Stevie Wonder speaks out on Jim Gilstrap death
Stevie Wonder paid tribute to his former collaborator and background vocalist Jim Gilstrap, who passed away at age 76. Wonder praised Gilstrap's unique vocal quality and their shared history on iconic tracks like 'You Are the Sunshine of My Life.'
Why it matters
The death of a notable session musician highlights the collaborative nature of the music industry and the lasting impact of background vocalists on classic hits.
Hear this story Any decent singer can carry a tune, but for Stevie Wonder , former collaborator Jim Gilstrap had true soul.
Gilstrap, a one-time member of Wonder's backing group Wonderlove and featured vocalist on "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," died on Saturday, July 18, of natural causes . Aside from his collaborations with Wonder, Gilstrap was known for his 1975 R&B hit "Swing Your Daddy," as well as performing the theme song for the Norman Lear sitcom "Good Times."
Although "we didn't have the time [to] share together in conversation as much as we did back in the day, we still had great respect and friendship," Wonder, 76, told USA TODAY in an interview Monday, July 20. "I'm just happy that we were able to cross paths in our lives and do what we were able to do together."
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