LA VOIX STUDIO'S SIGHT READING
TEACHER FOR SINGERS AND MUSICIANS
Jim Gilstrap, Sight Reading & Sight Singing Teacher
BIO & HISTORY
James "Jim" Earl Gilstrap was born in Pittsburg, Texas. He is an American singer best known for his work as a session musician and his 1975 solo hit single "Swing Your Daddy", as well as singing co-lead on the theme song from the TV series “Good Times.”
He began his career in the music industry after he returned from serving in the Vietnam War. When his family moved to California, he set about pursuing a career in music, joining the Doodletown Pipers before moving on to a more soulful unit called The Cultures, who offered background support to established pop and soul artists.
JIM GILSTRAP: With a portfolio whose collective sales boasts more than 100 million albums & CD’s sold, Jim is one of the most prolific male session singers in the music industry. His list of credits reads like a veritable who’s who of the entire musical spectrum – from Barbra Streisand to Celine Dion to Michael Jackson to Herbie Hancock – just to name a few. Jim grew up listening to R&B and Blues, idolizing Bobby "Blue" Bland.
Soon after moving to the La area - manager, producer and business partner, Robert “Bumps” Blackwell to legendary singer Sam Cooke, recruited Jim to sing back up behind Cooke and tour. Sadly, it never came to pass because of Sam Cooke’s untimely death in December 1964.
Jim first honed his vocals behind such luminaries as The Temptations and Rod Stewart. While doing session work for top producers like Quincy Jones, Jim met his idol, Stevie Wonder, which led to his tenure with Stevie. In the early 1970s, Gilstrap was one of the vocalists in Stevie Wonder's backing outfit, 'Wonderlove', appearing on Wonder's albums, “Talking Book” which was to be Wonder's breakthrough album and “Innervisions” album. Gilstrap sang the opening two lines of the Wonder song, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", among the many gold and platinum albums now hanging on his wall.
Singing back up with Patti Austin and Michael Jackson, he can be heard in a vocal performance on Quincy Jones' 1974 jazz-funk composition "Soul Saga (Song Of The Buffalo Soldier)" with Minnie Riperton, from Jones' “Body Heat” album. He subsequently signed a recording contract with Chelsea Records in 1975. His recording of the Kenny Nolan penned "Swing Your Daddy" was a #4 hit in the UK Singles Chart in April 1975, and reached #10 in the U.S. Billboard Black Singles chart. "I've Got You Where I Want You" (1975) was used in the soundtrack of the film Three Days of the Condor. Gilstrap also recorded two albums of his own during the 1970s. The first, titled “Swing Your Daddy,” contained three more singles in "I'm on Fire" (covering 5000 Volts; it made #78 in the US), "House of Strangers" and "Put Out the Fire." The second album, “Love Talk” in 1977 on Roxbury Records.
In 1977, Jim also recorded on Stevie Wonder’s protege and his wife at that time, Syreeta Wright's third album, One to One. The album featured the sole Wonder production, "Harmour Love,” which found some success after being featured in the movie “Junebug,” and was mainly produced by Stevie Wonder and Leon Ware, who also produced Marvin Gaye and Minnie Riperton.
In 1978, Jim performed as a background vocalist on one of the most top selling soundtracks with John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John’s movie “Grease”. In 1979, He worked as a session artist for the UK singer Elkie Brooks on her album “Live and Learn” as well as Henry Mancini, Burt Bacharach, Hal David, the group Loose Ends, Little Anthony and the Imperials. Through the 70s to the early 80s, he worked with the group Side Effect on their track "Run, Run, Run" that was released on Bell Records.
Other highlights of Jim’s illustrious career includes being featured on numerous soundtracks for hit movies such as “The Matrix,” “The Matrix: Reloaded”, and “Rocky”. As well as hearing jim’s incredible voice, recording voice-overs for major TV shows such as Family guy, The Simpsons, and more. He is featured on theme songs from many popular TV shows including animated 1990 favorite cartoon series “Talespin” and “Dinosaurs.” He did an original song for the Japanese film Survive Style 5+ entitled "A Lament". Jim has worked alongside many Smooth Jazz artists such as Ramsey Lewis and Dave Koz. He joined forces with longtime friends, Scherrie Payne, Theresa Davis, Joyce & Pam Vincent singing and writing songs on the group, TOUR De 4FORCE’s album.
In 2005, Jim recorded on rapper The Game’s album titled “The Documentary” which was produced by 50 cent and Dr Dre, on hit single “Hate or Love it” and was even featured in one of the music videos called “Dreams”.
In the Summer of 2012, Jim toured the US with singer songwriter, James Taylor, and had the opportunity to grace the stage and sing with country pop icon, Taylor Swift, when she surprised fans by joining and singing on the tour. In 2013, he was called to record on Pop Artist sensation, Katy Perry's "Prism" album.
Jim is often requested to sing with artists from Country to Pop to Bebop to Hip hop. He recorded the background vocals on numerous occasions for the Queen of Country Music, Dolly Parton, and one of the Biggest Soul Pop singer’s albums including on 2011’s top selling #1 album titled “21”, and in 2015 her latest album titled "25", the artist known as, none other than, Adele.
Later that year, he was asked to sing on almost every award show from the Grammy’s to the Oscars, performing with singer John Legend and rapper Common on the song “Glory from the movie soundtrack “Selma”. He appeared on “The Voice” numerous times singing behind Adam Levine, frontman of Maroon 5, and with Season 8 winner Jordan Smith. In the summer of 2015, he sang with Gospel artists, Bebe and Cece Winans at The BET Awards. In October 2017, he appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Tv Show singing behind actor Jared Leto’s rock group called “Thirty Seconds to Mars” performing their newest song titled “Walk on Water”.
Jim has worked with so many more legendary people in the music industry and has showed his multi-musical talent throughout his career. Now, he continues to perform with “The Originals,” who were the original backing vocals to many of the male groups of Motown, singing hit songs with them that Marvin Gaye wrote and produced like, “The Bells” and “Baby I’m for real”.
Jim is college trained in music theory, sight reading and sight singing as well as many other instruments like the piano, bass, guitar, and drums. Jim stands head and shoulders above the rest. Because of his wealth of knowledge, he brings his talents and skills to teach his technique for singers and musicians, to our students at La Voix Studio.
James "Jim" Earl Gilstrap was born in Pittsburg, Texas. He is an American singer best known for his work as a session musician and his 1975 solo hit single "Swing Your Daddy", as well as singing co-lead on the theme song from the TV series “Good Times.”
He began his career in the music industry after he returned from serving in the Vietnam War. When his family moved to California, he set about pursuing a career in music, joining the Doodletown Pipers before moving on to a more soulful unit called The Cultures, who offered background support to established pop and soul artists.
JIM GILSTRAP: With a portfolio whose collective sales boasts more than 100 million albums & CD’s sold, Jim is one of the most prolific male session singers in the music industry. His list of credits reads like a veritable who’s who of the entire musical spectrum – from Barbra Streisand to Celine Dion to Michael Jackson to Herbie Hancock – just to name a few. Jim grew up listening to R&B and Blues, idolizing Bobby "Blue" Bland.
Soon after moving to the La area - manager, producer and business partner, Robert “Bumps” Blackwell to legendary singer Sam Cooke, recruited Jim to sing back up behind Cooke and tour. Sadly, it never came to pass because of Sam Cooke’s untimely death in December 1964.
Jim first honed his vocals behind such luminaries as The Temptations and Rod Stewart. While doing session work for top producers like Quincy Jones, Jim met his idol, Stevie Wonder, which led to his tenure with Stevie. In the early 1970s, Gilstrap was one of the vocalists in Stevie Wonder's backing outfit, 'Wonderlove', appearing on Wonder's albums, “Talking Book” which was to be Wonder's breakthrough album and “Innervisions” album. Gilstrap sang the opening two lines of the Wonder song, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", among the many gold and platinum albums now hanging on his wall.
Singing back up with Patti Austin and Michael Jackson, he can be heard in a vocal performance on Quincy Jones' 1974 jazz-funk composition "Soul Saga (Song Of The Buffalo Soldier)" with Minnie Riperton, from Jones' “Body Heat” album. He subsequently signed a recording contract with Chelsea Records in 1975. His recording of the Kenny Nolan penned "Swing Your Daddy" was a #4 hit in the UK Singles Chart in April 1975, and reached #10 in the U.S. Billboard Black Singles chart. "I've Got You Where I Want You" (1975) was used in the soundtrack of the film Three Days of the Condor. Gilstrap also recorded two albums of his own during the 1970s. The first, titled “Swing Your Daddy,” contained three more singles in "I'm on Fire" (covering 5000 Volts; it made #78 in the US), "House of Strangers" and "Put Out the Fire." The second album, “Love Talk” in 1977 on Roxbury Records.
In 1977, Jim also recorded on Stevie Wonder’s protege and his wife at that time, Syreeta Wright's third album, One to One. The album featured the sole Wonder production, "Harmour Love,” which found some success after being featured in the movie “Junebug,” and was mainly produced by Stevie Wonder and Leon Ware, who also produced Marvin Gaye and Minnie Riperton.
In 1978, Jim performed as a background vocalist on one of the most top selling soundtracks with John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John’s movie “Grease”. In 1979, He worked as a session artist for the UK singer Elkie Brooks on her album “Live and Learn” as well as Henry Mancini, Burt Bacharach, Hal David, the group Loose Ends, Little Anthony and the Imperials. Through the 70s to the early 80s, he worked with the group Side Effect on their track "Run, Run, Run" that was released on Bell Records.
Other highlights of Jim’s illustrious career includes being featured on numerous soundtracks for hit movies such as “The Matrix,” “The Matrix: Reloaded”, and “Rocky”. As well as hearing jim’s incredible voice, recording voice-overs for major TV shows such as Family guy, The Simpsons, and more. He is featured on theme songs from many popular TV shows including animated 1990 favorite cartoon series “Talespin” and “Dinosaurs.” He did an original song for the Japanese film Survive Style 5+ entitled "A Lament". Jim has worked alongside many Smooth Jazz artists such as Ramsey Lewis and Dave Koz. He joined forces with longtime friends, Scherrie Payne, Theresa Davis, Joyce & Pam Vincent singing and writing songs on the group, TOUR De 4FORCE’s album.
In 2005, Jim recorded on rapper The Game’s album titled “The Documentary” which was produced by 50 cent and Dr Dre, on hit single “Hate or Love it” and was even featured in one of the music videos called “Dreams”.
In the Summer of 2012, Jim toured the US with singer songwriter, James Taylor, and had the opportunity to grace the stage and sing with country pop icon, Taylor Swift, when she surprised fans by joining and singing on the tour. In 2013, he was called to record on Pop Artist sensation, Katy Perry's "Prism" album.
Jim is often requested to sing with artists from Country to Pop to Bebop to Hip hop. He recorded the background vocals on numerous occasions for the Queen of Country Music, Dolly Parton, and one of the Biggest Soul Pop singer’s albums including on 2011’s top selling #1 album titled “21”, and in 2015 her latest album titled "25", the artist known as, none other than, Adele.
Later that year, he was asked to sing on almost every award show from the Grammy’s to the Oscars, performing with singer John Legend and rapper Common on the song “Glory from the movie soundtrack “Selma”. He appeared on “The Voice” numerous times singing behind Adam Levine, frontman of Maroon 5, and with Season 8 winner Jordan Smith. In the summer of 2015, he sang with Gospel artists, Bebe and Cece Winans at The BET Awards. In October 2017, he appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Tv Show singing behind actor Jared Leto’s rock group called “Thirty Seconds to Mars” performing their newest song titled “Walk on Water”.
Jim has worked with so many more legendary people in the music industry and has showed his multi-musical talent throughout his career. Now, he continues to perform with “The Originals,” who were the original backing vocals to many of the male groups of Motown, singing hit songs with them that Marvin Gaye wrote and produced like, “The Bells” and “Baby I’m for real”.
Jim is college trained in music theory, sight reading and sight singing as well as many other instruments like the piano, bass, guitar, and drums. Jim stands head and shoulders above the rest. Because of his wealth of knowledge, he brings his talents and skills to teach his technique for singers and musicians, to our students at La Voix Studio.
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