Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis & Friends- Minnesota State Fair Grandstand, Falcon Heights MN (2026-08-29)

PHOTOS AND REPORTING BY JOHN “FAN-IN-THE-STANDS” RAFALSKI

“Too many hits, not enough time”

Prince would say that often in concert; and while very true, the same could be said from the duo he once fired following a no-show at an Atlanta concert, who would then go on to greater heights from performers, to producers and songwriters, as well as music entrepreneurs- Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

The pair, who had been doing a Las Vegas residency, made a stop at the “Great Minnesota Get-Together”- the grandstand at the MN State Fair for a very special homecoming show: Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, A Celebration of the Minneapolis Sound which also featured many special guest performances. Our fan-in-the-stands was, of course, on the scene for this unique show.

Over their five decades-plus tenure as friends and business partners, they have amassed 42 No. 1 Hits on the Billboard charts and over 100 gold, platinum and diamond albums. As producers and songwriters, they’ve worked with the likes of Prince, New Edition, Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Gwen Stefani, Rod Stewart, Sting, Usher, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, Chaka Khan, George Michael, Johnny Gill, Yolanda Adams, The Human League, Sounds of Blackness, Heather Headley, Deborah Cox, and many more.

Leading up to the show, Jam remarked, “I’ve been attending the Minnesota State Fair every year since I was a kid, so returning home to perform this year is a dream come true. Terry and I are assembling an incredible lineup of artists performing songs made right here in Minnesota.” Terry Lewis added, “Fans will experience the joy of time travel through the celebration of songs that became hits around the world – all made in Minnesota”, so to say the duo was excited for this homecoming, was an understatement.

Following an opening technical hiccup, the pair emerged, Lewis with his bass and Jam already sporting a keytar, going into a couple S.O.S. Band covers with Shanice Wilson (and yes, we still love her smile). American Idol Season Two winner Ruben Studdard entered to lead a smooth Alexander O’ Neal cover, with a couple of underrated Cherelle songs brought to life as well.

The set list was mostly chronological, revealing how increasingly successful they were becoming, as producers and collaborators and their chart success was reminded by screens showing the song’s Billboard Chart positions, with Jam commenting, “you are the ones that make them hits” before the first of many Janet Jackson chart toppers.

We’d forgotten Jam and Lewis wrote and produced The Human League’s Top Ten hit, “Human” and were shocked when they didn’t play the song when we saw them last summer in Derby, UK, just northwest of Birmingham… must have been more of a US success.

The male/female vocal trade-offs of Wilson and Studdard made for an interesting take on the familiar hits and Studdard proved his staying power as a vocalist on Luther Vandross and Usher cover songs.

Though still involving Jam and Lewis production, the second half of the show ‘left’ Minnesota to head east for Boston and Philadelphia beginnings, with still-the-playboy and New Edition member, Johnny Gill showing he could still rub you the right way, while tossing out roses to the crowd- my my my!

Mint Condition’s Stokley roared out, to help fire up the crowd as usual and bringing things back to MN and following an MN Senate commemorative declaration and appearance by Jam’s 99-year-old father, Cornbread Harris, fellow The Time band member, the late Jellybean Johnson had to have been smiling during their version of his “Black Cat”, complete with an impressive solo from a local eleven-year-old guitar protege.

The flavor again went east to Beantown with NKOTB’s Jordan Knight performing a solo and group hit, then moved to Philly as Bell Biv Devoe got the crowd on their feet, with their best hits live. From there, the mood went more soulful and spiritual with appearances from Yolanda Adams and Sounds of Blackness, and the show would end on an energetic peak, with Jam, Lewis and the always-dapper Morris Day playing The Time’s two biggest hits, and then a more solemn group tribute to the Purple One, with “Purple Rain.”

National / International act coming through the Midwest / Kansas City area? Please email details to johnc@weheartmusic.com with a good lead time to be considered for Show Preview and Show Coverage consideration.