Jellybean Johnson, the legendary drummer best known for co-founding Prince’s band The Time, has died. Johnson, who played alongside Morris Day in The Time and later the Original 7ven, passed away on Friday, just two days after celebrating his 69th birthday. A trailblazer of the Minneapolis Sound, Johnson helped shape the funky, rock-tinged soul movement that dominated the 1970s and ‘80s.
I think it would amuse some of the old legends to know that the sound they created not only lives on, but is known around the world to the professionals of today.
A few months ago, one English audio engineer, upon hearing one of my more funk-infused, bass-driven mixes, commented: “it really surprised me, and then I remembered that you’re from Minneapolis.”
The legends move on, but the sound remains.