The Capri Theater, Minneapolis (The Hollywood Times) 06/05/2024
Story and photos: Jimmy Steinfeldt
What is Flyt Tyme? Only the hippest, coolest and for sure funkiest band of its day. Eventually two members of Flyt Tyme would go on the start their own company they spelled Flyte Tyme. That’s Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis who as a team have won five Grammys.
Oh ya, during Flyt Tyme’s hey-day it competed with a new kid on the block named Prince. Prince admired Flyt Tyme’s five-piece horn section which was a significant part of the Minneapolis Sound. He played his first concert billed as Prince at this very theater in 1979.
However, it’s the band Flyt Tyme, made up of a cast of talented young musical characters from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul (though primarily from North Minneapolis), that rang in the new music that became known as the Minneapolis Sound.
Of course, another Minneapolis artist contributed around this time and was mentioned this night. Stevie Greenberg and his group Lipps Sync, formed in 1979, recorded the international hit Funkytown. Nevertheless Flyt Tyme goes all the way back to around 1973! As mentioned in the event’s panel discussion Flyt Tyme had many influences going back to the 70’s, 60s and even 50s: Parliament Funkadelic, Sly and the Family Stone, as well as many jazz greats and other artists.
The Minneapolis Sound Museum, a 501c3 organization, recently brought together a whole bunch of the band’s alumni to tell tales and stories about the band’s beginnings, history and influences.
First the evening began with a wonderful meet and greet. Many of the band’s original members were available to visit with their long-time fans. Then Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey spoke and recognized the band’s important history in bringing about the Minneapolis Sound. Eric “DJ Nevermind” Rogers spun cool tunes throughout the event. And the event host, Wes Smooth, kept the evening’s festivities moving along with humor and history.
Next was the panel discussion with band alumni moderated by Andrea Swensson, radio personality and author of the new book Prince+Purple Rain. Then performances from Students of Purple Playground, then Kai Rogers (aka KA111), then Ty Prophecy (featuring Jellybean Johnson performing the music of Regal The Rare), then Zay Starr and Dalè.
Next was a discussion by “Keeping The Minneapolis Sound Around: Our Youth” hosted by Bianca Rhodes. To complete the evening was a performance by The Jellybean Johnson Experience featuring Monique Blakey, and finally a prize drawing.
The mission of the Minneapolis Sound Museum is to preserve the history, culture and legacy of the Minneapolis Sound and to inspire the next generation of artists and musicians. They wish to establish a museum, recording studio, retail space and community event space in a permanent location in North Minneapolis.
After all, the Northside is where it all began!
For more info check out: https://minneapolissoundmuseum.org/
