Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Jimmy Jam (left) and Terry Lewis in January 2012
Background information
Birth name
  • James Samuel Harris III
  • Terry Steven Lewis
Also known as
  • Jam & Lewis
  • Jimmy & Terry
Born
  • June 6, 1959 (1959-06-06) (age 64) (Jimmy Jam)
  • November 24, 1956 (1956-11-24) (age 67) (Terry Lewis)
Origin
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Record producers
  • multi-instrumentalists
  • songwriters
Instrument(s)
Years active1981–present
Labels
Spinoff of

James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III (born June 6, 1959)[1] and Terry Steven Lewis (born November 24, 1956)[2] are an American R&B/pop songwriting and record production team.[3] Their productions have received commercial success since the 1980s with various artists, most extensively Janet Jackson.[4] They have written 31 top ten hits in the UK and 41 in the US.[5] In 2022, the duo were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Musical Excellence category.[6][7]

History

Jimmy Jam is the son of Cornbread Harris, a Minneapolis blues and jazz musician. Jimmy Jam met Lewis while attending an Upward Bound program on the University of Minnesota campus.[4][8]

Harris formed or joined an 11 piece band called Mind & Matter.[9]

Later came Flyte Tyme, which evolved into the Time.[8] In 1981, they were joined by Morris Day and toured with Prince as his opening act.[8] As members of the Time, they played instruments on all but one of the group's five albums (Ice Cream Castle[10]), including Condensate which the group recorded as the Original 7ven.[11][12][13][14]

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.[8] The pair asked Andrews to manage them, and through her relationships Andrews first introduced Jam and Lewis to Music Executive Clarence Avant.[8] They produced their first masters for Avant for the S.O.S. Band.[8] 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 S.O.S. Band, Cherrelle, Alexander O'Neal and Change.[8] 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).[15]

The pair were fired by Prince from a tour after a blizzard left them unable to rejoin during a short break to produce music for the S.O.S. Band.[15][16] However, one of the tracks they were producing, "Just Be Good to Me", became a hit and sealed the duo's reputation, as well as that of the S.O.S. Band.[16] The duo would rejoin the Time for two albums: 1990's Pandemonium and the 2011 album Condensate under the name the Original 7ven.

The duo was noted for early use of the Roland TR-808 drum machine, which was used in most of its productions. After working with other artists such as Cherrelle and Alexander O'Neal, Jam and Lewis were introduced to Janet Jackson and produced her breakthrough album Control in 1986,[4][16] for which the duo won a Grammy Award. Their collaboration on her next album, 1989's Rhythm Nation 1814, proved even more successful as the album became one of the top-selling albums in history with four Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits. Their collaboration continued and remained highly successful, especially on the Billboard 200 No.1 albums janet., The Velvet Rope, All For You and Unbreakable.

In 1991, they founded a record label, Perspective Records[15][17] - an A&M Records distributed label that has since been closed and then reactivated. Later that year, their newly minted label experienced success with a Minneapolis-based gospel/R&B collective of artists known as Sounds of Blackness. Their debut single, "Optimistic", served as a groundbreaking anthem stressing positivity and encouragement. The song served as a summer and fall anthem and began propelling Jam and Lewis' new boutique label towards the top. Other successes followed with Blackness as well as music from labelmates Mint Condition, Lo-Key? and Solo. A highlight for Perspective was the opportunity to release the soundtrack for the 1992 motion picture Mo Money, which starred Damon Wayans, Stacey Dash and Marlon Wayans. Executive produced by Jam and Lewis, the soundtrack featured cuts from Mint Condition, Ralph Tresvant and Caron Wheeler, as well as a duet by Janet Jackson and Luther Vandross.

In an illustrious career that has spanned more than three decades, Jam and Lewis have worked with artists such as Lionel Richie, Herb Alpert, TLC, Sounds of Blackness, Yolanda Adams, Jordan Knight, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Boyz II Men, Usher, Johnny Gill, Patti LaBelle, Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Mariah Carey, Prince, Mýa, Bryan Adams, Spice Girls, Vanessa Williams, George Michael, Melanie B, Rod Stewart, Kelly Price, Gwen Stefani, New Edition, Eric Benet, Pia Zadora, SOLO, and the Human League.[4] In 1999, they produced the hit "Open My Heart" by Yolanda Adams which helped her popularity.

In 2005 Jam and Lewis opened their new recording studios in Santa Monica, California naming it Flyte Tyme West, later moving there full-time due to more opportunities for work and collaboration.[18] In 2006, they won a Grammy for Yolanda Adams' song "Be Blessed", from her 2005 album Day By Day. In 2007, Jam and Lewis produced the two-time Grammy Award-winning CD Funk This for Chaka Khan, which included the Award-winning R&B duet "Disrespectful", with Mary J. Blige.

The production duo reunited with the Time at the 50th Grammy Awards on February 10, 2008, in a medley that included the artist Rihanna, and featuring "Jungle Love". In June and July 2008, all of the original members of the Time (Morris Day, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Jesse Johnson, Jerome Benton, Jellybean Johnson, and Monte Moir) reunited once again for a series of shows at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Jam and Lewis worked on Ruben Studdard's album, Love Is as well as Johnny Gill's 2011 album Still Winning. Their most recent hits as producers were "Pure Gold" from Earth, Wind & Fire's 2005 album Illumination and "Higher Than This" from Ledisi's 2009 album Turn Me Loose.

Personal lives

Terry Lewis has two children from previous relationships; son Trey and daughter, Chloe. Lewis was married to R&B singer Karyn White; the couple have two children, son Brandon and daughter Ashley. He later married Indira Singh and had two children.

Jimmy Jam is married to Mexican-US businesswoman Lisa Padilla Harris; they have three children: Tyler, Max, and Bella. Jimmy served as chairman of the board of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. He is currently listed as chairman Emeritus.

Discography

Studio albums

Title Studio album details Peak chart positions
US Sales
[19]		 UK Dig.
[20]
Jam & Lewis: Volume One[21]
  • Released: July 9, 2021
  • Label: Flyte Tyme, BMG
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 1717

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
R&B
[22]		 US
Adult
R&B
[23]		 US Gospel Airplay
[24]
"Til I Found You"
(featuring Sounds of Blackness)[25]		 2019 —2221 Jam & Lewis: Volume One
"He Don’t Know Nothin’ Bout It"
(featuring Babyface)[26]		 2020 164—
"Somewhat Loved"
(featuring Mariah Carey)[27]		 2021 —12—
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Charts

They have produced 16 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits, and 26 Billboard R&B No. 1 hits.[4]

They are among a handful of producers to have No. 1 records in three consecutive decades, with number ones in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.[28][29]

They have had 41 songs reach the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100,[30] and 31 in the top 10 in the UK.[5]

Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s

Awards

Since forming their music company Flyte Tyme in 1982, Jam & Lewis have earned more than 100 gold, platinum, multi-platinum and diamond albums for their work with such artists as Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Luther Vandross, Yolanda Adams, Herb Alpert, New Edition, Human League, George Michael, Earth, Wind and Fire, TLC, Robert Palmer, Gwen Stefani and Kanye West.[4] They have more than 100 ASCAP songwriting and publishing awards,[4] including several Songwriter of the Year awards.[31]

In 1993, Jam & Lewis were nominated with Janet Jackson for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Again", from the movie Poetic Justice.

In 2020 Jam & Lewis were nominated with Sheila E. for an Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction for the TV special Let's Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince.

Grammy Awards

Jam & Lewis have won five Grammy Awards. They have received more nominations for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical than any other producer, with 11 nominations.[32] They won the award in 1987 at the 29th Grammy Awards, in the first year they were nominated.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
1987 Control Album of the Year Nominated
"What Have You Done For Me Lately" Best R&B Song Nominated
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Won
1990 Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals Nominated
"Miss You Much" Best R&B Song Nominated
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Janet Jackson Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Nominated
1991 "Alright" Best R&B Song Nominated
1994 "That's the Way Love Goes" Best R&B Song Won
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Nominated
1995 Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Nominated
1996 HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I Album of the Year Nominated
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Nominated
2001 Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Nominated
2002 All For You Best Pop Vocal Album Nominated
"All For You" Best Dance Recording Won
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Nominated
2003 Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Nominated
2004 Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Nominated
2005 Confessions Album of the Year Nominated
Damita Jo Best Contemporary R&B Album Nominated
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Nominated
2006 Love. Angel. Music. Baby. Album of the Year Nominated
"Be Blessed" Best Gospel Song Won
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Nominated
2007 20 Y.O. Best Contemporary R&B Album Nominated
2008 Funk This Best R&B Album Won
2016 Forever Charlie Best R&B Album Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Ankeny, Jason. "Jimmy Jam - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  2. ↑ Ankeny, Jason. "Terry Lewis - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  3. ↑ Savage, Mark (May 27, 2005). "The Hitmakers: Jam and Lewis". BBC. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Philbrook, Erik. "Powerhouse: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Celebrate 30 Years as ASCAP Members". Ascap.com. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  5. 1 2 The People Who Created The Soundtrack To Your Life – via Amazon.com.
  6. ↑ "Artist: Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis:Musical Excellence Award". www.wkyc.com. 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  7. ↑ Shawn Grant (2022). "Eminem, Harry Belafonte, Lionel Richie, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, and Jimmy Iovine among 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees". thesource.com. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Williams, Chris. "Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis have become synonymous with recording excellence". Waxpoetics.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  9. ↑ Jimmy Harris wearing turban and Roland synthesizer as keytar in The Numero Group (1977). Mind and Matter Live. YouTube. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Ice Cream Castle - The Time | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  11. ↑ "The Time 'Condensate' to Original 7ven on October Album". Billboard. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Pandemonium - The Time | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  13. ↑ "The Time - The Time | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  14. ↑ "What Time Is It? - The Time | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  15. 1 2 3 Bream, Jon (June 28, 1992). "POP MUSIC : The Rhythm 'n' Blues Brothers : Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are in tune with L.A. and New York music scenes--but keep churning out their hits from Minnesota". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  16. 1 2 3 Phillips, Jevon. "Hollywood Star Walk: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  17. ↑ Bream, Jon (June 28, 1992). "Prince Can't Keep Up With These Label Kings". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  18. ↑ Jones, Sarah (October 1, 2008). "Jam and Lewis Keep the Hits Coming at Flyte Tyme". mixonline.com. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Jam And Lewis - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis to Release 'Jam & Lewis, Volume One' in July". Urban Bridgez. June 4, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Babyface - Chart History (Hot R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Babyface - Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  24. ↑ "Jam And Lewis - Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  25. ↑ "Iconic Producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Release New Single "Til I Found You" featuring Sounds of Blackness". You Know I Got Soul. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  26. ↑ Folk, Antwane (November 13, 2020). "Jam & Lewis Share New Single 'He Don't Know Nothin' Bout It' Featuring Babyface". Rated RnB. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  27. ↑ Mamo, Heran. "Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Are Reuniting With Mariah Carey for a New Single". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  28. ↑ Bronson, Fred. Billboard's Hottest Hot 100 Hits. Billboard Books, 2003 (3rd ed.), p. 106-128.
  29. ↑ Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955 – 2012. Record Research, 2013 (14th ed.).
  30. ↑ "Keith Caulfield on Twitter". Twitter.
  31. ↑ "Answers - The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions". Answers.com.
  32. ↑ "The Producer Of The Year Category Turns 40". Grammy.com. April 30, 2017.
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