Prince - Why Prince Fired Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis

In this episode, we discuss how two of the best producers in the business, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, got fired by Prince. What did they do wrong that made him do this? And what did the SOS Band and Billboard Magazine have to do with it? We answer all that and more.

[troygaspard]

They made a name for themselves when they broke free. It is ironic that the album that would launch them was titled "Control".

[arethawalker]

Terry & Jimmy was a force to be reckoned with❤

[DrFunk]

Man that Minnesota music scene in the 70s and 80s had some gems.💎 Yes them being fired was a blessing and deep down Prince knew how talented they were.

[docelecktronc]

Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis also had a hand in that New Jack sound along with Teddy Riley. I loved all of them, including Prince.

[Lovejazz]

Business wise, if Jam & Lewis was under the control of Prince then it means they were under contract ( you see how much they were getting paid) and as cold as it sounds Prince probably knew in the back of his mind how talented they were, and the only way to get out of the contract was to get fired. He probably wasn’t surprised at how successful they were. And I’m sure they understood later in life because they had people working under them under contracts, but they probably paid them their worth.
Prince created the Time and the Morris Day whole persona was really Prince’s alter ego, so behind the scenes he controlled the whole Time image and music .

[phenomtyree]

It's called "A blessing in disguise" that Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis experienced.

[roiijamez]

Jam & Lewis can do no wrong!! #SimplyTheBest

[thurgooddukes]

It all worked out for their good! Everybody won in the end!

[cycassandra]

Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis are the absolute Best!!

[Bgcotton]

How could you leave out Mint Condition and Stokley 😳😳

[ynot]

He unknowingly fired them onto a
blessings worthwhile to after caught moonlighting gigs for other bands and one that eventually became a hit record for the SOS band of the golden New Jack 80ties. !

[mjg]

I high-key think Prince was not feeling Janet Jackson mainly BECAUSE Jam&Lewis brought her under their wings and made her the Icon she is with a string of groundbreaking albums (Control, RN1814, janet., TVR, etc.). Prince ALSO had a rivalry with MJ so those two things combined REALLY MADE Prince NOT BE INTO Janet.

[kimbelsimpson]

Prince did Jimmy and Terry a favor by firing them because they went on to be big time producers making more than 150 dollars a show which was nothing even back then.
I once heard that Prince paid his band members low wages which makes me wonder how did he ever keep his bands members from leaving him.

[Thextreme]

I find this an accurate account of what happened. Thank you for uploading

[avace]

After they were fired, Prince had Jellybean Johnson call Terry to come back to be in The Time for Purple Rain. Terry asked about Jimmy. Jellybean said Prince only wanted Terry to come back because Jimmy literally got up and walked out when fired while Terry tried to reason with Prince. The idea was for them to beg to cone back. Terry said he wasn't doing it without Terry and put the final nail in the coffin. Jimmy even told Terry to go ahead and Terry refused

[FettiMagazine]

I can see Prince mystically floating through a thick cloud of fog towards Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Then dropping the magazine on the coffee table. And then whispering "you're fired".

[skeetskeetnews]

This is why so many worldwide love my news website because we would've called prince a hater and destructive force of black excellence 💯

[DirtCheapFU]

That snow storm in ATL bit made me laugh way harder than I should have. I was stationed in Augusta, GA for acouple years. A single snowflake slowly falling never touching the ground, was a harbinger of the city shutting down. Granted in late 2010, they did get like 8in, more in the upper northern areas. Augusta was frozen for like 3 days.

[altowatts]

When One Door Closes, Another One Opens.

[lewisjones]

IF HE DIDN'T FIRE THEM SOMEDAY IS TONIGHT & MAKING LOVE IN THE RAIN WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED & THOSE R MY 2 FAVORITE SONGS PRODUCED BY THOSE GUYS!