Morris Day and The Time headlined the first concert of Sweetland Amphitheatre’s summer series Friday night.  Sweetland Amphitheatre director Keyal Loveland said about 1,700 tickets were sold for the concert, which also featured The Gap Experience.

“We’re excited to have everyone here tonight to pick up the season with us,” Loveland said. “We are so excited, and they couldn’t be a more pleasurable group to work with.”

Morris Day and Time had hits in the 1980s such as “Jungle Love” and “Jerk Out.” The Gap Experience features original members of The Gap Band, which had hits including “You Dropped a Bomb on Me” and “Outstanding.”

The concert brought many 80s music fans to the amphitheater.  LaGrange residents Merritt and Joey Shelton grew up listening to both bands and said the concert was for nostalgia.

“We brought my son Jacob,” Merritt said. “He’s 20, so he can experience what we grew up with old music and learn to love it like we do.”

Steve and Leisa Williamson came from Lake Jackson, Texas to see the groups, along with reuniting with LaGrange friends.

“We went to school here in the 80s and Georgia’s home, but we’ve been in Texas for a long time,” Steve said.

The concert was a reunion for Steve and Leisa with their LaGrange College friends Anne Ellington, Jackie Dean, Beth Tilley, Lennice Parker and Carole Enright.

“We enjoy these concerts, we enjoy having our friends come in, and it is a lot of fun,” Ellington said.

The next concert of Sweetland’s summer series will feature Gladys Knight on April 20.