MINNEAPOLIS — A public celebration of life was held Saturday in downtown Minneapolis for Garry “Jellybean” Johnson, the influential musician and producer who helped shape the Minneapolis Sound.
Johnson, a legendary drummer, guitarist, songwriter and producer, died last month at age 69, two days after his birthday, according to family members.
Johnson was a founding member of Flyte Tyme, the group that later evolved into The Time, under Prince’s influence. His work played a significant role in defining the sound that put Minneapolis on the national music map in the late 1970s and 1980s…