Jim Gilstrap

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]

Gilstrap's recording credits include:

Aaron Neville

• 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)

Al Jarreau

• Best of Al Jarreau (1996)

Al Kooper

• Championship Wrestling (1982)

Altair All-Star Choir / Jim Gilstrap / Joyce Vincent / Pam Vincent

• La La Peace Song (2018)

Amaia Montero

• Amaia Montero (2008)
• 2 (2011)

Amy Grant

• A Christmas to Remember (1999)

Andy Griffith

• Just as I Am: 30 Favorite Old Time Hymns (1998)

Angela Bofill

• Something About You (1981)
• Too Tough (1983)

Anita Baker

• The Songstress (1983)
• Rapture (1986)
• The Best of Anita Baker (2002)
• Sweet Love: The Very Best of Anita Baker (2002)

Aretha Franklin

• 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)

Art Garfunkel

• Fate for Breakfast (1979)

B.B. King

• King of Blues: 1989 (1988)

Barbra Streisand

• Higher Ground (1997)
• Songbird (1978)

Beau Williams

• Bodacious (1984)

Bill Medley

• Right Here and Now (1982)

Bill Withers

• Making Music (1975)
• The Essential Bill Withers (2013)

Billy Cobham

• B.C. (1979)

Billy Preston / Syreeta

• Billy Preston & Syreeta (1981)

Bob Crewe

• Motivation (1977)

Bobby Lyle

• New Warrior (1977)
• The Journey (1990)

Boney James

• Boney's Funky Christmas (1996)

Booker T. Jones

• Try and Love Again (1978)
• I Want You (1981)

Boz Scaggs

• 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)

Brainstorm

• Funky Entertainment (1979)

Brandon Burrows

• On the Move (2008)

Brownie McGhee / Sonny Terry / Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee

• Sonny & Brownie (1973)

Bunny Hull

• Dream a World: A Child's Journey to Self-Discovery (2004)
• Music For Young Masters: Secrets Of The Heart (2007)

Candi Staton

• 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)

Carl Anderson

• Absence Without Love/On & On (2009)

Carrie Lucas

• Simply Carrie (1977)

Céline Dion

• 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

Christopher Franke

• Celestine Prophecy (1996)

Country Joe & Energy Crisis

• Rock N Roll from Planet Earth (1978)

Country Joe McDonald

• Classics (1989)

Country Joe McDonald / Country Joe & Energy Crisis

• Paradise with an Ocean View (1976)

Crowded House

• Crowded House (1986)
• Crowded House/Temple of Low Men (2005)

D.J. Rogers

• The Message Man: The Best of DJ Rogers (1998)

Dana Glover

• Testimony (2002)

Darlene Koldenhoven

• Inspired by a True Story

Daryle Chinn

• From the Heart (1996)

Dave Grusin

• 3 Days of the Condor [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] (1975)

Dave Koz

• Lucky Man (1993)
• Off the Beaten Path (1996)

David Foster

• The Christmas Album (1995)

David T. Walker

• David T Walker (1973)

DeBarge

• Time Will Reveal: The Complete Motown Albums (2011)

Debra Hurd

• Debra Hurd (1983)

Dee Dee Bridgewater

• 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)

DeLeon

• Straight from the Heart (2001)

Diana DeGarmo

• Blue Skies (2004)
• Dreams (2004)

Dianne Reeves

• Never Too Far (1990)

Dionne Warwick

• 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)

Disney

• 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)

Don Grusin

• Raven (1990)
• Native Land (1993)

Donald Byrd

• Thank You...For F.U.M.L. (Funking Up My Life) (1978)

Donald Byrd / Donald Byrd and 125th St.

• Donald Byrd and 125th Street, N.Y.C. (1979)

Dr. John

• Tango Palace (1979)

Elaine Norwood

• Double Blessing (2006)

Eleanor

• Jungle Wave

Elkie Brooks

• Rich Man's Woman (1975)
• Live & Learn (1979)

Elton John

• The Fox (1981)
• Duets (1993)

England Dan & John Ford Coley

• Dr. Heckle & Mr. Jive (1978)
• The Very Best of England Dan & John Ford Coley (1996)

Erich Kunzel

• The Magical Music of Disney (1995)

Eros Ramazzotti

• 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)

Everlast

• Eat at Whitey's (2000)
• Love, War and the Ghost of Whitey Ford (2008)

Franky Perez

• Poor Man's Son (2003)

Funk

• Priced to Sell (1974)

Gene Page

• Lovelock! (1976)
• Close Encounters (1978)

George Benson

• 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)

George Duke

• 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)

Gladys Knight

• Miss Gladys Knight (1978)
• Good Woman (1991)

Greg

• Rockin' Down The Road [Bonus Tracks] (1995)

Hanne Boel

• Misty Paradise (2001)

Harold Faltermeyer

• Copout (2010)

Harry Styles

• Harry Styles (2017)

Harvey Mason

• Marching in the Street (1976)
• Groovin' You (1979)
• Sho Nuff Groovin' You: The Arista Records Anthology 1975-1981 (2017)

Henry Mancini

• "Easy Baby" (from the film 99 and 44/100% Dead)

Herbie Hancock

• Lite Me Up (1982)

Hiroshima

• Hiroshima (1979)
• Odori (1980)
• Third Generation (1983)
• Another Place (1985)
• Go (1987)
• Ongaku (1988)
• East (1989)
• Providence (1992)
• L.A. (1994)

House of Pain

• Shamrocks and Shenanigans: The Best of House of Pain and Everlast (2004)

Howard Tate

• A Portrait of Howard (2006)

Irene Cara

• Carasmatic (1987)

Irving Fields

• Irving Fields and His Trio at the Emerald Room

Jackson Browne

• Looking East (1996)

Jaco Pastorius

• The Essential Jaco Pastorius (2007)

James Ingram

• It's Your Night (1983)
• It's Real (1989)

James Newton Howard

• King Kong [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] (2005)

James Taylor

• Dad Loves His Work (1981)
• JT/Flag/Dad Loves His Work [Box Set] (1995)

Jean Carn

• When I Find You Love/Sweet and Wonderful (2005)

Jesse Colin Young

• American Dreams (1978)

Jim Gilstrap

• Swing Your Daddy (1975)
• Love Talk (1976)
• Swing Your Daddy/Love Talk (1995)

Joe Cocker

• Hymn for My Soul (2007)

Joe Sample

• Roles (1983)
• Sample This (1997)
• The Best of Joe Sample (1998)
• Introducing Joe Sample (2006)
• Rhino Hi-Five: Joe Sample

Joey Lawrence

• Joey Lawrence (1993)

John Hiatt

• Little Head (1997)

John Powell

• Ice Age: The Meltdown [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] (2006)

Johnny Gill

• Chemistry (1985)

Johnny Gill / Stacy Lattisaw

• Perfect Combination (1984)

Johnny Mathis

• 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)

José Feliciano

• Just Wanna Rock 'n' Roll (1975)
• Jose Feliciano [1980] (1980)

June Pointer

• Baby Sister (1983)

Kanye West

• 808s & Heartbreak (2008)

Kathy Dalton

• Amazing (1973)

Keith Moon (1975)

• Two Sides of the Moon -

Kelis

• Kelis Was Here (2006)

Kenny G

Breathless (1992)

Breathless/At Last... The Duets Album (2012)

Kenny Loggins

Back to Avalon (1988)

The Unimaginable Life (1997)

Kenny Rankin

Silver Morning (1975)

Peaceful: The Best of Kenny Rankin (1996)

Kurt Bestor

Sketches (1997)

Larry Graham

Fired Up (1985)

Leo Sayer

• Leo Sayer (1978)

Leon Haywood

• Intimate (1976)

Leonard Cohen

• Recent Songs (1979)

Les McCann

• Only The Best Of Les McCann (1974)
• Pump It Up (2002)

Linda Lewis

Woman Overboard (1977)

Linda Ronstadt

• 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)

Lionel Richie

• Back to Front (1992)

Little Anthony & the Imperials

• You'll Never Know (2008)

Livingston Taylor

• 3-Way Mirror (1978)
• Carolina Day: The Collection (1970-1980) (1998)

Luther Vandross

• 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)

Marilyn Scott

• 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)

Martha Davis

• Policy (1987)

Martha Reeves

• Martha Reeves (1974)

Melissa Manchester

• If My Heart Had Wings (1995)

Michael Bolton

• The One Thing (1993)
• All That Matters (1997)
• Hits 1985-1995: Best of the Best Gold (2003)
• Michael Bolton [Collector's Tin] (2009)

Michael Jackson

• 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)

Michael White

• White Night (1979)

Milira

• Back Again!!! (1992)

Minnie Riperton

• Stay in Love (1977)

Moogly

Sex & Soul: Mixed by Moog-Ly (2007)

Nancy Wilson

• 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)

Narada Michael Walden

• 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

Neil Diamond

• Beautiful Noise (1976)
• The Greatest Hits (1966-1992) (1992)
• In My Lifetime (1996)
• Classics: The Early Years/Jazz Singer/Beautiful Noise (1997)

Neil Young

• Living with War (2006)

Norman Connors

• Take It to the Limit (1980)

Olivia Newton-John

• Totally Hot (1978)

Over the Rhine

• The Long Surrender (2011)

Patrice Rushen

• 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)

Patrick Doyle

• Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Patti Austin

• Patti Austin (1984)
• The Very Best of Patti Austin: The Singles (1969-1986) (2001)

Patti LaBelle

• Winner in You (1986)
• Be Yourself (1989)

Paul Williams

• A Little Bit of Love (1974)
• The Best of Paul Williams (2008)

Paul Young

• Crossing (1993)

Peabo Bryson

• Positive (1988)
• Through the Fire (1994)

Peabo Bryson / Roberta Flack

• Born to Love (1983)

Peggy Lee

• Let's Love (1974)

Pharez Whitted

• Mysterious Cargo (1996)

Phyllis Hyman

• Phyllis Hyman (1977)
• Goddess of Love (1983)
• The Legacy of Phyllis Hyman (1996)

Praise & Worship

• Rejoice Africa (1993)

Priscilla Ahn

• A Good Day (2008)

Pugh Rogefeldt

• Bamalama (1977)

Quincy Jones

• 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

• Rachelle Ferrell (1992)

Ramsey Lewis

• Ramsey (1979)

Ray Charles

• Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection (1997)
• Ultimate Hits Collection (1999)
• Genius Loves Company (2004)
• Forever Ray Charles (2007)

Ray Simpson

• Ray Simpson (1992)

Rick Nelson

• The Last Time Around 1970-1982 (2010)

Ricky Martin

Vuelve (1998)

Ringo Starr

• Goodnight Vienna (1974)
• Ringo the 4th (1977)

Roberta Flack

• Blue Lights in the Basement (1977)

Roberto Carlos

• Roberto Carlos (Mujer Pequena) (1992)
• Todas As Manhas (1996)

Rodney Franklin

• Skydance (1985)

Ron Kenoly

• God is Able (1994)

Ronnie Foster

• Delight (1979)

Roy Ayers

• Fever (1979)

Russ Freeman

• Sahara (1994)

Russell Hitchcock

Russell Hitchcock (1988)

Sam Cardon

Innovators [1995] (1995)

Santana

Spirits Dancing in the Flesh (1990)

Sarah Vaughan

• Songs of the Beatles (1981)

Scherrie and Susaye

• Partners (1979)

Seals & Crofts

• Takin' It Easy (1978)

Side Effect

• Effective (1973)
• Side Effect/What You Need (2002)

Siedah Garrett

• Kiss of Life (1988)

Stacy Lattisaw

• Let Me Be Your Angel (1980)
• With You (1981)
• Sneakin' Out (1982)
• Sixteen (1983)
• The Very Best of Stacy Lattisaw (1998)

Stanley Clarke

• Time Exposure (1984)
• Guitar & Bass (2004)

Stanley Clarke / George Duke

• 3 (1990)
• The Clarke/Duke Project, Vols. 1-3 (2010)

Stanley Turrentine

• Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1975)
• Betcha (1980)
• On a Misty Night (2002)

Starship

• No Protection (1987)
• No Protection/Love Among The Cannibals (1987)

Stephen Sinclair

• A+ (1977)

Stevie Wonder

• Talking Book (1972)
• Innervisions (1973)
• Fulfillingness' First Finale (1974)
• Original Musiquarium I (1982)
• The Definitive Collection (2002)

Susaye Greene

• No Fear Here (2002)

Syreeta

• Syreeta (1972)
• One to One (1977)
• Set My Love in Motion (1981)
• Syreeta/Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta (2004)

Teddy Pendergrass

• Truly Blessed (1991)

The Blackbyrds

• Night Grooves: The Blackbyrds' Greatest Hits (1978)
• Action/Better Days (1994)
• City Life/Unfinished Business (1994)

The Brothers Johnson

• Look Out for #1 (1976)
• Right on Time (1977)
• Light Up the Night (1980)
• Winners (1981)

The Jackson 5

• The Jacksons: An American Dream (1992)
• Original Album Classics (2008)
• Triumph/Destiny (2009)

The Jacksons

• Triumph (1980)
• The Best Remixes (1998)

The Party

• The Party (1990)

The Rippingtons

• The Best of the Rippingtons (1997)

The Simpsons

• Testify (2007)

Thelma Houston

• I've Got the Music in Me (1975)

Tom Scott

• Target (1983)

Toots Thielemans

• Verve Jazz Masters '59: Toots Thielemans (1996)

Tour De 4force1

• Quiet Moon

Tower of Power

• Direct (1981)

Tracy Nelson

• Tracy Nelson (1974)

Vanessa Rubin

• Vanessa Rubin Sings (1995)

Wayne Henderson

• Living on a Dream (1978)

Whitney Houston

• Whitney (1987)
• The Collection (2009)

Willy DeVille

• Big Easy Fantasy
• Backstreets of Desire (1994)
• Loup Garou (1996)

Wilton Felder

• Inherit the Wind (1980)

• List of performers on Top of the Pops

• Biography at Soulwalking.co.uk
• Full Career Credits at AllMusic.com