Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
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  Jimmy Jam (left) and Terry Lewis in January 2012
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James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III (born June 6, 1959) and Terry Steven Lewis (born November 24, 1956) are an American R&B and pop songwriting and record production team. This means they write songs and help artists record them. Their music has been very successful since the 1980s. They worked a lot with the artist Janet Jackson. They have written 31 top ten songs in the UK and 41 in the US. In 2022, the duo was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This is a special award for their amazing musical talent.
Contents
The Story of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Early Days and Meeting Each Other
Jimmy Jam's dad, Cornbread Harris, was a blues and jazz musician in Minneapolis. Jimmy Jam met Terry Lewis when they were both in a special program called Upward Bound. This program was on the University of Minnesota campus.
In the mid-1970s, Jimmy Jam was part of a band called Mind & Matter. It had 11 members! Terry Lewis was in a band called Flyt Tyme. Jimmy Jam joined this band later. Then, the famous musician Prince changed Flyt Tyme into a new band called the Time in 1981.
Working with The Time and Starting to Produce
As members of the Time, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis played instruments on most of the band's albums. In 1982, they met a music executive named Dina R. Andrews. She worked for SOLAR Records. She helped them learn about producing music. They asked Dina to manage them. She introduced them to Clarence Avant, another important music person.
Their first production work was for the S.O.S. Band. Dina Andrews helped them create their own company, Flyte Tyme Productions. They then produced music for other artists like Cherrelle, Alexander O'Neal, and Change. They also worked with Cheryl Lynn on her hit song "Encore."
A Big Break and Working with Janet Jackson
One time, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were fired by Prince. This happened because a big snowstorm in Atlanta stopped them from getting to a concert. Prince didn't know they were secretly producing music for the S.O.S. Band at the time. But one of the songs they made in Atlanta, "Just Be Good to Me," became a huge hit! This song made them famous as producers.
They later rejoined the Time for two more albums. The duo was known for using a special instrument called the Roland TR-808 drum machine. They used it in most of their songs.
After working with other artists, they met Janet Jackson. In 1986, they produced her amazing album Control. They even won a Grammy Award for it! Their next album with Janet, Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989), was even more successful. It became one of the best-selling albums ever. It had four songs that reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. They kept working with Janet Jackson on many more successful albums, like janet., The Velvet Rope, All for You, and Unbreakable.
Starting Their Own Record Label
In 1991, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis started their own record label called Perspective Records. It was connected to A&M Records. Their new label quickly found success with a gospel and R&B group called Sounds of Blackness. Their first song, "Optimistic," was a hit that spread a message of positivity.
Other successful artists on their label included Mint Condition, Lo-Key?, and Solo. In 1992, Perspective Records released the soundtrack for the movie Mo Money. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were the executive producers for this soundtrack. It featured songs by Mint Condition, Ralph Tresvant, Caron Wheeler, and a duet by Janet Jackson and Luther Vandross.
Later Years and Many Collaborations
In 2003, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis moved their recording studio to Santa Monica, California. They called it Flyte Tyme West. This move gave them more chances to work with other artists. In 2006, they won another Grammy for Yolanda Adams' song "Be Blessed." In 2007, they produced the album Funk This for Chaka Khan, which won two Grammy Awards.
The duo reunited with the band The Time at the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008. They performed a medley with Rihanna. In June and July 2008, all the original members of the Time got back together for shows in Las Vegas.
Over more than 40 years, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis have worked with many, many famous artists. Some of them include Lionel Richie, Herb Alpert, TLC, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Boyz II Men, Usher, Mariah Carey, Prince, Spice Girls, and Gwen Stefani.
Personal Lives
Terry Lewis has two children from earlier relationships: a son named Trey and a daughter named Chloe. He was married to singer Karyn White and they had two children, Brandon and Ashley. Later, he married Indira Singh and they had two children together.
Jimmy Jam is married to Lisa Padilla Harris, who is a businesswoman. They have three children: Tyler, Max, and Bella. Jimmy Jam used to be the chairman of the board for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. This is the group that gives out the Grammy Awards. He is now listed as chairman emeritus, which means he is an honorary chairman.
Music Success and Charts
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis have produced 16 songs that reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. They also had 26 songs reach number one on the Billboard R&B chart.
They are one of the few producers who have had number one songs in three decades in a row: the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. They have had 41 songs reach the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, and 31 songs in the top 10 in the UK.
Billboard Hot 100 Number One Hits
Here are some of the number one songs they produced:
- Janet Jackson:
- "When I Think of You"
- "Miss You Much"
- "Escapade"
- "Love Will Never Do (Without You)"
- "That's the Way Love Goes"
- "Again"
- "Together Again"
- "Doesn't Really Matter"
- "All for You"
- The Human League - "Human"
- George Michael - "Monkey"
- Karyn White - "Romantic"
- Boyz II Men:
- "On Bended Knee"
- "4 Seasons of Loneliness"
- Mariah Carey - "Thank God I Found You" (featuring Joe & 98 Degrees)
- Usher - "U Remind Me"
Awards and Recognition
Since they started their music company Flyte Tyme in 1982, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis have earned more than 100 "gold," "platinum," "multi-platinum," and "diamond" albums. These awards mean their music sold a lot of copies! They earned these for their work with artists like Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Boyz II Men, Usher, Mariah Carey, and many others. They also have over 100 awards from ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) for their songwriting.
In 1993, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song (an Oscar!) for "Again." This song was from the movie Poetic Justice. In 2020, they were nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for their music direction in a TV special honoring Prince.
Grammy Awards
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis have won five Grammy Awards. They have been nominated for "Producer of the Year, Non-Classical" more times than any other producer, with 11 nominations! They won this award in 1987, the very first year they were nominated.
Here are their Grammy wins:
- 1987: Won "Producer of the Year, Non-Classical"
- 1994: Won "Best R&B Song" for "That's the Way Love Goes" (with Janet Jackson)
- 2002: Won "Best Dance Recording" for "All For You" (with Janet Jackson)
- 2006: Won "Best Gospel Song" for "Be Blessed" (with Yolanda Adams)
- 2008: Won "Best R&B Album" for Funk This (with Chaka Khan)
See also
In Spanish: Jimmy Jam y Terry Lewis para niños
