‘The Time’ Musician Jellybean Johnson Dead at 69

Jellybean Johnson — renowned as a founding member of Prince‘s band The Time — has passed away.

Jellybean — birth name Garry George Johnson — died unexpectedly on Friday night, as confirmed by his family to TMZ. The exact cause of his death remains unknown.

Aside from his role as the sole drummer in The Time — later rebranded as Morris Day and the Time and the Original 7ven — the late musician was a pivotal figure in pioneering the Minneapolis Sound, a fusion of funk, rock, and soul that emerged in the 1970s and ’80s.

Jellybean also contributed to the Prince-formed group The Family, and vocalist Susannah Melvoin honored her “brother” on Instagram following his untimely passing. She fondly recalled him as a prolific guitarist, highlighting how “playing his guitar was like breathing for him.”

In addition to his musical achievements, he portrayed a fictionalized version of himself in the 1984 film “Purple Rain” and played a key role in producing Janet Jackson‘s chart-topping 1990 single “Black Cat.”

Jellybean’s family shared with TMZ that he cherished his family, friends, and the city of Minneapolis. He, along with his wife Marty Bragg and her daughter, founded the Minneapolis Sound Museum to preserve the rich history and legacy of the Minneapolis Sound. To learn more and contribute, visit the museum’s website.

Jellybean had just celebrated his 69th birthday earlier this week.