The Jets

The Jets are a Tongan-American family band from Minneapolis who became one of the most successful crossover acts of the late 1980s. Formed in 1977 and achieving mainstream stardom by 1985, the group consisted of eight Wolfgramm siblings.

Their sound is a critical intersection of the Minneapolis funk scene, Latin freestyle, and mainstream synth-pop. They are historically significant for being one of the few Polynesian acts to achieve sustained Top 10 success in the United States, securing five Billboard Top 10 hits between 1986 and 1989. Their influence persists through extensive sampling in electronic music, most notably by French house producers Alan Braxe and Fred Falke, and UK bass act Nero. Critically, they are regarded as masters of the 'teen pop' era who possessed genuine R&B credibility and instrumental proficiency. Their career arc saw them transition from dance-pop icons to gospel and contemporary Christian music in the 1990s, though they remain best known for their contribution to the 80s pop canon.