Jim Gilstrap, the soul and R&B singer known for his work with Stevie Wonder, his solo single “Swing Your Daddy,” and the theme song for Good Times, has died at the age of 79, according to Rolling Stone.
His family said Gilstrap died on July 18 of natural causes. In their statement, they remembered him for his professionalism, humility, generosity, and deep love of music, adding that many of his biggest contributions came behind the scenes.
Gilstrap began his career in the 1960s singing with groups including the Doodletown Pipers and the Cultures before joining Wonder’s backing band, Wonderlove. He appeared on several early 1970s Stevie Wonder records, including Talking Book and Innervisions, and sang the opening lines of “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
He later built a solo career with “Swing Your Daddy,” which became a Top Five pop hit in the U.K. and a Top 10 R&B hit in the U.S. Over the years, he also sang backup for artists including Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Whitney Houston, and others, and contributed to film and TV projects such as Grease, Anastasia, and episodes of The Simpsons.
