Jim Gilstrap (born James Gilstrap, Pittsburg, Texas) is an American singer, best known for his work as a session musician, and his 1975 solo hit single, "Swing Your Daddy."[1]Contents [hide] 1 Career 2 Credits 3 See also 4 References 5 External links
[edit] Career
Gilstrap grew up listening to blues and rhythm and blues in Pittsburg, idolizing when he was younger, Bobby Bland.[2] His family moved to California, and after serving in the Vietnam War, Gilstrap set about pursuing a music career.[2] He successfully auditioned to join the Doodletown Pipers as a vocalist in the late 1960s, and soon moved on to The Cultures, who offered backing support to established pop and soul musicians.[2]
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.[2] Gilstrap sang the opening two lines of the Wonder song, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" with Lani Groves. He subsequently signed a recording contract with Chelsea Records in 1975.[2] His recording of the Kenny Nolan penned "Swing Your Daddy" was a #4 hit in the UK Singles Chart in April 1975,[3] and reached #10 in the U.S. Billboard Black Singles chart.[4]
Gilstrap also recorded two albums of his own during the 1970s.[2] His debut, also titled Swing Your Daddy, contained two more singles in "House of Strangers" and "Put Out the Fire."[2] The follow-up Love Talk (1977), but despite some minor success with the title track and "Move Me," failed to produce another big hit.[2]
He recorded backing vocals for the UK singer, Elkie Brooks (Live and Learn (1979)), and resumed his primary career as a session vocalist, performing with numerous pop and R&B stars over the next decades.[2]
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. He was one of the background vocalists on the soundtrack to the movie Grease (1978).[1]
Throughout the 1990s Gilstrap worked alongside many smooth jazz artists including Ramsey Lewis and Dave Koz. In 1975, he sang "I've Got You Where I Want You" for the soundtrack to the Robert Redford movie Three Days of the Condor.[1] 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".
Northern soul fans hold Gilstrap in high regard for his song, "Run, Run, Run" on Bell Records with the group Side Effect.[1] [edit] Credits This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Gilstrap recording credits include: "Lowdown" and Down Two Then Left - Boz Scaggs Hymn for My Soul - Joe Cocker Big Easy Fantasy, Loup Garou and Backstreets of Desire - Willy DeVille Chemistry and Perfect Combination - Johnny Gill Songs of the Beatles - Sarah Vaughan Partners - Scherrie and Susaye Two Sides of the Moon - Keith Moon Leo Sayer - Leo Sayer No Protection - Starship Kelis Was Here - Kelis
