The music world recently lost one of the coldest (scratch that—the COOL-est) funk musicians of the 1980s. Jellybean Johnson, drummer for The Time, passed away just a few days after celebrating his 69th birthday.
Born Garry George Johnson in Chicago, Illinois, on November 19, 1956, Jellybean picked up music at a young age, settling on the drums and later the guitar. The first song he learned to play on drums was James Brown & The Famous Flames’ genre-changing hit, “Cold Sweat.”
After moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota, at around 13 years old, he soon discovered he wasn’t the only young musician in town. Some of his neighborhood friends just happened to be Andre Cymone, Morris Day, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Prince. These young musicians formed the local high school bands Grand Central (Prince, Morris Day, and Andre Cymone) and Flyte Tyme (Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Monte Moir, and Jellybean). Cynthia Johnson—who would later become the lead vocalist for Lipps Inc., known for “Funkytown”—was briefly a member of Flyte Tyme, as was Alexander O’Neal (more on him later!).
Prince became the first to land a major record deal in 1977 with Warner Bros. Records at only 18 years old. Once he was established, he reached back for his childhood friends. Prince wanted a new project behind himself, and The Time was born. Morris Day, originally the drummer for Grand Central, was chosen as frontman. The rival band Flyte Tyme was brought in—except for one complication: Jellybean was the drummer, and Alexander O’Neal was the lead singer. For reasons never publicly detailed, Alexander and Prince did not get along. As a result, Jellybean returned to the drum kit, and Morris Day was pushed into lead vocals.
The final lineup became:
Morris Day – lead vocals
Jellybean Johnson – drums
Monte Moir and Jimmy Jam – keyboards
Terry Lewis – bass
Jesse Johnson – guitar
Jerome Benton – percussion and comedic foil
Between 1981–1983, The Time was so electrifying onstage that during some tour dates with Prince, they would mysteriously not be allowed to perform—they were that good. Before filming for Purple Rain, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were fired for producing outside artists, though they would later become the most successful production duo of all time. The Time regrouped and added new members, including St. Paul Peterson. After the success of the film and their accompanying album Ice Cream Castles, The Time disbanded, leading to the creation of another short-lived Prince project: The Family. Jellybean, Jerome, and St. Paul were now joined by Susannah Melvoin (sister of Wendy from The Revolution) and saxophonist Eric Leeds (brother of Prince’s tour manager, Alan Leeds).
Jellybean also joined his former bandmates behind the scenes in production. Flyte Tyme was reborn as a production house led by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Monte Moir also joined the team. Jellybean’s first major assignment was working on Alexander O’Neal’s debut album. The blistering guitar solo on the hit
“Innocent” was played by Jellybean himself.
Other artists he worked with include:
Nona Hendryx
New Edition
Cherrelle
Karyn White
Michael Jeffries
Lo-Key
Mint Condition (he played a key role in shaping their debut album Meant to Be Mint)
His lone No. 1 pop hit came with Janet Jackson’s “Black Cat,” from her Rhythm Nation 1814 album. Heavy on rock influences, it showcased Jellybean’s ability to help Janet tap into her alternative edge successfully.
Although the original Time officially broke up in 1983, they reunited for special events, albums, and ceremonies. For branding purposes, they were often billed as Morris Day and The Time, and for a brief period reunited under the name The Original 7ven. From 1981 until Jellybean’s passing, only he and Morris Day remained from the original lineup. The Family also reunited, releasing new material under the name fDeluxe.
In recent years, Jellybean focused on many projects. He released his first solo album, worked closely with Minneapolis youth, and supported the music career of his late son, Regal The Rare, before his passing. He continued touring as the drummer for Morris Day & The Time, often showcasing his guitar skills as well. In 2022, Jellybean founded the Minneapolis Sound Museum, dedicated to preserving the Minneapolis Sound as an art form and a crucial era in music history.
Jellybean Johnson passed away on November 21, 2025. He had just turned 69 years old.
Discography
1981 – The Time – The Time
1982 – The Time – What Time Is It?
1984 – The Time – Ice Cream Castles
1985 – The Family – The Family
1990 – The Time – Pandemonium
2011 – The Original 7ven – Condensate
2011 – fDeluxe – Gaslight
2013 – fDeluxe – Live & Tight (As a Funk Fiend’s Fix)
2014 – fDeluxe – AM Static
2020 – The Jellybean Johnson Experience – Get Experienced
Selective Songs as Writer/Producer/Musician
1985 – Alexander O’Neal – Innocent [#11 R&B]
1987 – Nona Hendryx – Why Should I Cry [#5 R&B / #58 Pop]
1988 – New Edition – Crucial [#4 R&B]
1989 – Janet Jackson – Black Cat [#10 R&B / #1 Pop]
1991 – Mint Condition – Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes) [#3 R&B / #6 Pop]
1991 – Mint Condition – Forever in Your Eyes [#7 R&B / #81 Pop]
