The Time (Prince’s Original Minneapolis Funk Empire)

The legendary Minneapolis funk band created, mentored, and largely controlled by Prince — one of the most successful and influential acts in the entire Paisley Park family.

OVERVIEW

The Time was a six-to-seven-piece R&B/funk band formed in Minneapolis in 1981. Known for their tight grooves, humorous lyrics, flashy stage presence, and the “Minneapolis Sound,” they became one of the most important groups of the 1980s funk scene. While officially led by Morris Day, the band was heavily shaped by Prince behind the scenes.

EARLY LIFE & MUSICAL BEGINNINGS The original lineup included:

• Morris Day (lead vocals)

• Jesse Johnson (guitar)

• Jellybean Johnson (drums)

• Jimmy Jam (keyboards)

• Terry Lewis (bass)

• Monte Moir (keyboards)

• Jerome Benton (percussion, dance, comedy)

They started as a local band called Flyte Tyme before Prince renamed them The Time and signed them to Warner Bros.

PRINCE CONNECTION

Prince created the band as a vehicle to expand his funk vision. He wrote and played most of the instruments on their first two albums (often uncredited), using the pseudonym Jamie Starr. He rehearsed them intensely and demanded a high level of showmanship. The band opened for Prince on several major tours and appeared in his films Purple Rain (1984) and Graffiti Bridge (1990). Tensions eventually led to the original lineup splitting in 1984–85 (Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis were famously fired by Prince for missing a gig).

KEY RELEASES

The Time (1981) – Featuring “Get It Up,” “Cool,” “777-9311”

What Time Is It? (1982) – Featuring “Jungle Love,” “The Walk,” “Gigolos Get Lonely Too”

Ice Cream Castle (1984) – Featuring “Jungle Love” (reprise) and “The Bird” Pandemonium (1990) – Reunion album with Prince contributions

STAGE WORK & LATER CAREER

The Time were known for high-energy, comedic live shows featuring Morris Day and Jerome Benton’s interplay. After the original breakup, members went on to massive success: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis became one of the most successful production teams in pop history (working with Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, etc.). The band has reunited multiple times over the decades for tours and albums, often with Prince’s involvement or blessing.

WHY THEY MATTER TO THE PRINCE UNIVERSE

The Time was Prince’s first major “satellite” group and helped define the Minneapolis Sound alongside him. Their music gave Prince an outlet to release rawer funk tracks while he maintained his solo superstar image. Many consider The Time’s early albums essential to understanding Prince’s genius as a writer, arranger, and bandleader. Their influence on 1980s R&B and funk is enormous.

SOURCES Prince Vault, Wikipedia, Morris Day’s autobiography, interviews (Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Jesse Johnson), Discogs.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE All images, photographs, and artwork referenced or displayed remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.