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Jellybean Johnson<\/strong>, a key member of the Prince<\/a><\/strong>-affiliated Minneapolis scene, has died. He was 69. A cause of death hasn\u2019t been announced.<\/p>\n Born in Chicago, he moved to Minneapolis in his youth where he took drum lessons when he was 13 and taught himself guitar a few years later. His musical versatility came in handy as a member of Prince\u2019s stable of musicians.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfac <\/strong>SIGN UP for Parade’s Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox<\/strong><\/a> \ud83c\udfac<\/strong><\/p>\n Initially, he was the drummer in the Time, the funk band fronted by Morris Day<\/strong> that also included Jimmy Jam<\/strong> and Terry Lewis<\/strong>, famously featured as Prince\u2019s rivals in the movie Purple Rain and known for the hit \u201cJungle Love.\u201d<\/p>\n After the Time split, he joined the Family, another Prince-affiliated act that famously recorded the original version of the Prince-penned classic \u201cNothing Compares 2 U,\u201d for their self-titled and only album released in 1985, five years before Sin\u00e9ad O\u2019Connor<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s hit version was released.<\/p>\n News of Johnson\u2019s death was shared in a post on Instagram<\/a> by Susannah Melvoin<\/strong>, the sister of Prince & the Revolution guitarist Wendy Melvoin<\/strong>, who was a singer in the Family.<\/p>\n \u201cRIP Jellybean Johnson,\u201d she wrote, along with a photo of the Family. \u201cI\u2019m absolutely heartbroken ! My beautiful brother Jellybean Johnson has passed .this band was and is the kind of Family that believed we all rightfully belonged together in love ,music and kindness . Jellybean was the master of loving you like no brother could ! My big brother, who watched over me and anyone who he loved !\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI met him when I was 19 years old and he was already a seasoned musical savant at 28,\u201d she continued. \u201cHe\u2019d been in the Time and was masterfully put into a band that became what we lovingly and rightfully call the family . He went from being behind the Drums to playing guitar in this band because he was a guitar player first and drummer second .oxygen for him was the inhale and exhale of playing his guitar . I can barley get this out\u2026.,,his children and family members need our support and love. please ,send it their way . This is a huge loss. Marty, his constant love and light .. my heart is broken for you .we are hear for you .. ill post more soon. Jellybean \u201cshits getting real baby\u201d Johnson .. may you rest in all that is light and graceful .\u201d<\/p>\n Susannah Melvoin signed the post \u201cLil sis\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Sheila E., another Prince-affiliated musician, commented on the post and paid tribute to Johnson in her own Instagram story. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry for ur loss. \ud83d\udc94\ud83d\ude22 he was all of that \ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffd\ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffd praying for u and the family\ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffd\ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffd\ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffd blessings \ud83d\udd4a\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f\u200d\ud83e\ude79\ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffd\ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffd\ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffd.\u201d<\/p>\n Following his work with the Time and the Family, Johnson went on to work with fellow former Time bandmates Jam and Lewis at their Flyte Tyme Productions, where he wrote and produced hits for Alexander O\u2019Neal<\/strong> and Mint Condition, and also worked with Janet Jackson<\/a><\/strong> on her guitar-fueled hit \u201cBlack Cat.\u201d<\/p>\n He also got the compliment of a lifetime when Miles Davis<\/a><\/strong> praised his guitar solo on Alexander O\u2019Neal\u2019s \u201cInnocent.\u201d<\/p>\n “When somebody the caliber of Miles Davis tells you something, that just changed my whole guitar world,” Johnson told Jon Bream<\/strong><\/a> of The Minnesota Star Tribune. “Prince told me later: ‘Bean, if he tells you that, you can take that to your grave.'”<\/p>\n This story was originally reported by Parade<\/a> on Nov 22, 2025, where it first appeared in the News<\/a> section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n