Jellybean Johnson, the founding drummer of Prince’s band the Time, has passed away. The musician born Garry George Johnson celebrated his birthday earlier this week, and his death was announced by his longtime friend and collaborator Sheila E., though the cause is still unknown. He was 69.
On social media, Sheila wrote, “With a heavy heart, my dear friend Jellybean passed away a couple of hours ago. We are devastated by this news. this one hurts I’m praying for his family and all the kids. He was a kind human being extremely talented and funny. He had a great sense of humor and was an awesome guitar player. Yesterday was your birthday, I forgot to call you and I’m so sorry. I loveu bean. rest in peace and power. I first met Bean while they were out on tour with prince either 1981 or 1982? It was cool to see them shoot the video Ice cream castles as I showed up with prince.”
Garry George “Jellybean” Johnson was born in Chicago and moved to Minneapolis as a kid. He took drum lessons at 13 and taught himself guitar a couple years later. Prince founded the Time in 1981 with Johnson on drums, Alexander O’Neal on lead vocals and sax, Anton (Tony) Johnson on guitar, David Eiland on saxophone, Jimmy Jam and Monte Moir on keyboards, and Terry Lewis on bass. After the group disbanded, Johnson served as a producer, musician, and songwriter for Flyte Tyme productions, working with legends like Alexander O’Neal and Janet Jackson.
