Jimmy Jam, a celebrated figure in the music industry, has deep roots in the Minnesota State Fair. At just 11 years old, he would take the bus alone from south Minneapolis to the fairgrounds, transferring along the way, to enjoy the attractions three or four times a year. His favorite activities included eating Pronto Pups and experimenting with new keyboards on display.

This year, Jam will have a unique opportunity to revisit the fair as part of his performance at the grandstand. Alongside his partner Terry Lewis, the Grammy-winning producer/songwriters and Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, they will headline “A Celebration of the Minneapolis Sound” on August 29. The event will feature guest performers such as Johnny Gill, Yolanda Adams, Ann Nesby, Ruben Studdard, and Morris Day.

Jam plans to arrive a few days early to rehearse and spend time at the Great Minnesota Get-Together. Reflecting on his childhood experiences at the fair, he shared some cherished memories that shaped his love for the event.

As a child, Jimmy Harris III’s father, James “Cornbread” Harris, worked on assembling rides on the Midway. He would join his dad the day before the fair opened, watching how these massive mechanical attractions were built. They would then stay until Labor Day to watch the rides being dismantled. Cornbread also had a knack for learning the secrets of carnival games, which allowed them to win big stuffed animals.

For young Jam, the Midway was the highlight of the fair. However, when he visited with his parents, they insisted on exploring the 4-H Building, Machinery Hill (where he would sit on tractors), cow milking exhibits, and other displays before heading to the Midway as the sun set. Decades later, Jam and his wife followed the same routine with their three children, prioritizing exhibits over rides.

Like many Minnesotans, Jam has his favorite spots and traditions at the fair. His first stop is always the Pronto Pup booth. His all-time favorite food is corn on the cob, a preference that even extended to Janet Jackson, who took a bunch home with her during a visit. Every time Jam mentions the State Fair, she recalls the corn with enthusiasm.

Other must-have treats for Jam include pork chop on-a-stick, turkey leg (a favorite of Terry Lewis), French fries, and Tom Thumb Donuts. He loved watching employees make the donuts as a kid, and his affinity for the yellow Fresh French Fries stand runs deep. He used to hang out there so much that the staff gave him one of the yellow fry hats.

Jam is a roller coaster enthusiast, having visited amusement parks across the country. While the State Fair doesn’t meet his criteria for thrilling coasters, he enjoys the Skyride, the Space Needle, and the Giant Slide, which he rode in its first year in 1969. He also has a special fondness for Ye Old Mill, where he once brought Janet Jackson and met descendants of the ride’s original builders.

As a teenager, Jam would often stand in front of certain Midway thrill rides like the Matterhorn because they played music. He would approach the operators and ask them to play specific songs, eventually becoming a familiar face. The operators would recognize him and ask what he wanted to hear.

Jam has attended several grandstand concerts at the fair, with two standing out: KC and the Sunshine Band in 1979 and War, the Ohio Players, and Chic in 2001. He also has memorable fair-related music stories, including a 2000 visit by Christina Aguilera to Flyte Tyme Studios, which wasn’t officially open for outsiders. The following year, Destiny’s Child recorded a Christmas album at the studio, with Beyoncé doing most of the work.

Jam had routines at the fair, where he felt he received part of his music education. Two essential stops on his 10-hour trips were radio booths and organ displays. He would spend hours in front of radio booths like KDWB or U100, engaging with DJs. He would also visit Bodine’s organ booth in the grandstand, playing on sample Yamaha or Hammond organs for hours.

“I thought I would drive the people [in charge] crazy but they never kicked me out,” he said. “The organs had the little rhythm boxes inside and my dad’s organ didn’t have that. So, I’d create a little beat and play songs. The earliest songs I ever wrote were at those State Fair organs.”

If Jimmy Jam created a State Fair T-shirt, it might read “Music is my oxygen” on the front and “Radio, rides and organs” on the back. “So much of my musical education — whether the DJs, the rides, the radio booths, the organ place — came from the fair,” Jam said. “I always equated the fair to music.”