- Cool (2000)
- Face the Music (2002)
- Duke (2005)
- Ultimate George Duke (2007)
- Dukey Treats (2008)
- DreamWeaver (2013)
- George Duke Collection (2014)
- Miss Gladys Knight (1978)
- Good Woman (1991)
Greg
- Rockin' Down The Road [Bonus Tracks] (1995)
- Misty Paradise (2001)
- Copout (2010)
- Harry Styles (2017)
- Marching in the Street (1976)
- Groovin' You (1979)
- Sho Nuff Groovin' You: The Arista Records Anthology 1975-1981 (2017)
- "Easy Baby" (from the film 99 and 44/100% Dead)
- Lite Me Up (1982)
- Hiroshima (1979)
- Odori (1980)
- Third Generation (1983)
- Another Place (1985)
- Go (1987)
- Ongaku (1988)
- East (1989)
- Providence (1992)
- L.A. (1994)
- Shamrocks and Shenanigans: The Best of House of Pain and Everlast (2004)
- A Portrait of Howard (2006)
- Carasmatic (1987)
- Irving Fields and His Trio at the Emerald Room
- Looking East (1996)
- The Essential Jaco Pastorius (2007)
- It's Your Night (1983)
- It's Real (1989)
- King Kong [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] (2005)
- Dad Loves His Work (1981)
- JT/Flag/Dad Loves His Work [Box Set] (1995)
- When I Find You Love/Sweet and Wonderful (2005)
- American Dreams (1978)
Jim Gilstrap
- Swing Your Daddy (1975)
- Love Talk (1976)
- Swing Your Daddy/Love Talk (1995)
- Hymn for My Soul (2007)
- Roles (1983)
- Sample This (1997)
- The Best of Joe Sample (1998)
- Introducing Joe Sample (2006)
- Rhino Hi-Five: Joe Sample
- Joey Lawrence (1993)
- Little Head (1997)
- Ice Age: The Meltdown [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] (2006)
- Chemistry (1985)
- Perfect Combination (1984)
- That's What Friends Are For/You Light Up My Life/Better Together: Duet (1997)
- Mathis on Broadway (2000)
- Johnny Mathis / Deniece Williams
- That's What Friends Are For (1978)
- Just Wanna Rock 'n' Roll (1975)
- Jose Feliciano [1980] (1980)
- Baby Sister (1983)
- 808s & Heartbreak (2008)
Kathy Dalton
- Amazing (1973)
Keith Moon (1975)
- Kelis Was Here (2006)
Breathless (1992)
Breathless/At Last... The Duets Album (2012)
Back to Avalon (1988)
The Unimaginable Life (1997)
Silver Morning (1975)
Peaceful: The Best of Kenny Rankin (1996)
Sketches (1997)
Fired Up (1985)
- Leo Sayer (1978)
- Intimate (1976)
- Recent Songs (1979)
- Only The Best Of Les McCann (1974)
- Pump It Up (2002)
Woman Overboard (1977)
- Hasten Down the Wind (1976)
- Simple Dreams (1977)
- Living in the U.S.A. (1978)
- Greatest Hits, Volume Two (1980)
- The Linda Ronstadt Box Set (1999)
- 3 for One (2000)
- Back to Front (1992)
Little Anthony & the Imperials
- You'll Never Know (2008)
- 3-Way Mirror (1978)
- Carolina Day: The Collection (1970-1980) (1998)
- Songs (1994)
- The Ultimate Luther Vandross [2001] (2001)
- The Essential Luther Vandross (2003)
- Love, Luther (2007)
- The Music of Luther Vandross (2009)
- The Box Set Series (2014)
Lynn Ahrens / Stephen Flaherty / David Newman
- Anastasia [Music From the Motion Picture] (1997)
- Smile (1992)
- Take Me with You (1995)
- Avenues of Love (1998)
- Handpicked (2005)
- I'm in Love Once Again (2005)
Marino
- The Unexpected Alliance (2001)
- Policy (1987)
- Martha Reeves (1974)
- If My Heart Had Wings (1995)
- The One Thing (1993)
- All That Matters (1997)
- Hits 1985-1995: Best of the Best Gold (2003)
- Michael Bolton [Collector's Tin] (2009)
- Off the Wall (1979)
- HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995)
- Greatest Hits: HIStory, Vol. 1 (2001)
- Off the Wall/Thriller (2004)
- The Ultimate Collection [Sony/Epic] (2004)
- The Essential Michael Jackson (2005)
- King of Pop (2008)
- Off the Wall/Invincible (2008)
- The Collection (2009)
- White Night (1979)
- Back Again!!! (1992)
- Stay in Love (1977)
Moogly
Sex & Soul: Mixed by Moog-Ly (2007)
- Come Get to This (1975)
- This Mother's Daughter (1976)
- Forbidden Lover (1987)
- A Lady with a Song (1990)
- Greatest Hits [Sony] (1999)
- All in Love Is Fair/Come Get to This (2011)
- Awakening (1979)
- The Dance of Life (1979)
- Victory (1980)
- Confidence (1982)
- Looking at You, Looking at Me (1983)
- The Nature of Things (1985)
- Ecstasy's Dance: The Best of Narada Michael Walden (1996)
- Awakening/The Dance Of Life (2008)
- Looking at You, Looking at Me/The Nature of Things/Divine Em
- Beautiful Noise (1976)
- The Greatest Hits (1966-1992) (1992)
- In My Lifetime (1996)
- Classics: The Early Years/Jazz Singer/Beautiful Noise (1997)
- Living with War (2006)
- Take It to the Limit (1980)
- Totally Hot (1978)
- The Long Surrender (2011)
- Patrice (1978)
- Pizzazz (1980)
- Posh (1980)
- Now (1984)
- Anything But Ordinary (1994)
- Haven't You Heard: The Best of Patrice Rushen (1996)
- Patrice/Pizzazz/Posh (2013)
- Straight from the Heart/Now (2013)
- Remind Me: The Classic Elektra Recordings 1978-1984 (2019)
- Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
- Patti Austin (1984)
- The Very Best of Patti Austin: The Singles (1969-1986) (2001)
- Winner in You (1986)
- Be Yourself (1989)
- A Little Bit of Love (1974)
- The Best of Paul Williams (2008)
- Crossing (1993)
- Positive (1988)
- Through the Fire (1994)
- Born to Love (1983)
- Let's Love (1974)
- Mysterious Cargo (1996)
- Phyllis Hyman (1977)
- Goddess of Love (1983)
- The Legacy of Phyllis Hyman (1996)
Praise & Worship
- Rejoice Africa (1993)
- A Good Day (2008)
- Bamalama (1977)
- Body Heat (1974)
- Mellow Madness (1975)
- I Heard That! (1976)
- Roots: The Saga of an American Family (1977)
- The Dude (1981)
- Back on the Block (1989)
- From Q, With Love (1999)
- Q: The Musical Biography of Quincy Jones (2001)
- Ultimate Collection (2002)
- Summer in the city (2007)
- Rachelle Ferrell (1992)
- Ramsey (1979)
- Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection (1997)
- Ultimate Hits Collection (1999)
- Genius Loves Company (2004)
- Forever Ray Charles (2007)
- Ray Simpson (1992)
- The Last Time Around 1970-1982 (2010)
Vuelve (1998)
- Goodnight Vienna (1974)
- Ringo the 4th (1977)
- Blue Lights in the Basement (1977)
- Roberto Carlos (Mujer Pequena) (1992)
- Todas As Manhas (1996)
- Skydance (1985)
- God is Able (1994)
- Delight (1979)
- Fever (1979)
- Sahara (1994)
Russell Hitchcock (1988)
Innovators [1995] (1995)
Spirits Dancing in the Flesh (1990)
- Songs of the Beatles (1981)
- Partners (1979)
- Takin' It Easy (1978)
- Effective (1973)
- Side Effect/What You Need (2002)
- Kiss of Life (1988)
- Let Me Be Your Angel (1980)
- With You (1981)
- Sneakin' Out (1982)
- Sixteen (1983)
- The Very Best of Stacy Lattisaw (1998)
- Time Exposure (1984)
- Guitar & Bass (2004)
- 3 (1990)
- The Clarke/Duke Project, Vols. 1-3 (2010)
- Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1975)
- Betcha (1980)
- On a Misty Night (2002)
- No Protection (1987)
- No Protection/Love Among The Cannibals (1987)
- A+ (1977)
- Talking Book (1972)
- Innervisions (1973)
- Fulfillingness' First Finale (1974)
- Original Musiquarium I (1982)
- The Definitive Collection (2002)
- No Fear Here (2002)
- Syreeta (1972)
- One to One (1977)
- Set My Love in Motion (1981)
- Syreeta/Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta (2004)
- Truly Blessed (1991)
- Night Grooves: The Blackbyrds' Greatest Hits (1978)
- Action/Better Days (1994)
- City Life/Unfinished Business (1994)
- Look Out for #1 (1976)
- Right on Time (1977)
- Light Up the Night (1980)
- Winners (1981)
- The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992)
- Original Album Classics (2008)
- Triumph/Destiny (2009)
- Triumph (1980)
- The Best Remixes (1998)
- The Party (1990)
- The Best of the Rippingtons (1997)
The Simpsons
- Testify (2007)
- I've Got the Music in Me (1975)
- Target (1983)
- Verve Jazz Masters '59: Toots Thielemans (1996)
Tour De 4force1
- Quiet Moon
- Direct (1981)
- Tracy Nelson (1974)
- Vanessa Rubin Sings (1995)
- Living on a Dream (1978)
- Whitney (1987)
- The Collection (2009)
- Big Easy Fantasy
- Backstreets of Desire (1994)
- Loup Garou (1996)
- Inherit the Wind (1980)
Notes
- Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997 (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), 2005.
- U.S. Public Records Index Vol 1 (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), 2010.
- Soulwalking.co.uk - accessed February 2014
- "Biography by Steve Huey". Allmusic.com. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
- Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 227. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- "Allmusic ((( Jim Gilstrap > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))".
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 125. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.