The music world is in mourning following the sudden death of Garry 'Jellybean' Johnson, the legendary drummer for Prince's seminal band The Time. He was 69 years old.
Johnson passed away on Friday, November 21, as confirmed by his family to TMZ. His death comes just days after he celebrated his birthday, a fact that has made the loss even more poignant for friends, family, and fans across the globe.
A Life Shaped by Music and Community
In a now deeply moving final public message posted on Facebook for his birthday, Johnson reflected on his incredible journey. He wrote about a life 'shaped by music, community, and the love of people who believed in me long before the world knew my name.'
Rather than focusing on fame, he cherished his roots, specifically recalling 'The Way,' a community centre in North Minneapolis. It was there, he said, that a group of young kids discovered their destiny through music.
Jellybean Johnson was a founding member of The Time, the funk band masterminded by Prince. The group, which later performed under names like Morris Day and the Time and the Original 7ven, was a cornerstone of the iconic 'Minneapolis Sound'.
More Than a Drummer: A Musical Architect
While the world knew him as a powerhouse drummer for Prince, those close to him knew his first love was the guitar. Fellow musician and bandmate Susannah Melvoin, from his other band The Family, paid a heartfelt tribute.
She described Johnson as her 'beautiful brother' and stated that playing guitar was 'oxygen for him'. Melvoin emphasised, 'He was a guitar player first and drummer second.'
His influence stretched far beyond the stage with Prince. Johnson was a key architect of the Minneapolis Sound, a genre-blending movement that fused funk, rock, and soul throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
His production credits are equally impressive, most notably for producing Janet Jackson's 1990 rock-infused hit 'Black Cat'. He also appeared as himself in the celebrated 1984 film, Purple Rain.
A Lasting Legacy and Surviving Family
The specific cause of Johnson's death has not been made public at this time. The news has sent shockwaves through the music community, with Melvoin calling it 'a huge loss' and urging support for his family.
Jellybean Johnson leaves behind his wife, Marty Bragg, and his children. His legacy is cemented not only in the records and films he contributed to but in the very fabric of a musical revolution that changed the sound of a generation.
