Monte Moir
Encyclopedia
Monte Moir is the original and current keyboardist
for The Time
, as well as songwriter
and producer
for Janet Jackson
, Alexander O'Neal
, Gladys Knight
, the Deja duo (Curt Jones
/Mysti Day) and Lolly Pop
. He is also credited for working with Prince
, Vanity 6
, Deniece Williams
, Thelma Houston
and various other artists. His greatest writing successes were writing the first side of Alexander O'Neal's solo debut - including "If You Were Here Tonight" as well as "The Pleasure Principle
' by Janet Jackson. Patti Austin and Thema Houston are other notable artists he wrote classics for as part of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
's 'The Secret'. He left The Time
soon after Jam and Lewis were released by Prince
, following conflicting writing interests with The SOS Band and failing to make a concert.
Monte is something of a cult writing figure in the world of soulful music. "In My Life" by Ruby Turner as well as Steven Dante's "It's Only Love" are key examples of his songwriting. He rejoined The Time
for their Pandemonium
album and Prince's final film Graffiti Bridge
, in the late 1980s when the original Time members reunited. He continues to produce his own material, play keyboards for an amended version of the band and produce for various artists. He was most recently seen on the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, playing with Rihanna
and The Time
.
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
for The Time
The Time (band)
The Time is a funk and dance-pop ensemble formed in 1981. They are close Prince associates and arguably the most successful artists who have worked with him.-Prince, Formation and Success:...
, as well as songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
for Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
, Alexander O'Neal
Alexander O'Neal
Alexander O'Neal is an American R&B singer. He is best-known for the songs "If You Were Here Tonight" and "Fake", and the duets with Cherrelle, "Saturday Love" and "Never Knew Love Like This".-Biography:...
, Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Maria Knight , known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author...
, the Deja duo (Curt Jones
Slave (band)
Slave was an Ohio funk band popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Trumpeter Steve Washington and Mark Hicks formed the group in Dayton, Ohio in 1975.-Career:Trombonist Floyd Miller teamed with Tom Lockett Jr...
/Mysti Day) and Lolly Pop
Lolly Pop
Lolly Pop is the stage personae of U.S. vocalist/songwriter Brooke Aldridge, as directed by British composer John Matthews and Minneapolis songwriter/producers Monte Moir and Doctor Fink ....
. He is also credited for working with Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
, Vanity 6
Vanity 6
Vanity 6 was a female vocal trio assembled by Prince in the early 1980s.They released one studio album, which blended the sounds of pop, New Wave, dance music, R&B, and funk.-Formation:...
, Deniece Williams
Deniece Williams
June Deniece Chandler known by her stage name Deniece Williams is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and record producer who achieved success in the 1970s and 1980s...
, Thelma Houston
Thelma Houston
Thelma Houston is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She scored a number-one hit in 1976 with her cover version of the song "Don't Leave Me This Way", which won the 1978 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.-Early life & career:Houston is the daughter of a cotton picking mother...
and various other artists. His greatest writing successes were writing the first side of Alexander O'Neal's solo debut - including "If You Were Here Tonight" as well as "The Pleasure Principle
The Pleasure Principle (song)
"The Pleasure Principle" is the sixth single from Janet Jackson's third studio album, Control . The photo for the single cover was shot by famed fashion photographer David LaChapelle.-Song information:...
' by Janet Jackson. Patti Austin and Thema Houston are other notable artists he wrote classics for as part of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis are an American R&B and pop-music songwriting and record production team...
's 'The Secret'. He left The Time
The Time (band)
The Time is a funk and dance-pop ensemble formed in 1981. They are close Prince associates and arguably the most successful artists who have worked with him.-Prince, Formation and Success:...
soon after Jam and Lewis were released by Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
, following conflicting writing interests with The SOS Band and failing to make a concert.
Monte is something of a cult writing figure in the world of soulful music. "In My Life" by Ruby Turner as well as Steven Dante's "It's Only Love" are key examples of his songwriting. He rejoined The Time
The Time (band)
The Time is a funk and dance-pop ensemble formed in 1981. They are close Prince associates and arguably the most successful artists who have worked with him.-Prince, Formation and Success:...
for their Pandemonium
Pandemonium (The Time album)
Pandemonium is a 1990 album by The Time. Much like the three previous albums, the album consists of music in the funk-pop or ballad genre, although this album breaks the 6-song album tradition. Originally, the album began life as Corporate World, with nearly all of the material written and...
album and Prince's final film Graffiti Bridge
Graffiti Bridge (film)
Graffiti Bridge is a 1990 drama/musical written, directed, and starring Prince. It is a sequel to his first film, Purple Rain, though notorious for its relatively low quality and poor performance at the box-office...
, in the late 1980s when the original Time members reunited. He continues to produce his own material, play keyboards for an amended version of the band and produce for various artists. He was most recently seen on the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, playing with Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
and The Time
The Time (band)
The Time is a funk and dance-pop ensemble formed in 1981. They are close Prince associates and arguably the most successful artists who have worked with him.-Prince, Formation and Success:...
.