Jellybean Johnson — the Minneapolis drummer, guitarist, and producer whose work with Prince and the groundbreaking funk-rock group The Time helped define an entire musical era — has died at 69. His family confirmed his passing on Nov. 21, though no cause of death has been released. TMZ first reported the news.
Born Garry George Johnson, the self-taught musician was recruited by Prince in 1981 to join The Time, which emerged from the city’s influential Flyte Tyme collective. Johnson and Prince had known one another since their teenage years, long before their careers became intertwined.
Speaking to Australian Musician in 2018, Johnson reflected on his dual mastery of drums and guitar, saying, “The drums are physical and violent for me while the guitar is spiritual and emotional.” He added with trademark humor, “When you live here in the cold, you stay in the wintertime and you learn how to play.”…