Flyte Tyme (band)
Encyclopedia
The band known as Flyte Tyme began life as a Minneapolis
funk unit, taking its name from the Donald Byrd
song. The group featured Alexander O'Neal
on vocals, Jellybean Johnson
on drums, Tony Johnson on lead guitar, Jimmy "Jam" Harris and Monte Moir
on keyboards, and Terry Lewis
on bass. It also had a horn section, with David Wright on trumpet. When Prince
decided to form a side project, he recruited guitarist Jesse Johnson
and childhood friend Morris Day
as lead vocalist (Day and Johnson had both come from another local band called "Enterprise"). Flyte Tyme as a band ceased to exist, as Prince had settled on a new name for the unit: The Time
.
When Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis left the group, they resurrected the Flyte Tyme name for their album label
.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
funk unit, taking its name from the Donald Byrd
Donald Byrd
Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II, is an American jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter. A sideman for many other jazz musicians of his generation, Byrd is best known as one of the only bebop jazz musicians who successfully pioneered the funk and soul genres while simultaneously remaining a...
song. The group featured Alexander O'Neal
Alexander O'Neal
Alexander O'Neal is an American R&B singer. He is best-known for the songs "If You Were Here Tonight" and "Fake", and the duets with Cherrelle, "Saturday Love" and "Never Knew Love Like This".-Biography:...
on vocals, Jellybean Johnson
Jellybean Johnson
Jellybean Johnson is an American drummer, guitarist, songwriter, producer and musician based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota...
on drums, Tony Johnson on lead guitar, Jimmy "Jam" Harris and Monte Moir
Monte Moir
Monte Moir is the original and current keyboardist for The Time, as well as songwriter and producer for Janet Jackson, Alexander O'Neal, Gladys Knight, the Deja duo and Lolly Pop. He is also credited for working with Prince, Vanity 6, Deniece Williams, Thelma Houston and various other artists...
on keyboards, and Terry Lewis
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis are an American R&B and pop-music songwriting and record production team...
on bass. It also had a horn section, with David Wright on trumpet. When Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
decided to form a side project, he recruited guitarist Jesse Johnson
Jesse Johnson (musician)
Jesse Woods Johnson is a musician best known as the guitarist in the original lineup of The Time....
and childhood friend Morris Day
Morris Day
Morris E. Day is an American musician and composer. He is best known as the lead singer of The Time.-1970s and 1980s:...
as lead vocalist (Day and Johnson had both come from another local band called "Enterprise"). Flyte Tyme as a band ceased to exist, as Prince had settled on a new name for the unit: The Time
The Time (band)
The Time is a funk and dance-pop ensemble formed in 1981. They are close Prince associates and arguably the most successful artists who have worked with him.-Prince, Formation and Success:...
.
When Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis left the group, they resurrected the Flyte Tyme name for their album label
Flyte Tyme Records
Flyte Time Records is the record label started by producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. It is now part of Universal Records....
.