The Time, also known as Morris Day and the Time and The Original 7ven, is an American musical group founded in
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
in 1981. Their work has been a part of the formation of the
Minneapolis sound
The Minneapolis sound is a subgenre of funk rock with elements of new wave and synth-pop, that was pioneered by Minneapolis, Minnesota-based musician Prince in the late 1970s. Its popularity was given a boost throughout the 1980s thanks to Princ ...
, featuring a mix of
soul music
Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in the African American community throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It has its roots in African-American gospel music and rhythm and blues. Soul music became po ...
and
dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement. In terms of performance, the major categories are live dance music and recorded danc ...
with
funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...
,
rock n roll
Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It originated from African-American music such as jazz, rhythm an ...
, and more. Led by singer-songwriter
Morris Day
Morris E. Day (born December 13, 1956) is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer of The Time.
Music career
Morris Day is best known as the lead singer of The Time, a group associated with Prince. Day and Pri ...
the band members are known for having been close
Prince associates, and are arguably the most successful artists who have worked with
Prince
A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. Th ...
, achieving particular popularity with
R&B fans with tracks such as "
The Bird", "
Cool", and "
Jungle Love". Former members
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III (born June 6, 1959) and Terry Steven Lewis (born November 24, 1956) are an American R&B/pop songwriting and record production team. They have enjoyed great success since the 1980s with various artists, most ...
went on to a prominent production career after they left the band in 1983, while Day and guitarist
Jesse Johnson recorded solo material in addition to their work with the Time.
Career
Prince and formation
The Time was assembled under a clause in
Prince
A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. Th ...
's contract with
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...
that allowed him to recruit and produce other artists for the label. Inspired by the musical film ''
The Idolmaker'' (1980), about a rock promoter, Prince decided to put together a pop-funk group that would serve as an outlet for material in the vein of his own early albums, while he explored other genres and styles in his own career.
By 1981, Prince had built The Time out of an existing
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
funk/R&B unit,
Flyte Tyme, which featured
Cynthia Johnson
Cynthia Johnson (born April 22, 1956) is an American singer, songwriter and television personality. She is best known as the lead singer of the band Lipps Inc. with the worldwide smash hit "Funkytown".
Musical career
Beginnings
Prior to bec ...
on lead vocals and sax, Anton (Tony) Johnson on guitar,
David Eiland
''For the baseball player of the same name, see Dave Eiland''
David Eiland (born in St. Louis, Missouri) is a musician, composer, recording artist and producer. Eiland is a multi-instrumentalist playing saxophones, guitar, bass, drums, Aerophon ...
on saxophone,
Jellybean Johnson
Garry George "Jellybean" Johnson (born November 19, 1956) is an American drummer, guitarist, songwriter, producer and musician based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
A member and drummer of The Time who worked along with famed producers Jimmy Ja ...
on drums,
Jimmy Jam
Jimmy may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film and television
* ''Jimmy'' (2008 film), a 2008 Hindi thriller directed by Raj N. Sippy
* ''Jimmy'' (1979 film), a 1979 Indian Malayalam film directed by Melattoor Ravi Varma
* ''Jimmy'' (2013 f ...
and
Monte Moir
Monte Moir (born September 10, 1958) is an American songwriter, producer and musician best known as the keyboardist of Morris Day's band The Time and songwriter of many notable American artists.
Biography
Monte Moir is the original and current ...
on keyboards, and
Terry Lewis on bass. To the last four were added
Jesse Johnson on guitar and a lead singer and childhood friend named
Morris Day
Morris E. Day (born December 13, 1956) is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer of The Time.
Music career
Morris Day is best known as the lead singer of The Time, a group associated with Prince. Day and Pri ...
, as well as
Jerome Benton
Jerome Benton (born September 19, 1962) is an American musical performer, backup dancer and comedic actor. He can be seen in music videos by Janet Jackson and Prince (musician), Prince, but he is known for his association with Morris Day and The ...
, who was a promoter drawn from another local band called "Enterprise", who became Day's comic foil.
Success
The band went on to release four funk albums, generally light and humorous in tone, strongly influenced by
Funkadelic
Funkadelic was an American funk rock band formed in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1968 and active until 1982. The band and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, pioneered the funk music culture of the 1970s.John, Bush. Funkade ...
,
Parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
,
James Brown
James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century music, he is often referred to by the honor ...
and
Sly Stone
Sylvester Stewart (born March 15, 1943), better known by his stage name Sly Stone, is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer who is most famous for his role as frontman for Sly and the Family Stone, playing a critical role in the ...
. Although they scored numerous hits during the early 1980s, including "
Cool" (1981), "
Jungle Love" (1985), "
777-9311
"777-9311" is the second track and lead single from The Time's second album, '' What Time Is It?''. Recorded for the album at Prince's home studio in May–June 1982, the song was produced, arranged, composed and performed by Prince with Morris ...
", "
Get It Up
"Get It Up" is the debut single by the Time, from their 1981 self-titled debut album. Like most of the album, the song was recorded in Prince's home studio in April 1981, and was produced, arranged, composed and performed by Prince with Morris ...
" (1981), "
Gigolos Get Lonely Too
"Gigolos Get Lonely Too" is the fifth track from the Time's six-song album, '' What Time Is It?''. One of the first songs recorded for the album, it was produced, arranged, composed and performed by Prince with Morris Day
Morris E. Day (bo ...
", and "
The Walk", mostly on the R&B charts, they never approached superstardom.
With the exception of singer Morris Day, who was required to follow Prince's guide vocals note-for-note, none of the band played on their debut album. Prince instead played all the instruments himself, crediting the production to his alter-ego, "Jamie Starr", and Morris Day.
A rivalry developed between The Time and
Prince's band
Charles Adams Prince (1869 – October 10, 1937) was an American conductor, bandleader, pianist and organist known for conducting the Columbia Orchestra and, later, Prince's Band and Orchestra.''Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound'', p. 860. He ...
during their 1982 ''
Controversy Tour
The Controversy Tour was a concert tour by American recording artist Prince in support of his fourth studio album '' Controversy''. The tour included Zapp and Roger and The Time as an opening act.
History
The Controversy Tour marked the debut ...
''. Frustrated with their lack of input on the albums bearing their name and at being underpaid, The Time would take to the stage with the intent of showing up Prince. On the final night of the tour in Cincinnati, during the Time's set, Prince and some of his band threw eggs at their supporting act from offstage. After The Time's performance, guitarist Jesse Johnson was handcuffed to a wall-mounted coat rack. Prince demanded no interruptions during his performance, but as soon as he left the stage, a food fight erupted. When the battle continued at the hotel, Prince held Morris Day responsible and made him pay for all damages.
During the 1982–83 ''
1999/Triple Threat'' tour, The Time served as
Vanity 6
Vanity 6 was a short lived American female vocal trio that gained popularity in the early 1980s. They were protégés of musician Prince. Led by singer Vanity, they are known for their song " Nasty Girl."
History
Formation
In 1981, Prince, hi ...
's backing band from behind a curtain, before playing their own hour-long set. They liked the arrangement because the band saw it as free money. Terry Lewis said, "I'll play behind Vanity 6 for thirty minutes for $250. No problem. I was going to have to do the sound check, anyway."
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III (born June 6, 1959) and Terry Steven Lewis (born November 24, 1956) are an American R&B/pop songwriting and record production team. They have enjoyed great success since the 1980s with various artists, most ...
, who had begun writing songs and producing albums of their own (working with
SOLAR to produce
Klymaxx
Klymaxx is an American all-female pop/ R&B band from Los Angeles, California. The band's classic lineup consisted of Bernadette Cooper, Lorena Porter Shelby, Cheryl Cooley, Robbin Grider, Lynn Malsby, and Joyce "Fenderella" Irby.
History
Klyma ...
and with
Tabu Records
Tabu Productions was an American record label founded by Clarence Avant in 1975. The label, Tabu Records, focused on R&B and funk.
Founding
Avant founded the label after Sussex Records went out of business in June 1975. Tabu Record's flagshi ...
to produce the
S.O.S. Band
The S.O.S. Band (sometimes written as S.O.S. Band; abbreviation for Sounds of Success) is an American R&B and electro-funk group who gained fame in the 1980s. They are best known for the songs "Take Your Time (Do It Right)", "Just Be Good to M ...
), were stranded in
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
by a blizzard and failed to make it to a Time concert in
San Antonio
("Cradle of Freedom")
, image_map =
, mapsize = 220px
, map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = United States
, subdivision_type1= U.S. state, State
, subdivision_name1 = Texas
, s ...
, for which Jerome had to mime playing bass guitar on stage while Prince played Lewis's part off stage, and
Lisa Coleman stood in for Jimmy Jam. Subsequently, the duo were fined and then fired, although Prince would state in a 1990 ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' interview: "I didn't fire Jimmy and Terry. Morris ''asked'' me what I would do in his situation. You got to remember, it was ''his'' band." Whether their firing was due to the incident or to their increasing independence has never been clear. Monte Moir took the opportunity to leave as well, and would also work with Jam and Lewis. The three were replaced with Mark Cardenas and
Paul Peterson on keyboards and Rocky Harris on bass. This new line up, with Jerry Hubbard replacing Rocky Harris, was featured in Prince's ''
Purple Rain'' film. The Time rode the wave of popularity created by the movie and hit singles "
Jungle Love" and "
The Bird".
First split
Day left after arguments with Prince, choosing to pursue a solo career in 1985 after a successful acting turn in ''Purple Rain''. With Jesse Johnson also opting to go solo (taking other Time members Cardenas and Hubbard with him), the band disintegrated. The remaining members (Benton, Jellybean Johnson and Peterson) were reformed into a new short-lived project called
The Family. Meanwhile, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis went on to become one of the most successful songwriting and production teams of the 1980s and 1990s.
First reunion
In 1990, the original seven members of the band reunited for the ''
Graffiti Bridge'' movie and soundtrack, as well as a new album, ''
Pandemonium''. The project was originally called ''Corporate World'' and was set to only feature Morris and Jerome, but Warner Bros. demanded that the original line-up be brought in if Prince wanted the company's backing for the movie. This spawned their highest selling single, "
Jerk Out
"Jerk Out" is a song from The Time's 1990 album '' Pandemonium''. The song was originally recorded in December 1981 by Prince at his home studio during sessions for '' What Time Is It?''. Prince originally performed all instruments and vocal ...
" and the album featured more input from the band than any other Time album. "Nobody really ''needed'' to put The Time back together," said Lewis, "but everybody wanted to. That makes it a great experience all round. We take the musicianship and the craft of what we do very seriously but, when the seven of us get together, it's naturally a party, fun kinda situation. We carry that from the record on to the stage."
The reunion was short-lived, as infighting within the band caused them to disband once again. Morris and Jerome have since remained a team, with both trying out some small acting roles over the next few years.
Several members of The Time reunited in 1995, added a few new recruits, Tori Ruffin on guitar, Chance Howard on keyboards, Robert GI' Grissett Jr. on third keyboards and Ricky "Freeze" Smith on bass guitar. This version of the band can be seen in the
Kevin Smith
Kevin Patrick Smith (born August 2, 1970) is an American filmmaker, actor, comedian, comic book writer, author, YouTuber, and podcaster. He came to prominence with the low-budget comedy buddy film ''Clerks'' (1994), which he wrote, directed, co ...
film ''
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
''Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'' is a 2001 American satirical stoner buddy comedy film written and directed by Kevin Smith, the fifth to be set in his View Askewniverse, a growing collection of characters and settings that developed out of h ...
'' and toured frequently usually billed as "Morris Day and The Time".
A fifth Time album was rumored to have been completed in the late 1990s, recorded with the new lineup, but production and coordination with Prince has prevented its release. ''Old Dogs, New Tricks'' was the working title. A 2004 album attributed to Morris Day called ''It's About Time'' contains a few new tracks written and performed by Day and a number of live performances by The Time featuring the new members along with Jellybean, Jerome, Monte & Morris.
Second reunion and The Original 7ven
![The Time - First Avenue Star](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/The_Time_-_First_Avenue_Star.jpg)
The Time reunited at The 50th Grammy Awards on February 10, 2008, performing a medley that included
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty ( ; born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, actress, and businesswoman. Born in Saint Michael and raised in Bridgetown, Barbados, Rihanna auditioned for American record producer Evan Rogers who invited her to the ...
and featured "
Jungle Love".
In June and July 2008, all of the original members of The Time (Morris Day, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Jesse Johnson, Jerome Benton, Jellybean Johnson, and Monte Moir) reunited once again for a series of shows at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
A January 2009 interview mentions that guitarist Jesse Johnson states he is working with The Time on their upcoming album. The Time appeared at The Fox Theater, in Detroit, Michigan on June 11, 2010, with the original lineup to a packed house. Two days later during what Jimmy Jam dubbed "The Stingy Tour" on June 13, 2010 the "magnificent 7" played a hometown reunion concert in Minneapolis, MN, and, during that concert, announced on stage that a new album was "90% complete", which confirmed information provided in a ''Billboard'' profile published a week earlier.
In September 2011, the band announced a name change to The Original 7ven and a new album ''
Condensate
Condensate may refer to:
* The liquid phase produced by the condensation of steam or any other gas
* The product of a chemical condensation reaction, other than water
* Natural-gas condensate, in the natural gas industry
* ''Condensate'' (album) ...
'' which was released October 18, 2011 with the single "#Trendin" released September 20. Concerning the name change, Jimmy Jam said that “the decision was made at that point that we could either continue to, shall we say, negotiate or argue or plead or whatever. We decided to go the route of 'let’s not hold things up because of the name. Let’s embrace the opportunity to move forward in a new era, with a new outlook, with a new album' and that’s what we did. We think the name reflects exactly who we are. We are the Original 7even and that basically, for me, covers it.”
On October 27, 2011, The Original 7ven appeared on ''
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that first aired from May 25, 1992, to May 29, 2009. It resumed production on March 1, 2010 and ended on February 6, 2014.
The fourth incarnation of the ...
''.
On November 17, 2011, The Original 7ven opened the ''
Soul Train Music Awards
The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards show which previously aired in national broadcast syndication, and honors the best in African-American culture, music and entertainment. It is produced by the makers of '' Soul Train'', the p ...
'' in Atlanta, Georgia.
The show was broadcast on November 27.
On April 21, 2016, group founder Prince was pronounced dead in his Paisley Park complex. Members of the band paid tribute to him in subsequent live performances and on Facebook.
On the weekend of June 24/25, 2016, Morris Day & The Time appeared at a Prince Tribute in London organised by the charity Autism Rocks. The charity was supported by Prince with live shows, including his last in the UK. Alongside Morris and The Time were other artists influenced or otherwise involved with Prince including CeeLo Green, Mark Ronson and Larry Graham & Graham Central Station.
On February 12, 2017, the original lineup of The Time played a brief two-song set at the
Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
in Los Angeles, California, held at
Staples Center as part of a tribute to Prince. The Time's appearance was followed by a performance by
Bruno Mars
Peter Gene Hernandez (born October 8, 1985), known professionally as Bruno Mars, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is known for his stage performances, retro showmanship, and for performing in a wide range of musical s ...
.
The band has been honored with a star on the exterior of the
Minneapolis
Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
nightclub
First Avenue,
where both the original roster and the second lineup of the group performed (first in October 1981 and later in the film ''Purple Rain''). The stars on the building recognize performers who have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue.
Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh.
Legal dispute with Prince Estate
In March, 2022, a
Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...
article reported that the Prince Estate had recently informed Day that he “‘can no longer use Morris Day and the Time in any capacity.’” Music industry attorney Erin M. Jacobson was quoted in the article saying that it was more accurate to say the letter said that Day could not claim “‘ownership of the name,’” but there was still opportunity to use the name via an agreement with the Prince Estate that would provide terms for Day to monetarily compensate “‘the trademark owner in exchange for the ability to continue using the name.’”
Members
Current
*
Morris Day
Morris E. Day (born December 13, 1956) is an American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer of The Time.
Music career
Morris Day is best known as the lead singer of The Time, a group associated with Prince. Day and Pri ...
– lead vocals, backing vocals
(1981–1985, 1990–1991, 1995–present)
*
Jellybean Johnson
Garry George "Jellybean" Johnson (born November 19, 1956) is an American drummer, guitarist, songwriter, producer and musician based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
A member and drummer of The Time who worked along with famed producers Jimmy Ja ...
– drums, guitar, backing vocals
(1981–1985, 1990–1991, 1995–present)
*Torrell "Tori" Ruffin – guitar, backing vocals
(1995–present)
*Ricky "Freeze" Smith – bass, backing vocals
(1995–2018, 2020–present)
*Sylvester Donald – valet, dancer, backing vocals, percussion
(2009–2015, 2021–present)
*Andre "PaDre" Holmes – keyboards, bass, backing vocals
(2018–present)
*Christopher Troy – keyboards, backing vocals
(2021–present)
Past
*
Jesse Johnson – guitar, backing vocals
(1981–1985, 1990–1991, 2008, 2011, 2017)
*
Monte Moir
Monte Moir (born September 10, 1958) is an American songwriter, producer and musician best known as the keyboardist of Morris Day's band The Time and songwriter of many notable American artists.
Biography
Monte Moir is the original and current ...
– keyboards, backing vocals
(1981–1983, 1990–1991, 1995–2021)
*
Terry Lewis – bass, backing vocals
(1981–1983, 1990–1991, 2008, 2011, 2017, 2020)
*
Jimmy Jam
Jimmy may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film and television
* ''Jimmy'' (2008 film), a 2008 Hindi thriller directed by Raj N. Sippy
* ''Jimmy'' (1979 film), a 1979 Indian Malayalam film directed by Melattoor Ravi Varma
* ''Jimmy'' (2013 f ...
– keyboards, backing vocals
(1981–1983, 1990–1991, 2008, 2011, 2017, 2020)
*
Jerome Benton
Jerome Benton (born September 19, 1962) is an American musical performer, backup dancer and comedic actor. He can be seen in music videos by Janet Jackson and Prince (musician), Prince, but he is known for his association with Morris Day and The ...
– valet, dancer, backing vocals, percussion
(1981–1985, 1990–1991, 1995–2006, 2008, 2011, 2017, 2020)
*Mark Cardenas – keyboards, backing vocals
(1983–1984)
*
St. Paul Peterson – keyboards, backing vocals
(1983–1984)
*Rocky Harris – bass
(1983)
*Jerry Hubbard – bass, backing vocals
(1983–1984)
*Morris Hayes – keyboards, backing vocals
(1991)
*Stanley "Chance" Howard – keyboards, backing vocals
(1995–)
*Robert Grissett, Jr. – keyboards, backing vocals
(1995–)
*Brice Myles – keyboards, backing vocals
*Jeff McNeely – keyboards, backing vocals
*Jeffree Mak – keyboards, backing vocals
(2006?–2019)
*Thomas Austin – valet, dancer, backing vocals, percussion
(2014–2020)
*Charlie Redd – bass, backing vocals
(2018)
Discography
Studio albums
Singles
References
External links
*
"School of Funk: Jimmy Jam was a DJ. Morris Day was a drummer. Prince was a kid with a huge afro. Before they changed popular music, Mom told them to turn that racket down."City Pages, July 14, 2004
Brief Bio/Update for former Keyboardist Mark Cardenas (currently in the band, Eagle's Jump)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Time, The
American dance music groups
American pop music groups
Musical groups from Minnesota
Paisley Park Records artists
American funk musical groups
Funk rock musical groups
Warner Records artists