Overview
- Johnson died Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, according to statements from his family and a representative, and no cause of death has been disclosed.
- A pioneer of the Minneapolis Sound, he was the original and longtime drummer for Prince-created The Time and later performed with The Family.
- He appeared in Prince’s films Purple Rain (1984) and Graffiti Bridge (1990) and reunited with The Time for the 1990 album Pandemonium.
- Beyond drumming, he produced and played on hits including Janet Jackson’s No. 1 single Black Cat, and worked with Alexander O’Neal, New Edition and others.
- Sheila E., Morris Day and Susannah Melvoin led tributes, and the Minneapolis Sound Museum, which Johnson co-founded, issued a memorial statement.