Garry George “Jellybean” Johnson, the powerhouse drummer, guitarist, songwriter, producer, and one of the architects of the Minneapolis Sound, died on November 21, just two days after his 69th birthday. No cause of death has been given yet.
His death was confirmed by longtime friend and collaborator Sheila E., who shared a heartbreaking tribute on social media. “With a heavy heart my dear friend Jellybean passed away a couple of hours ago,” she wrote. “We are devastated by this news… 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 love you Bean. Rest in peace and power.”
Sheila E. recalled first meeting Johnson on tour with Prince in the early 80s, later joining him on the set of Ice Cream Castle, a moment symbolic of the creative energy that defined Minneapolis during the rise of Prince and The Time.
News of his passing spread quickly Friday evening, prompting an outpouring of grief across social media. Fans and fellow musicians described him as a beautiful soul, thoughtful, generous, and immensely talented.
From Chicago Roots to Minneapolis Royalty
Born in Chicago, Johnson moved to Minneapolis as a kid. He picked up drum lessons at 13, taught himself guitar at 15, and eventually attended Marshall University High School and the University of Minnesota. By his early twenties, he had already become a central player in the city’s fledgling funk-rock scene.
The Time, Flyte Tyme, and the Sound That Changed Pop
As drummer for The Time (and later, Morris Day and The Time), Johnson performed alongside future production titans Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, helping craft the sharp, swaggering funk that became a Prince-era signature.
When The Time split, Johnson became a cornerstone of Flyte Tyme Productions, emerging as an in-demand producer, session guitarist, and drummer. His studio credits read like a master class in 80s and 90s R&B:
- Alexander O’Neal (Innocent, Criticize)
- Cherrelle
- New Edition (Crucial)
- Janet Jackson, including her 1990 chart-topping smash Black Cat.
Johnson’s guitar solo on Alexander O’Neal’s Innocent, stretching across the track’s blistering ten-minute runtime, remains one of the era’s defining moments.
He later returned to The Time for Prince’s film Graffiti Bridge and their 1990 album Pandemonium, continuing to tour with Morris Day while producing, mentoring, and shaping new artists.
The Family
After his early success with The Time, Johnson became a founding member of The Family, the short-lived but musically pivotal Prince-assembled band that helped define the deeper, moodier edges of the Minneapolis Sound. Formed in 1984, The Family paired Jellybean’s tight, instinctive drumming with a more sophisticated blend of funk, jazz, and orchestral pop.
Though the group released only one album, its impact was outsized — spawning the monster hit, “The Screams of Passion.” Johnson’s work with The Family further showcased his versatility, cementing him not just as a funk powerhouse but as a drummer capable of subtlety, elegance, and emotional tone-setting. The band would later reunite under the name fDeluxe, with Johnson continuing to contribute to its legacy.
Susannah Melvoin, singer, songwriter, and longtime Prince collaborator best known for her work with The Family and as the twin sister of Revolution guitarist Wendy Melvoin, shared a deeply emotional tribute to Johnson, whom she called her “beautiful brother.”
In a heartfelt message, she reflected on the band’s origins and their bond: “This band was and is the kind of Family that believed we all rightfully belonged together in love, music and kindness.” Melvoin, who met Johnson when she was 19 and he was already a seasoned musical force, described how he seamlessly shifted from drums to guitar in The Family because, as she put it, “oxygen for him was the inhale and exhale of playing his guitar.”
She mourned him as a protector, “my big brother, who watched over me and anyone he loved” — and urged fans to keep his children and loved ones, including his partner Marty, in their thoughts. “This is a huge loss,” she wrote. “Jellybean ‘shits getting real baby’ Johnson… may you rest in all that is light and graceful.”
A Career That Spanned Generations
Johnson performed with Rihanna at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards in 2008, and after Prince died in 2016, became a key presence in tribute performances, appearing in the 2017 Grammy Salute to Prince and again in 2020.
His long-awaited solo album, Get Experienced, finally arrived in 2021.
In 2022, Johnson founded the Minneapolis Sound Museum, an ambitious project dedicated to preserving and celebrating the genre he helped create. That same year, he and the surviving members of The Time received the Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award, cementing the group’s enduring cultural footprint.
Discography Highlights
Albums with The Time and related projects
- The Time (1981)
- What Time Is It? (1982)
- Ice Cream Castle (1984)
- The Family (1985)
- Pandemonium (1990)
- Condensate (2011) as The Original 7ven
Key hits produced or co-produced
- Alexander O’Neal – “Criticize” (#4 R&B)
- Nona Hendryx – “Why Should I Cry” (#5 R&B)
- New Edition – “Crucial” (#4 R&B)
- Janet Jackson – “Black Cat” (#1 Rock / #1 Pop)
- Mint Condition – “Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)” (#3 R&B / #6 Pop), “Forever in Your Eyes” (#7 R&B)
A Legacy That Will Echo
Jellybean Johnson wasn’t just a member of The Time. He was one of the quiet architects behind some of the most influential music of the last four decades, a versatile musician who could slide effortlessly between drums, guitar, and production.
He was a bridge between eras, between artists, between sounds. And he remained a beloved figure in Minneapolis and beyond, a gentle, generous presence with a wicked sense of humor and a musician’s soul.
In a birthday post written just before he died, Johnson reflected on his 69 years, a life rooted in music, Minneapolis, and the people who believed in him. Today, the message reads like a gentle parting note, “I’ve been blessed to live a life shaped by music, community, and the love of people who believed in me long before the world knew my name,” he wrote. “When I look back, I don’t first think about the big stages or awards — I think about The Way… that little community center on the North Side of Minneapolis where a bunch of young kids picked up instruments and discovered who we were meant to be.”
In addition to a lovely wife and daughter, Johnson leaves behind a legacy of innovation, mentorship, and a catalog that continues to shape pop, R&B, and funk today.
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