The Time / The Original 7ven
L-R: Terry Lewis, Monte Moir, Jerome Benton, Jimmy Jam, Morris Day, Jesse Johnson and Jellybean Johnson
Photographer Aaron Rapoport.
Formed in Minneapolis in 1981. Their work has been a part of the formation of the Minneapolis sound. They are popular protégés of Prince and arguably his most successful side project. Built out of an existing Minneapolis funk unit called Flyte Tyme, featuring Jellybean Johnson on drums, Jimmy Jam and Monte Moir on keyboards and Terry Lewis on bass. To this center, from another Minneapolis band, musicans Jesse Johnson on guitar and Morris Day on lead vocals who was initially on drums. Originally, Alexander O'Neal was tapped for the vocalist slot yet that had fallen through. Jerome Benton also became a member of The Time, playing minimal percussion but his main contributions are backing vocals, dancing and various on-stage antics.
In 1981, they toured with Prince as his opening act for the Dirty Mind tour. By 1982, the group had already established itself as one of the hottest bands working the live circuit. They toured the 1999/Triple Threat Tour with Prince and Vanity 6. As the tour continued from city to city, The Time performances, often showed Prince up. Prince’s use of mystery and control caused growing competitive tensions. Before going on to play their own hourlong set, The Time would play as Vanity 6's backing band with Jill Jones providing additional vocals from behind a pink curtain. Jam & Lewis began writing and producing songs for other artists in 1982 and 1983. The Time was still touring with Prince. In between cities they were producing for the S.O.S. Band in Atlanta, they missed a flight to a San Antonio gig after a blizzard stalled the planes in Atlanta. This caused for some quick decision making to be made for that gig in which Jerome had to mime playing bass guitar on stage while Prince played Lewis' part off stage and Lisa Coleman stood in for Jimmy Jam. After the tour's end, Prince fined and fired Jam & Lewis for breaking the rule that no member of The Time do outside work. Producing, “Just Be Good To Me”, became a big hit and sealed the duo’s reputation. After parting ways with Prince, they established their recording studio and production company. Monte Moir took the opportunity to quit, and also worked 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 is shown on the “Ice Cream Castle” album cover. Rocky Harris was replaced by Jerry Hubbard and appears in Prince's Purple Rain along with the other band members.
1984 Lineup, Left - Right: Rocky Harris, St. Paul Peterson, Jerome Benton, Morris Day, Jesse Johnson, Mark Cardenas & Jellybean Johnson. Not pictured Jerry Hubbard replacing Rocky Harris, was featured in Prince's Purple Rain film.
Prince firing Jam and Lewis added to the tensions and soured the band's relationship with Prince. Although Prince would state in a 1990 Rolling Stone magazine interview that he "didn't fire Jam and Lewis. Morris asked him what he would do in his situation. Remember, it was Morris’ band”.
Day left next after continued conflicts with Prince. He embarked on a solo career in 1985. His successful acting in Purple Rain would bring on more acting opportunities. Soon Jesse Johnson also left to go solo taking Time members Mark Cardenas and Jerry Hubbard with him for his Jesse Johnson s Revue project. The Time broke up. Remaining members Jerome Benton, Jellybean Johnson and St. Paul Peterson reformed into a new very short-lived band project called The Family.
With the exception of Monte Moir, the original members of The Time reunited for Morris Day's second solo album “Daydreaming”, released in 1987. They are on two tracks written and produced by Jam & Lewis: "Fishnet" and "Love Is A Game". "Fishnet” hit the number one spot on the R&B chart in 1988. A video for “Fishnet” was made with all participating members appearing.
In 1990, the original seven members of the band reunited for the Prince Graffiti Bridge movie and soundtrack, as well as a new album titled “Pandemonium”. Warner Bros. asked that The Time original line-up be brought in if Prince wanted the company's backing for the movie. This gave them their highest selling single, "Jerk Out" off the “Pandemonium” album. The album contained more input from the members than prior albums.
The original Time members would unite on several occasions. In 2008, they reunited for the 50th Grammy Awards performing a medley that included Rihanna. Also in June and July of 2008, all of the original members of The Time reunited once again for a series of shows at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. On June 13, 2010, they played a hometown reunion concert in Minneapolis.
Prince owned the rights to the band name The Time and did not allow permission for new projects. The original Time members, under a name change to The Original 7ven, released a new album titled “Condensate” on October 18, 2011 with the single "#Trendin" released on September 20. Guest Sue Ann Carwell provided vocals on the track “Strawberry Lake”. There is no input from Prince on the album. On October 27, 2011, The Original 7ven appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. The Original 7ven opened the Soul Train Music Awards broadcasted on November 27, 2011. In December of 2011, the band parted ways after Jesse Johnson first left the group.
Through out the years and in between original band member reconciliations, Morris Day, Jellybean Johnson, Monte Moir and various new members would tour and perform under the name Morris Day and The Time.
The Original 7ven albums:
The Time is credited as musicians on the eponymous album Vanity 6 (1982).
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for Musical Excellence in 2022.
Day announced on September 13, 2022 that he will be retiring after his 2023 tour.
Rest In Peace Rocky Harris.
