Happy Birthday to Morris Day of The Time

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Happy Birthday, Morris Day! Born on December 13, 1957, Morris Day is a legendary figure in 80s funk music as the charismatic frontman of The Time. Rising from Prince’s shadow, The Time became one of the most iconic funk bands of the decade and served as a launchpad for the powerhouse production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

The Time was born out of Prince’s deal with Warner Bros., which allowed him to recruit and produce other artists. Inspired by the 1980 film The Idolmaker, Prince envisioned a pop-funk group that could channel his early musical style while he explored new genres. By 1981, he had assembled The Time from members of the Minneapolis funk band Flyte Tyme, including Jellybean Johnson (drums), Jimmy Jam (keyboards), Monte Moir (keyboards), and Terry Lewis (bass). They were joined by guitarist Jesse Johnson, Jerome Benton as the hype man, and Morris Day, Prince’s childhood friend, as the lead vocalist.

The Time quickly made their mark with a string of R&B hits, including “The Bird,” “Jungle Love,” “777-9311,” and “Cool.” Their music blended rock-infused funk with lighthearted humor, heavily influenced by Parliament and Prince himself. Despite their success, tensions arose within the band. In 1983, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were fired after missing a performance due to being stranded in Atlanta, leading to speculation about whether their increasing independence as producers contributed to their departure. Monte Moir also left to join them, and the trio went on to revolutionize R&B with hits for artists like Janet Jackson and the S.O.S. Band.

The Time’s lineup changes continued as they appeared in Prince’s film Purple Rain in 1984, riding the wave of hits like “Jungle Love” and “The Bird.” However, internal conflicts led Morris Day to leave in 1985 for a solo career, highlighted by his hit “Fishnet.” Jesse Johnson also departed, and the remaining members briefly formed a new group, The Family.

The Time reunited in 1990 for the film Graffiti Bridge and released the album Pandemonium, featuring the hit “Jerk Out.” Despite the album’s success, the reunion was short-lived due to infighting. Over the years, Morris Day and Jerome Benton remained active, occasionally reuniting with other members for performances. A revamped version of The Time, billed as “Morris Day and The Time,” continues to tour, bringing their infectious funk to audiences worldwide.

Morris Day’s influence extends far beyond his music. As a charismatic performer and actor, he helped define an era of funk and R&B that still resonates today. Happy birthday to a true funk legend!

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