Morris Day, the charismatic solo artist and lead singer of The Time , is an American musician and composer from Minneapolis, Minnesota. His best remembered music was created with his band The Time , which included famous producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis amongst others in an ever-revolving line-up of performers. Their most prolific and visible period came during the 1980's when Day's professional relationship with Prince increased the band's exposure and presented their pop-funk sound to a larger mainstream audience. Playing the antagonist to Prince in the films Purple Rain, Under the Cherry Moon , and Grafitti Bridge helped establish Day's playboy stage presence. Typically escorted by his manservant, "Jerome", Day's exaggerated vanity ("Jerome bring me my mirror!") and strutting bravado won him many fans as a comic foil to Prince's romantic, sensitive lead. This persona was further exploited on The Time's records - to comic effect - on songs such as "Chili Sauce" and "If The Kid Can't Make You Come" from the album Ice Cream Castle . However, that album (the group's most popular) is best remembered for the infectious singles "Jungle Love" and "The Bird". With their palpable pop energy and catchy choruses, both songs were huge hits on both Urban and Pop radio. From that high point, Day's success began to wane in the 1990's. With the breakup of his band, the mediocre sales of his solo records, and the general decline of Prince's popularity, Day's public visibility and creative output waned considerablity. However, he remains a popular concert draw with his revamped lineup of The Time. Though few original members of the group remain, Day continues to employ "Jerome" in his stage shows and the comic scenes the two act out together are typically the highlight of a Time performance. Though he had continued to act in films from time to time in small parts (Richard Pryor's Moving being a brief but memorable turn), in 2001 Morris returned to film in Kevin Smith's Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, performing "Jungle Love" and dancing with the movie's stars in the movie's coda.
