Today's Black History Month illustration is of James “Jimmy Jam“ Harris III & Terry Lewis, one of the greatest producing duo in the history of music.

They’re known for their funky synth heavy grooves and their melodic basslines as well as their dark sunglasses, black suits, and black fedoras.

Both Jam and Lewis grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and they first met in high school (early 1970s) at the University of Minnesota through their Upward Bound program. They grew up listening to different genres. Jam was a pop fan, so he listened to artists such as Seals and Crofts, America, and Chicago. Lewis like artists like Parliament-Funkadelic and Earth, Wind and Fire.

After their time in the Upward Bound program, they stayed friends and played in rival bands against Prince and Morris Day. In the early 80s, Jam convinced Harris to join his band Flyte Tyme. Soon after, Morris Day and Lewis agreed to form the group The Time because of a deal Day made with Prince. While in The Time, they became innovators of the Minneapolis sound, a blend of jazz, soul, R&B, funk, disco, early punk, new wave, and dance.

After The Time’s spot as the opening act on Prince’s Controversy tour was over, Jam and Lewis decided to go to LA and begin creating demos. Their demos eventually landed at Solar Records with Dick Griffey. While Harris and Lewis were busy producing the SOS Band in LA, they ended up missing an important gig with The Time in Atlanta, GA. Because of this, Prince fired them.

After this, they decided to form Flyte Time Productions in 1982. After forming Flyte Tyme Productions, they produced and wrote a string of R&B hits for artists including Gladys Knight, Cheryl Lynn, Force MDs, and Cherelle.

When they were looking for the next artist to work with, they both agreed on the one and only Janet Jackson. While working on her album Control (1986), they continued to refine their songwriting and production skills and also created the basis of the genre “New Jack Swing.”

Here’s a clip of Jam and Lewis in studio with Donnie Simpson:

After the success of Control, they had over three decades of chart topping Billboard singles and albums over various genres. Together, Jam and Lewis have earned more than 100 gold, platinum, multi-platinum, and diamond albums and they have more Billboard number ones than any other songwriting and production team in history.

I’ll be back tomorrow with another illustration and story!

James “Jimmy Jam” Harris, III was born on June 6, 1959, and is a music producer and songwriter. He grew up in Minneapolis where he met Terry Stevens Lewis while attending a college preparatory program on the University of Minnesota campus. They formed a band called, “Flyte Tyme,” which later changed its name to, “The Time.” He began touring with music artist Prince as his opening act. As a member of The Time, he contributed to three of the group’s four albums including The Time, What Time is It, and Pandemonium. They have produced more number one songs and award-winning albums than any other songwriting and production team in history. They have been credited with over one-hundred Billboard top ten songs, twenty-six number one R & B hits, and sixteen number one Hot 100 hits with artists such as Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, and Johnny Gill. They have received five Grammy awards and one-hundred ASCAP awards for songwriting and song publishing. They became the first recipients of the Heritage Award who were producers as well as songwriters. They were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the duo was inducted into The Soul Music Hall of Fame. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence https://www.instagram.com/p/Cedj6cxLeCAFvYwfa_z1of0qHRtNzYy6QINMKE0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

In the 15 years that Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis’s Flyte Tyme Studios were active in Edina, the songwriting and production duo made music history, with ten number one pop songs and numerous R&B hits like Boyz II Men’s “On Bended Knee.” The team worked with Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Usher, and many more, first at the studios’ original Minneapolis location and then, from 1988-2003, at the second location on 76th Street in Edina.

Black music history was being made as Black music history shone down from above in the form of Ta-coumba Aiken’s pointillist portraits. The paintings were affixed to the studios’ ceiling and brought artists ranging from Jimi Hendrix to the Supremes into the space.

Today, as the structure is about to be razed and the location used to build an affordable housing unit from developer Aeon, there has been a concerted effort to restore and preserve the works of art and honor the legacy of the space.

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Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis

Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (born James S. Harris III & Terry S. Lewis) are songwriters, musicians, & producers from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Jam & Lewis 1st met in high school. They got their start in the music industry as members of the band Flyte Tyme, which eventually became The Time. Once Morris Day joined the group they began touring with Prince. Jam & Lewis were eventually managed by Dina Andrews who was an employee at SOLAR Records (a label in conjunction with Soul Train) who helped them set up their production company--Flyte Tyme, as a  business entity. Under Flyte Tyme Prod. they produced for many artists. They went on to produce for The SOS Band, Cherelle, & Alexander O’Neal. In the mid-80′s they were introduced to Janet Jackson. They went on to produce her critically-acclaimed album Control, which sold 10 million albums worldwide. During the New Jack Swing era Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis were a force to be reckoned with. They produced songs, albums, & movie soundtracks for artists such as Luther Vandross, New Edition, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Boyz II Men, & Usher just to name a small few. The duo became the go-to production team throughout Janet Jackson’s illustrious career writing/producing 7 of her albums. Jam & Lewis are credited for being one of the 1st producers to use the 808 drum machine, which was used in most of their songs. In ‘91 they started their own record label called Perspective Records signing their first artists, gospel group Sounds of Blackness & producing their hit single Optimistic. Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis set the tone for New Jack Swing & deserve all the recognition for laying the groundwork. Jam on fellas!

MONTE MOIR

Venez lire l'article sur Le Site Des Musiques Métissées Et Urbaines. Membre du groupe funk "The Time" puis de l’équipe de production "Flyte Tyme" de Jimmy Jam et Terry Lewis, Monte Moir était l’homme des claviers et des mélodies à Minneapolis. http://www.musiculture.fr/monte-moir/

#BlackMusicMonthProfile (Day 6)(2 of 2): James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III (born June 6, 1959) and Terry Steven Lewis (born November 24, 1956) are an American R&B/pop songwriting and record production team.[3] They have enjoyed great success since the 1980s with various artists, most notably Janet Jackson. They have written 31 top ten hits in the UK and 41 in the US.Harris formed or joined an 11 piece band called Mind & Matter. Later came Flyte Tyme, which evolved into The Time. In 1981, they were joined by Morris Day and toured with Prince as his opening act. As members of The Time, they played instruments on all but one of the group's five albums (Ice Cream Castle ), including Condensate which the group recorded as The Original 7ven. In 1982, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were introduced to the music executive Dina R. Andrews, who was then an employee of Dick Griffey's SOLAR Records, where they would be mentored by record producer Leon Sylvers III. The pair asked Andrews to manage them, and through her relationships Andrews first introduced Jam and Lewis to Music Executive Clarence Avant. They produced their first masters for Avant for the SOS Band. Andrews set-up Jam and Lewis's company Flyte Tyme Productions as a business entity, and continued shopping them to her other record executive colleagues. The producers went on to produce several other masters for Avant under Dina Andrews Management for the SOS Band, Cherrelle, Alexander O'Neal and Change. Additionally, Andrews shopped the duo to many of the executives and artists who used their services, such as Klymaxx, Cheryl Lynn ("Encore"), and executives such as John McClain (Janet Jackson), Clive Davis, Sylvia Rhone, and Warner Chappelle (Rachele Fields). Other 1980s hits included Tender Love for Force MDs and the 1988 hit Can You Stand The Rain for New Edition in their best selling album to date. Throughout his career, Jimmy Jam has used his real name (James Harris III) for all credits as a songwriter, while using the name "Jimmy Jam" for credits as a musician or producer. Lewis uses his real name for all credits. The pair were fired by Prince from a tour after a blizzard left them unable to rejoin the group https://www.instagram.com/p/CBFfhmTJ4QR/?igshid=1937kji1ehdf5

Howard Johnson • The Vision ▪Produced by Howard Johnson, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Monte Moir, Vincent Brantley, Rick Timas, Jermaine Jackson & John McClain. ▪🔊 Older Girl Produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis for Flyte Tyme Productions ▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪ #howardjohnson #jimmyjam #terrylewis #montemoir #flytetymeproductions #1985 #aandmrecords #boogie #funk #electrofunk #rnb #vinyl #lp #wax #album #recentfind #funktoriumvinyl #funktoriumvibranium #thefunktoriumcollection

James “Jimmy Jam” Harris, III was born on June 6, 1959 is a music producer and songwriter. Harris grew up in Minneapolis where he met Terry Stevens Lewis while attending a college preparatory program on the University of Minnesota campus. Harris and Lewis formed a band called, “Flyte Tyme,” which later changed its name to, “The Time.” In 1981, Harris began touring with music artist Prince as his opening act. As a member of The Time, Harris contributed to three of the group’s four albums including The Time, What Time is It, and Pandemonium. Then, in 1982, Harris and Lewis met Dina R. Andrews, who would later assist the duo in establishing Flyte Tyme Productions, a business entity. Flyte Tyme Productions joined with A & M Records in 1991 to create Perspective Records, which, from 1993 to 1996, released most of A & M Record’s urban acts. In 1998, Perspective Records closed its doors and Harris and Lewis opened the Flyte Tyme Recording Studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They signed a three-year, joint venture with Arista Records in 2000, and then, in 2004, the duo relocated their recording studio to Santa Monica, California and renamed it Flyte Tyme West. On January 30, 2013, Harris and Lewis signed an exclusive worldwide publishing administration agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group. Harris and Lewis have produced more number one songs and award winning albums than any other songwriting and production team in history. They have been credited with over one-hundred Billboard top ten songs, twenty-six number one R & B hits and sixteen number one Hot 100 hits with artists such as Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, and Johnny Gill. In addition, Harris and Lewis have received five Grammy awards and one-hundred ASCAP awards for songwriting and song publishing. In 2005, they became the first recipients of the Heritage Award who were producers as well as songwriters. Harris and Lewis were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010, and the duo was inducted into The Soul Music Hall of Fame at SoulMusic.com in December of 2012. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence https://www.instagram.com/p/CBJ3GGgHQnG0TlS1UJLO_AmFzk21Zl2CEBm1I80/?igshid=4q7zvfufvowr

Yooo that #TV miniseries was #fire! #TheNewEditionStory was very well done. Talk about #throwback for so many. Such a talented group of #black brothas as the #music industry was in some big shifts. Truly a credit to the world of #hiphop #rnb & #pop. So glad they did this too. Still #myjam to this day & one of my favorites from #NewEdition working with Flyte Tyme's #production duo of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. Big #salute to #BET. #hellyeah #goodmusic #oldschool #80s #90s #tv #musicislife #studio #awesome #wow #good #instagood #damn #classic #yes #television

KTCA-TV aired The Minneapolis Sound in 1988, narrated and produced by Emily Goldberg. The 60-minute documentary spotlighted artists including Prince, the Time, the Replacements, Hüsker Dü, the Jets, Alexander O’Neal, and others, and it’s just emerged on YouTube.

“Right now, Minneapolis has become one of the major music centers in the country,” said Nelson George from Billboard, “in rock, pop, and R&B.”

The film includes short clips of Prince’s hit songs like “Kiss” and “Little Red Corvette” with commentary by Chris Moon from Moon Sound Studios and Owen Husney from American Artists reminiscing about when they first met Prince and how dynamic he was.

“He’s very very gifted,” says Robert Christgau from the Village Voice. “One of the most gifted pop musicians of the decade. Possibly the most gifted pop musician of the decade.” Not everyone loved Prince, though, even in his heyday. “Prince makes me wince,” says one music listener featured in the documentary.

The film also features a tour of Flyte Tyme Productions led by “Jimmy Jam” Harris — beginning with the “Hall of Fame,” as he calls it, featuring wall plaques that start with the Time and go all the way to Janet Jackson’s Control (1986).

“I say it’s a Prince sound,” said Harris, describing the Minneapolis Sound. “That’s where it all began. Everybody is taking different pieces of it and incorporating their own sound.”

Black Thought & Musiq Meet Jam & Lewis On A Remix Blend Of The Roots' "Break You Off"

Producer Matt Feran borrows an S.O.S. Band classic and proceeds to break you off with an exciting new take on one of Hip Hop's greatest love stories. This remix blend of "Break You Off" combines the velvety-smooth production of Flyte Tyme with the romantic perspective of Black Thought and Musiq Soulchild. The result is a heavenly musical vibe as these remarkable minds of music connect. www.mattferran.com via Blogger https://ift.tt/2zvWqJw

Bitimec Wash Machines Save Time And Your Budget

GREENWICH, Conn. — Handwashing vehicles is probably not the most exciting part of anyone’s day. Not only is it boring, it takes a lot of manpower. Your time is better spent doing other activities that will keep your business moving and making money.

Bruno Albanesi, president of Bitimec International, says the wash machines his company creates are the solution to increasing productivity and getting your vehicles ready to impress clients faster than ever before.

Inventing To Help Others

The founders of Bitimec were inventors and pioneers of new products, and this trend continues with their new battery powered machines. Their latest, the 626EZ-110 in., is powered by four 6-volt, 260 amp/hour deep cycle batteries and their most popular product among operators.

Bitmec recently presented a new version that can wash anything from high-roof vans to sedans at the NADA100 (National Automobile Distributors Association Trade Show) in New Orleans. “High roof Sprinters can’t go through a car wash, but our machines can wash about 30 buses on a single full charge,” Albanesi says. “Battery technology is changing, so we are moving with the times.”

Fast Facts

Location: Greenwich, Conn.

Service: Van/bus/truck/train washing equipment

Founded: 1988 (in Florence, Italy)

Founder: Bruno Tiesi

Employees: 50

Website: www.wash-bots.com

Contact: (203) 637-1900

Flyte Tyme Worldwide, Windy City Limousine, AJL International in Texas, JET Limo in Arizona, Bauers IT, MCI, and ABC Companies are among the vendor’s many customers, a few of which have purchased multiple machines. “Operators are posting photos of theirs on social media even when they are still in the crate,” Albanesi says. “We have quite a few repeat customers.”

Saving Time And The Environment

Originally, the Sprinter and Transit size washing systems, which are about nine feet tall, would be wasting four feet of water and soap if one used it to wash a sedan or SUV.

“What we’ve done is put intermittent valves on the spray tubes so the operator can shut the top nozzles off,” Albanesi says. The company also keeps up with the latest in technology, and will be using new generation lithium ion batteries in models starting in 2018.

Bitimec wash machines also save your employees from getting bored. Those who wash vehicles by hand soon get tired of it — there’s nothing worse than having to wash a big bus, especially when it’s very hot or cold outside. Unless you have a nice breeze blowing the right way so you don’t get wet, it’s a difficult job.

“We don’t necessarily make it more fun, but we do make it a lot easier so people stay on your detail team longer,” Albanesi says. “For the cost of one good employee, we provide the elbow grease of at least four or five. A 45-foot coach would take eight minutes for our machines to wash; if you had to do it by hand, it’d take at least an hour.”

Born In Italy

The Bitimec brand was born when Italian railways put up money for a conceptual project, Albanesi says. They sent out a challenge to various equipment design firms, and said they would give $15,000 to whomever could design the best mobile train wash system. The now-president of Bitimec won the bid and worked with two mechanical and two electrical engineers, who are now the five partners of Bitimec Italy.

The company concentrated on growing exports, since Italy doesn’t have gold, wood, iron, or any other natural resources to export. “One of the country’s main income streams is through manufacturing. Back then, we weren’t in the international market and now we are in 30 countries.” 

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Guilt-Free Listening: Stream Janet Jackson's 'Unbreakable' Album [@janetjackson #unbreakable]

The wait is finally over. As of midnight, Janet Jackson’s first studio album in nearly four years, Unbreakable has landed on digital retailers, with physical copies expected to be available in stores later today. The album is the most anticipated of Jackson’s career, almost solely because it reunited the singer with the legendary Flyte Tyme production duo of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. In the…

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