Legendary drummer Jellybean Johnson has died at age 69. Jellybean, legally known as Garry George Johnson, died unexpectedly on Friday night, TMZ reported. The cause of his death, however, has not been revealed.
One of Johnson’s closest friends, Sheila E., expressed her sorrow in a post on Facebook.
“With a heavy heart, my dear friend Jellybean passed away a couple of hours ago,” Sheila E. wrote in the post. “We are devastated by this news. I’m praying for his family and all the kids. He was a kind human being, extremely talented and funny. He had a great sense of humor and [was] an awesome guitar player.”
Sheila E. also noted that her beloved friend died on the day after his birthday.
“Yesterday was your birthday, I forgot to call you and I’m so sorry,” she wrote. “I love u Bean. Rest in peace and power.”
What were some of Jellybean Johnson’s notable accomplishments?
Johnson rose to fame as one of the founders of Prince’s band, The Time, in the early 1980s. He later worked as a producer for some of the biggest artists in the industry, most notably Janet Jackson. With Jackson, Johnson produced the 1990 hit single “Black Cat,” Deadline reported.
The Chicago native, who grew up in Minneapolis, also played as a drummer for many more big names, including Patti LaBelle, Human League and New Edition. Johnson earned another honor at the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008 when he performed with Rihanna.
What were some of Jellybean Johnson’s achievements outside of music?
Johnson showed off his acting skills in 1984 when he played himself in Purple Rain. He is also remembered for his contributions to the community. Working with his wife, Marty Bragg and their daughter, Johnson founded the Minneapolis Sound Museum. This was part of Johnson’s effort to preserve the history of music in the city where he grew up.