Celebrating the Life & Legacy of
Garry "Jellybean" Johnson

Garry George “Jellybean” Johnson, the Father, Drummer, Guitarist, Songwriter and Producer whose groove rippled across generations and helped to define the Minneapolis Sound, passed away on November 21, 2025, in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. He was 69.

Born in Chicago and raised in Minneapolis, Jellybean discovered music early and chased it with unstoppable focus. After taking drum lessons and teaching himself guitar, he became a founding member of Flyte Tyme, the band that evolved into The Time under Prince’s influence. His drumming powered The Time, What Time Is It?, Ice Cream Castle, and their appearance in Purple Rain, where friendly musical one-upmanship with Prince became legend.

When The Time first split, he moved into a new creative chapter with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. His playing, writing and production shaped hits by Alexander O’Neal, Mint Condition, New Edition and many others. His most famous collaboration, Janet Jackson’s “Black Cat,” soared to No. 1 across charts and cemented him as one of the rare artists who could merge rock attack with funk discipline.

Throughout his career Jellybean earned multiple Gold and Platinum records and numerous industry awards. He returned to the spotlight with The Time for Graffiti Bridge, toured widely, and electrified the Grammy stage in 2008, 2017 and 2020. In 2021 he released his solo album Get Experienced, a blend of funk, rock and blues that showcased the full range of his artistry. In 2022 he founded the Minneapolis Sound Museum to preserve the legacy he helped build.

Musicians remember him as steady, generous and deeply rooted, the backbone of every band he touched. His humor, kindness and instinct for connection made him as beloved offstage as he was admired on it.

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​For all of his accomplishments, Jellybean’s most joyful role was father. He was the Patriarch of his family. For many years he took care of his Mother, Great-Grandmother “Madea” and his 2-nephews. Many years his home was where everyone came to create memories and love on one another. He took pride in taking care of his family. Often saying “My home is my place of peace.” His children loved staying at his home where he cooked great meals like steak and gravy, hood tacos, his great bbq, and he was best known to make a “mean piece of catfish.” Jellybean may have been a musical genius to the World but in their orbit, he was a loving dad that told the best stories, cracked many jokes, gave sound advice and much healing in his later years. One of their favorite things to do was to watch him play. They are honored to call him Dad, his energy never dies, it lives on through them and his talents. His children recall a man who loved each of them with his whole heart and always in his own unmistakable way. Whenever he performed, he made sure his kids were there to see him shine. Their pride in him ran both ways.

Johnson is survived by his children Bianca Rhodes, Kamisha Johnson, Olivia Keogh, Jacob Lund, Chris Lund, Hayden Breanne Hayes, Georgia Blues Johnson; his bonus child Jazzmin Bragg; his grandchildren Keziah Stokes, Jaiden Garrett, Samya Currin, Jikai Garrett and Nova Johnson; bonus grandchildren Cody Ratzlaff, Mar’gianna Wade & Imani Amore Wade and a wide extended family. He was preceded in death by his father Herbert Armstrong, his mother Bertha Lee Fondren, his grandmother Georgia Mae Johnson, his brother Duane Anthony Johnson, his brother Allen Fondren & bonus son Regal Anton-Chavez Francis Bragg. His life stretched from Chicago streets to Minneapolis clubs to global stages, but rhythm was the compass he carried through it all. The beat he gave the world will keep moving, in the music he made and in the people who loved him.