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> home page Morris Hayes "Mr Hayes"
"Prince
was a master at that (ebb and flow), he wanted to make it like a
rollercoaster." Dozens and dozens of musicians served time in Prince’s bands over the course of his four-decade-long career, but none performed with him longer (20 years) than keyboardist Morris Hayes. Morris Hayes has performed with many artists over the years -- Sheila E, Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Herbie Hancock, Lenny Kravitz, Maceo Parker, Elton John and Kanye West -- and his current projects include ongoing work with the NPG and new artists like Cobi, the EDM outfit Lordz Uv, and a forthcoming documentary called World Symphony for Peace in which he travels the world collaborating with local musicians. He’s also working on a book about his career called The Ticket. “I saw Prince and The Time on December 17, 1982 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas -- and I’ve had the ticket in my pocket ever since," he explains. Morris got his big break in 1991 when Jerome Benton asked him to play keyboards with the Time. He was hired to replace Jimmy Jam. They were the house band for Prince’s new nightclub, “Glam Slam.” Prince recognized their immense talent and hired the entire band to play with Carmen Electra on his “Diamonds & Pearls” tour in 1992. After the tour, Prince asked Morris to officially join the NPG as another keyboard play alongside Tommy Barbarella. Prince dubbed him “Mr. Hayes” and that is how he is known to many. Morris left
the NPG for a few years to tour with Maceo Park – the renowned
saxophonist who achieved prominence with James Brown – and
who embarked on a solo career in the 90’s. He returned to the
NPG in 2005, performing with Prince during his memorable Super Bowl
halftime performance in Miami in 2007 (Read Morris’s story
of that eventful day in Billboard here).
Tours with Prince: Welcome 2 America 2010/2012 (US, Europe, Canada, Australia) 20Ten Tour (2010), The Earth Tour/21 Nights in London (2007), “Per4ming Live 3121 (residency in Las Vegas, 2006/2007), Hit N Run Tour (2000), New Power Soul (1998), Jam of the Year Tour (1997/98), Love 4 One Another Charities Tour (1997), The Gold Experience/The Ultimate Live Experience (1995/96), The Interactive Tour (1994). Act II (1993), Act I (1993), Diamonds & Pearls (1992) Album with Prince: Come, The Gold Experience, Chaos And Disorder, Emancipation, Crystal Ball, New Power Soul, Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic, The Vault….Old Friends For Sale, The Rainbow Children, The Chocolate Invasion, The Slaughterhouse, Indigo Nights/ Live Sessions, Lotus flower, The War, Elixer (Bria) , Exodus (The NPG), and Gold Nigga (The NPG) official: https://newpowergeneration.net/morris-hayes |
