The Time Drummer Jellybean Johnson Dead At 69

7 hours ago7 min read2 comments

The rhythm section of funk lost a foundational heartbeat today with the passing of Jellybean Johnson, the founding drummer for Prince's legendary protégé band The Time, at the age of 69. The news, a somber note in the symphony of Minneapolis sound, was announced by his longtime friend and collaborator Sheila E., though the specific cause remains, for now, a silent space in the track. Johnson, born Garry George Johnson, had just celebrated his birthday earlier this week, a cruel twist of timing that makes the finality of this news hit with the force of a crashing cymbal.For those who lived and breathed the Purple Revolution of the early 80s, Jellybean was far more than just a timekeeper; he was the percussive engine of The Time, the band Prince assembled as both a creative outlet and a friendly rival. Alongside Morris Day, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Jesse Johnson, Monte Moir, and Jerry Hubbard, Johnson helped forge a sound that was the perfect, polished counterpoint to Prince’s androgynous mystique—a slick, suit-and-tie brand of funk that was as tight as it was theatrical.His drumming on anthems like 'Get It Up,' 'Cool,' and 'The Bird' wasn't just about keeping time; it was a masterclass in disciplined, infectious groove, providing the unshakable foundation over which Day could preen and the revolutionary production duo of Jam and Lewis could build their layered soundscapes. To understand Jellybean's impact, you have to put on 'The Time's 1981 self-titled debut and listen to the crack of his snare on 'Girl,' a sound so clean and authoritative it could define an era.He was the anchor in a band of superstars, the steady pulse that allowed the flamboyance to flourish. His work extended beyond The Time's core catalog, contributing to the sprawling, interconnected universe of Paisley Park records and collaborating extensively with Sheila E., whose own career was inextricably linked to Prince's empire. His passing is not merely the loss of a great musician; it’s the fading of a living link to a specific, magical moment in music history when a single city in Minnesota became the epicenter of a funk and pop explosion that reshaped the industry.It calls to mind the recent losses of other Prince-associated luminaries, creating a painful pattern of farewells. The silence left behind is profound, a gap in the mix that cannot be filled, reminding us that the drummers, so often in the back, are the ones who give the music its heart and its forward motion. The beat goes on, but today, it does so with a heavy, mournful swing.

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#The Time

#Prince

#Sheila E.

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