James “Jim” Gilstrap, who sang the classic Good Times theme song and Stevie Wonder’s “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” has passed away. He was 79.
Geoffrey “Geoff Gil” Gilstrap, Jim’s nephew and family spokesperson, said his uncle passed on Saturday from natural causes, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Jim was one of the most respected session vocalists of his generation. Bringing his powerful and soulful voice to countless recordings that helped define the sound of popular music,” Geoffrey said.
After serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War, Gilstrap relocated to California to pursue music. He performed with groups like the Doodletown Pipers and the Cultures. His big breakthrough arrived in the early 1970s when he joined Stevie Wonder’s backing group, Wonderlove. Gilstrap performed on landmark albums like Talking Book and Innervisions. He famously sang the opening two lines of Wonder’s timeless classic, “You Are the Sunshine of My Life”. Singer Lani Groves sang the next two lines (“You are the apple of my eye/Forever you’ll stay in my heart”) before Wonder took over. Gilstrap and Groves continued to sing backup, and the song won the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
In 1974, Gilstrap provided male lead vocals for the iconic theme song to the hit sitcom “Good Times.” The sitcom ran for six seasons.
In 1975, he signed with Chelsea Records and released a single, “Swing Your Daddy” that reached No. 4 on the U.K. Singles Chart and No. 10 on the U.S. Billboard Black Singles chart. He released an album, Love Talk, in 1976.
Beyond his solo success, Gilstrap remained one of the industry’s most sought-after session singers for decades. His vocal contributions span legendary projects, including Quincy Jones’ Body Heat and The Dude, Boz Scaggs’ “Lowdown.” He also performed on Whitney Houston’s early records.
Jim was the last surviving member of a family of 10 siblings. He is survived by his wife, Gloria, and his children.