Jellybean Johnson

{{Short description|American musician (1956–2025)}} {{Use American English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2015}} {{Infobox musical artist |image = Jellybean Johnson 204.jpg |image_size = |name = |caption = Johnson performing in 2006 |background = solo_singer |birth_name = Garry George Johnson |birth_date = {{birth date|1956|11|19|mf=y}} |birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |origin = Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |death_date = {{death date and age|2025|11|21|1956|11|19|mf=y}} |death_place = Robbinsdale, Minnesota, U.S. |instrument = {{hlist|Drums|guitar}} |genre = {{hlist|Pop|R&B|soul|funk|rock|hard rock|new jack swing|funk rock|funk metal|dance|new wave|grunge|hip-hop}} |occupation = Musician |years_active = 1981–2025 |label = {{hlist|Warner Bros.|Paisley}} |past_member_of = {{hlist|The Time|Flyte Tyme|The Family}} |website = }}

'''Garry George''' "'''Jellybean'''" '''Johnson''' (November 19, 1956 – November 21, 2025) was an American drummer, guitarist, songwriter, record producer, and musician based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was best known for his involvement with the Time and its predecessor group Flyte Time, serving as a founding member of both groups.<ref>{{cite news |title=Reunion time |newspaper=The Boston Globe |quote=The Time, the seven-man Minneapolis funk band featured in the Prince movie "Purple Rain," are reuniting, 18 years after their last studio album. The band members are (from left) Jimmy Jam, Jesse Johnson, Jerome Benton, Morris Day, Terry Lewis, Monte Noir, and Jellybean Johnson |date=June 27, 2008 |url=https://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2008/06/27/reunion_time/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304222454/https://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2008/06/27/reunion_time/ |archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref>

==Early life and education == {{expand section |date=June 2024}} As a youth, Johnson relocated from Chicago to Minneapolis.<ref name=solo /> He received drum lessons at age 13 and two years later began teaching himself guitar.<ref name=solo /> He attended Marshall-University High School, where he played on its basketball team, then attended the University of Minnesota.<ref name=solo />

==Career== As the drummer for the Time,<ref>{{cite news |first=Edna |last=Gundersen |title=It's time again for The Time |newspaper=USA Today |quote=Suited up for a comeback: Jimmy Jam (front left), Jellybean Johnson and Morris Day |date=June 22, 2008 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2008-06-22-time-main_N.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709223834/https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2008-06-22-time-main_N.htm |archive-date=July 9, 2011}}</ref> Johnson worked alongside famed producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and recorded with and/or produced many notable artists including Alexander O'Neal, Cherrelle, New Edition, and Janet Jackson, with whom he had the 1990 No. 1 single, "Black Cat".

After the breakup of the Time, Johnson worked as a producer-musician as well as songwriter and became a long-time associate of Flyte Tyme productions. His first assignment was Alexander O'Neal's No. 11 R&B hit "Innocent" (produced by fellow Time bandmates Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis), on which he contributed both drums and guitar solos for the second half of the ten-minute long song. From this recording forward, Johnson became an in-demand session guitarist, drummer, and percussionist. He also produced a number of hits for the aforementioned as well as New Edition and helmed Mint Condition's 1991 debut album ''Meant to Be Mint''.

Johnson re-joined the Time for the Prince feature film ''Graffiti Bridge'' and its accompanying Time album, ''Pandemonium''. Shortly after, Johnson returned to touring with Morris Day, while continuing to produce emerging artists and work as a session player.

In 2008, he collaborated with Rihanna at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/singers-morris-day-of-the-time-and-rihanna-perform-onstage-news-photo/79697163 |title=Singers Morris Day of the Time and Rihanna perform onstage during the 50th annual Grammy awards held at the Staples Center on February 10, 2008 in Los Angeles, California |website=Getty Images |date=February 11, 2008}}</ref> then began work on his solo debut. Following the unexpected death of Prince in 2016, Johnson halted production. He returned to the Grammy Stage for both the 2017 tribute and the 2020 Salute To Prince, and finally released the album ''Get Experienced'' in 2021.<ref name=solo>{{cite web |url=https://www.startribune.com/at-64-minnesota-music-hero-jellybean-johnson-makes-his-solo-guitar-debut/600035752/ |title=At 64, Minnesota music hero Jellybean Johnson makes his solo guitar debut |first=John |last=Bream |date=March 19, 2021 |newspaper=Minnesota Star Tribune |accessdate=June 12, 2024}}</ref>

In 2022, Johnson founded the Minneapolis Sound Museum.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fox9.com/news/jellybean-johnson-on-the-minneapolis-sound |title=Minneapolis Sound Museum honors local music legends |date=June 7, 2023 |website=Fox 9 Twin Cities}}</ref> That same year, he and fellow members of The Time were awarded a Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/morris-day-the-time-2022-soul-train-awards-legend-award-1235166591/ |title=Morris Day & the Time to Receive Legend Award at 2022 Soul Train Awards |first=Paul |last=Grein |date=November 7, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 12, 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life and death== Johnson was {{cvt|6|ft|4|in}} and played competitive basketball as a teenager.<ref name=solo /> He had seven children.<ref name=solo /> Johnson died at the age of 69 on November 21, 2025.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.startribune.com/jellybean-johnson-dies-obituary-morris-day-the-time-jimmy-jam-prince-minneapolis-st-paul-peterson/601531562 |title=Jellybean Johnson, pillar of Minneapolis music, dies at 69 |first=Jon |last=Bream |newspaper=Minnesota Star Tribune |date=November 22, 2025 |accessdate=November 22, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/jellybean-johnson-dead/ |title=Jellybean Johnson, The Time Drummer and Prince Assiociate, Dies at 69 |first=Bryan |last=Roll |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |date=November 22, 2025 |accessdate=November 22, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2025/11/jellybean-johnson-dies-69-1236626486/ |title=Jellybean Johnson Dies: The Time Drummer Was 69 |first=Glenn |last=Garner |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=November 22, 2025 |accessdate=November 22, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fox9.com/news/jellybean-johnson-minneapolis-music-legend-dies-69-nov-22 |title=Jellybean Johnson, Minneapolis music legend, dies at 69 |first=Kilat |last=Fitzgerald |website=Fox 9 Twin Cities |date=November 22, 2025 |accessdate=November 22, 2025}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Albums=== *1981 – ''The Time'' *1982 – ''What Time is it?'' *1984 – ''Ice Cream Castle'' *1985 – ''The Family'' *1990 – ''Pandemonium''

===Songs produced=== *Alexander O'Neal – "Criticize" (No. 4 R&B) *Nona Hendryx – "Why Should I Cry" (No. 5 R&B) *New Edition – "Crucial" (No. 4 R&B) *Janet Jackson – "Black Cat" (No. 1 Rock / No. 1 Pop / No. 10 R&B) *Mint Condition – "Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)" (No. 3 R&B / No. 6 Pop) and "Forever in Your Eyes" (No. 7 R&B).

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jellybean-johnson-mn0000841442/credits Allmusic – Credits] * {{discogs artist|Jellybean Johnson}} * [https://www.insightnews.com/aesthetics/black-music-month-profile-jellybean-johnson/article_2c7b5192-f32a-515b-8ddf-d288922f58fe.html InsightNews – Black Music Month profile: "Jellybean" Johnson] *[https://open.spotify.com/episode/5bgPkY8nAq66fjgh71C0uO?uid=bcbc6a44616ddfb963a4&uri=spotify%3Aepisode%3A5bgPkY8nAq66fjgh71C0uO Rick Flynn Presents JELLYBEAN JOHNSON]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Jellybean}} Category:1956 births Category:2025 deaths Category:American funk guitarists Category:American male guitarists Category:Midwest hip-hop musicians Category:Musicians from Minneapolis Category:The Original 7ven members Category:Guitarists from Chicago Category:Guitarists from Minnesota Category:20th-century American guitarists Category:20th-century American male musicians Category:The Family (band) members Category:The Time (band) members Category:Flyte Time members