Legendary Minneapolis musician, Prince collaborator Jellybean Johnson dies at 69

One of the most prominent musicians in the Minneapolis music scene has died.

Garry George “Jellybean” Johnson has passed away at the age of 69, according to Ultraviolet Media Holdings. A cause of death has not been revealed at this time.

Johnson was born in Chicago in 1956 and moved to north Minneapolis in 1968. He is considered one of the artists who popularized the Minneapolis Sound hybrid musical genre that emerged in the late 1970s.

Johnson was an original member of the band Flyte Tyme, which eventually transformed into the group The Time and released its first album in 1981. Johnson also appeared in the 1984 film “Purple Rain” and collaborated with Prince on multiple other projects.

The acclaimed guitarist, drummer, songwriter and producer also created the nonprofit Minneapolis Sound Museum.
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