Morris Hayes is a renowned musician, producer, and band leader, whose impressive career has spanned decades and featured collaborations with some of the most iconic names in the music industry. As a talented keyboardist, Hayes has had the privilege of working alongside superstars such as Prince, George Clinton, Elton John, Whitney Houston, and Stevie Wonder, to name a few.
Born Morris Kevin Hayes in the small town of Jefferson, Arkansas, Hayes was inspired by the religious music he heard in church as a child. He went on to major in art at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where he discovered his passion for music. After graduating, Hayes played in churches and with various bands, eventually cofounding a group called the Bizness.
The group's demo caught the attention of former Prince and the Revolution bass player Mark Brown, who asked Hayes to join his band, Mazarati. When Mazarati disbanded, Hayes remained in Minneapolis, where he replaced the keyboardist for the Time and toured with the group in Asia. He then formed G Sharp and the Edge, which performed as the house band in the popular Minneapolis club Glam Slam.
It was during this time that Hayes met Prince, who signed the group to open for him on his "Diamonds and Pearls" tour in 1992. After the tour, Prince asked Hayes to join his band, the New Power Generation, which Hayes did for ten years. In 2003, he left for a scheduled six-week gig with funk and soul jazz saxophonist Maceo Parker, but ended up staying for two years before rejoining the New Power Generation as the leader of the band in 2005.
Throughout his career, Hayes has performed with an impressive array of major artists, including Sheila E., Chaka Khan, Herbie Hancock, Kanye West, Elton John, Babyface, Carlos Santana, Kenny Loggins, Lenny Kravitz, Alicia Keys, Will.i.am, Mary J. Blige, Maroon 5, Ani Di Franco, Questlove, Kool Moe Dee, Sheryl Crow, Gwen Stefani, Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse, Bono, The Edge, and Macy Gray.
In addition to his impressive musical credentials, Hayes has received numerous honors for his work, including inclusion in the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in 2013. He is also involved in a nonprofit called No Worries Now, which helps children with terminal illnesses by organizing proms for them, as well as funding osteosarcoma research. Hayes is the owner and CEO of Ill Street, Inc., a music production company through which he has written for various films and television shows.
