Jim Gilstrap & Sondra "Blinky" Williams

You may or may not recognize the names or the faces, but surely, you'd recognize their voices. Jim Gilstrap and Sondra "Blinky" Williams were the singers of one of the most recognizable songs in American Music History--the theme song to Good Times. 

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Jim Gilstrap was born November 10, 1946 in Pittsburg, Texas to Jodie and Pearlie Mae (Tolbert) Gilstrap. He grew up listening to blues and rhythm and blues, idolizing Bobby Bland when he was younger. His family moved to California, and after serving in the Vietnam War, Gilstrap set about pursuing a music career. 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.

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. Gilstrap sang the opening two lines of the Wonder song, "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (with Lani Groves singing the next two lines). 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.

Gilstrap also recorded two albums of his own during the 1970's. His debut, also titled Swing Your Daddy, had three more singles, including a cover of the 5000 Volts' song, "I'm on Fire", "House of Strangers" and "Put Out the Fire." Love Talk was released in 1977. 

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 1970's television program Good Times and background vocals on the Grease soundtrack. 

Throughout the 1990's, 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 Three Days of the Condor. He also sang the theme song for the 1990's cartoon series TaleSpin and recently sang an original song for the 2004 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. [Wikipedia]

Here is Jim Gilstrap singing his hit song, 

"Swing Your Daddy":

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Sondra "Blinky" Williams was born on May 21, 1944 in Oakland, California. The daughter of  a pastor, she began singing in church choirs at the age of six. 
She recorded the album, Hark the Voice, on Atlantic Records, then moved to Motown where she recorded (as "Blinky") five singles including her debut, the Ashford & Simpson penned single, "I Wouldn't Change The Man He Is," (a song reportedly written about Lovin' Spoonful studio bass player James Killingsworth) in 1968. She thought she would find success when she recorded a duet album with Edwin Starr entitled Just We Two on the heels of his "Twenty-Five Miles". However, they did not get the push that either the Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell or the Supremes-Temptations duets did, and success again eluded her when, after becoming a protégé of Sammy Davis, Jr., his deal with the label fell through.

She is also credited with singing the theme for the 1970s TV series Good Times, along with Jim Gilstrap.

Her version of "God Bless The Child" appears on the album Rock Gospel: The Key To The Kingdom and her recording of "'Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness If I Do" is on the soundtrack of Lady Sings The Blues (1972). Unfortunately, most of her solo work, save for a few singles, remains unreleased. She can be heard live on the Motortown Revue Live! CD. Ms. Williams was also one of Andraé Crouch's original COGICS (Church of God in Christ Singers). 

On October 31, 2009, Sondra appeared as a backup singer, along with Sharon Jones, performing The Rolling Stones' "Exile on Main Street" as part of the rock band, Phish's, musical costume at their Festival 8, held at the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, CA. [Wikipedia]

Here is "Blinky" Williams singing 

"Heartaches" from her 1967 album, Hark the Voice: 

It was hard to find information on Mr. Gilstrap and Ms. Williams, so most of the information above was obtained from Wikipedia.

The photo of Jim Gilstrap was obtained from last.fm.

The photo of Sondra "Blinky" Williams was obtained from rateyourmusic.com

Photos and video were used for informational (and entertainment) purposes only. If the rightful owner(s) of any of these photos or videos wishes to have them removed, please contact me--Aige--and I will do so immediately.