Flyte Tyme, the hit producing Edina-based recording studio run by Jimmy Jam Harris and Terry Lewis, is relocating to Los Angeles. Harris and Lewis say their business needs to be closer to the heart of the music industry. MPR’s Chris Roberts reports on how the news is being received in the Twin Cities, and the legacy Harris and Lewis are leaving.
Harris and Lewis say their business needs to be closer to the heart of the music industry. The Grammy Award winning producers are responsible for more number one hits than anyone except Beatles producer George Martin.
Interviews include Gary Hines, member of Sounds of Blackness; Walter Banks, program director at KMOJ; and Jon Bream, Star Tribune music critic.
Transcripts
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CHRIS ROBERT: With Flyte Tyme gone, the number of celebrity sightings in the Twin Cities will probably decrease substantially. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis brought several recording superstars to fly over country, among them, Janet Jackson, Usher, Boyz II Men, and Patti LaBelle. But they also worked with local talent, including Mint Condition and the revered R&B and gospel group Sounds of Blackness. Sounds of Blackness leader, Gary Hines, says it was amazing the Twin Cities could claim them given their international stature.
GARY HINES: For the past two decades, minimally, they, as the number one pop producers in the world, have maintained their base of operations out in Edina. And in and of itself, of course, that was quite prolific. But then the ripple effect with additional artists and projects, soundtracks will be felt as well.
CHRIS ROBERT: The ripple effect also extended to Black-run community radio station KMOJ. A few years back, KMOJ was suffering a financial crisis. Program director Walter Banks says Jimmy Jam Harris and Terry Lewis rescued the station.
WALTER BANKS: Jimmy and Terry were the two that stepped up and bought the current transmitter that the station is operating off of at this present time. So if it wasn't for those two guys and setting down and meeting board of directors and setting some things out, then KMOJ wouldn't be in existence.
Star Tribune music critic Jon Bream has closely followed the career path of Harris and Lewis. Bream says the move to Santa Monica makes sense given that's where most of their connections are. If that's the case, how were they able to make it in the Twin cities?
JON BREAM: They made it here because the talent. And also they made it here-- it was more than 20 years ago when they made it here. They've been pretty much bicoastal, so to speak, for a long time. Jimmy's had a house in Beverly Hills for several years. His wife is from LA. So they've lived a bicoastal lifestyle. And Terry moved out there in November of 2002. So he's been out there for a while. And they just went back and forth cause the talent is with them. The talent is wherever they are. So it really doesn't matter what studio you're working in. It's the creativity.
And Jimmy did have some reservations about whether he could be creative in LA because oftentimes they weren't writing music in LA. They were just recording vocals or whatever. But he said last summer he had no problem being creative there. And it gave him the confidence to move.
CHRIS ROBERT: What kind of a loss do you think this is for Twin Citians and Minnesotans?
JON BREAM: I think the most important thing is they gave the Twin Cities a credibility and a prestige. Along with Prince, they helped put Minnesota on the musical map. And the fact that they stayed here and recorded so many hit records here was a couple of jewels in our crown.
What it's going to mean to lose them, it probably-- it doesn't tarnish the music reputation that much because in a sense, Flyte Tyme was always a private facility. It's not something that the average musician could rent. You could only use it if you were working with Jimmy and Terry. So the reputation they gained enhanced the reputation of the Twin Cities community.
But I think the biggest loss, frankly, is Jimmy Jam is probably the most visible and approachable celebrity we've had in town. He'll talk to anyone. Kids come up, ask for advice. He'll shake your hand. He'll give anyone five minutes of his time. And how many other stars or celebrities in this town can you say that about?
CHRIS ROBERT: There will be a goodbye party for the production duo's Twin Cities friends on May 22. Flyte Tyme's move to Los Angeles will take place sometime this summer. I'm Chris Roberts, Minnesota Public Radio.