Morris Day and The Time

With his dynamic dancing and smooth, yet gutsy vocals, Minneapolis-born pop-funk legend MORRIS DAY played an essential role in the development of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul / Twin City dance/club sound of the 1980s. A founding member of Prince’s band The Time in 1981, he remained with the group for three years and three records before launching a solo career, which included a sold-out performance at Shea’s Buffalo Performing Arts Center in 1986.

The Time burst onto the ’80s music scene with their self-titled debut, which included hot R&B tracks “Get It Up,” “Cool,” and “Girl.” What Time Is It pushed the band closer to the mainstream with “777-9311,” “Wild and Loose,” “Walk,” and “Gigolos Get Lonely Too.” But it was 1984’s Ice Cream Castle, which included monster hits “Jungle Love” and “The Bird,” both written by Prince, which burst open the gates, propelled by the burgeoning stardom of Morris and Prince after Purple Rain.

Morris Day went to school with Prince Rogers Nelson and sang in his first band Grand Central. As Prince grew as an artist so did the opportunities around him. The Time was originally created as Prince’s alter-ego, to be seen as the cool, street-wise funk band contrasting his more soulful R&B sound. After auditioning several lead vocalists, Prince wanted someone with charisma and talent, so he cast his high school friend – the funky and fabulous Morris Day. Inspired by photographs of his grandfather in zoot suits, Morris’s image as The Time’s slick front man was solidified!

During his time away from The Time, Day released a debut solo album, Color of Success in 1985. It peaked at #37 on the Billboard 200, as well as #7 on the Billboard Hot Black Albums chart. Day reached his solo peak with Daydreaming two years later. Produced by ex-Time members Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam, the album included the chart-topping R&B tune “Fishnet.”

The Time reunited in 1990 for Pandemonium, with single “Jerk Out” reaching #9 on the US Top 100, their highest chart single position. Several years later in 2004 came the release of It’s About Time, a mostly live album with new studio cuts.

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