The Jets

The Jets represent one of the most successful family acts of the 1980s and early 1990s, offering a bright, high-energy fusion of teen pop, dance-pop, and contemporary R&B. Hailing from a Tongan-American family in Minneapolis, the group naturally absorbed the “Minneapolis Sound” of their hometown, but filtered it through a polished, melodic lens that earned them massive crossover success. Between 1985 and 1990, The Jets became staples on both the pop and R&B charts, delivering iconic dance-floor fillers like the synth-heavy “Crush on You” and the rhythmic “Rocket 2 U,” alongside timeless soul ballads like “You Got It All” and “Make It Real.”

While perhaps more “pop-soul” than the gritty New Jack Swing movement that followed, The Jets were essential pioneers in the dance-pop landscape that bridged the gap between 80s funk and 90s R&B. As they moved into the turn of the decade, their sound evolved to incorporate the sleeker production of the era, notably on their 1990 Best of The Jets collection, which featured the New Jack-influenced single “Special Kinda Love.” Throughout their peak years, their impeccable harmonies and tight choreography made them a global sensation. For the archive, The Jets are celebrated as the ultimate purveyors of “feel-good” soul—an act that mastered the balance of melodic pop sweetness and authentic rhythmic groove.