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As the vibrant rhythms and soulful melodies of Black Music Month sweep across June, the MSR is proud to spotlight the iconic figures of the Minneapolis Sound. This legendary music phenomenon, globally recognized for its fusion of funk, rock, pop, and new wave, has its roots deeply planted in the Twin Cities.
Featuring groundbreaking artists such as Prince, whose genius first came to global prominence, to the innovative sounds of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Jellybean Johnson, Andre’ Cymone, Cynthia Johnson, Morris Day, The Sounds of Blackness, Alexander O’Neal and Mint Condition, we celebrate the pioneering spirits who crafted a timeless legacy and transformed the musical landscape.
We kick off with an exciting history lesson about the original members of the band Flyt Tyme.
Jellybean Johnson and star-studded panel take us back to the beginning
“We want our spot over here,” Jellybean Johnson said to Fox 9 News last June, explaining his vision for the Minneapolis Sound Museum on the eve of the inaugural “Tales from the Northside” event, a sold-out fundraiser in support of said museum.
A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the Minneapolis Sound Museum, is working to establish a permanent location in the city that will also feature a professional recording studio, event space, a retail shop, and other offerings.
“So, when you come to town, you can still go out to Paisley,” noted Johnson. “But you can also come to our spot and see all the history with Prince, as well as the rest of us, all those that helped him to become the force that he was.”
On Wednesday, June 5, 2024, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., the second annual “Tales from the Northside” returns to the historic Capri Theater (2027 West Broadway), this time shining its spotlight on Flyt Tyme, another of the most formidable musical forces ever to emerge from North Minneapolis.
Initially billed as the Wars of Armageddon, a nod to Funkadelic’s classic song of the same name, Flyt Tyme was the chief rival to the Prince-fronted Grand Central. The two neighborhood bands battled for musical supremacy “over North” and across the Twin Cities in the 1970s.
The awe-inspiring list of Flyt Tyme alumni includes, among others, Cynthia Johnson, David “Batman” Eiland, Sue Ann Carwell, Jimmie “Chipmunk” Anderson, Monte Moir, and Alexander O’Neal, plus Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
Then, of course, there’s the sole individual who’s been part of every iteration of this legendary outfit over the past 50-plus years—from Wars of Armageddon to Flyt Tyme, and from The Time to the Original 7ven and to today’s lineup of Morris Day and The Time—Garry “Jellybean” Johnson, whose immense talent and loyalty, as anyone will tell you, is only surpassed by his humility.
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Several former members of Flyt Tyme, including Johnson, will help to anchor “Tales from the Northside.” They will participate in a panel moderated by critically acclaimed author Andrea Swenson, where they will revisit the early days of the Minneapolis Sound.
“Oftentimes buildings are torn down, or places change hands, photos, and videos become misplaced or lost. But people and their narratives live on,” says Marty Bragg, co-founder of the Minneapolis Sound Museum, “Hearing these oral histories helps to ensure that these amazing stories are told for generations to come.”
In addition to the Flyt Tyme conversation, a second discussion, led by Emmy Award-winning media professional Bianca A. Rhodes, is designed to lift the work of those who continue to actively pass the gift of music and the history of the Minneapolis Sound on to the younger generations.
Currently slated for this panel are Spike Moss, former director of The Way; David “T.C.” Ellis, founder of the High School for the Recording Arts in St. Paul; Purple Playground’s Heidi Vader and Willie Adams; Emmanuel Duncan and Sarah Lanier-Duncan of the hip hop duo iLLism; the Paisley 5 & Dime’s Eric Rogers; and Terry Esau of the nonprofit Free Guitars 4 Kids.
Patrick Adams, from Paisley Park and Patrick Adams Muzic, will also be on hand to discuss the work Paisley Park is doing for kids in the community.
Doors to the Capri open at 6 p.m., and a meet-and-greet will take place in the foyer before the main event. The evening will include light hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, exhibits, games, prizes, and music from DJ Nevermind.
Likewise, Swenson will sign copies of her brand-new book, “Prince and Purple Rain: 40 Years,” while other vendors will include the celebrated music photographer Tommy Smith, III, aka “Rock N Roll Tommy.”
Live music from the kids at Purple Playground will also be performed. The evening will be capped by the Jellybean Johnson Experience, featuring vocalist Monique Blakey, along with Art Haynes (bass), Christopher Troy (keyboards), and Ke’Andre Mack (drums).
A limited number of tickets are available, and the proceeds from all ticket sales qualify as a charitable donation that directly supports the Minneapolis Sound Museum. To purchase tickets, go here.
“Tales from the Northside: Stories of Flyt Tyme” is sponsored by Diverse Emerging Music Organization (DEMO), Electric Fetus, Sound Around Tours, Purple Playground, and the Paisley 5 & Dime.
“This is such an important event. And the community’s support is critical to helping us secure a future for the Minneapolis Sound Museum,” says Bragg, “an organization that is dedicated to making sure that all the voices that created this music, music that changed the world, are heard and honored.”
Go to minneapolissoundmuseum.org for details and to learn more about how you can support the Minneapolis Sound Museum.
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