Prince Remembered

Jellybean Johnson is Minneapolis music royalty. The drummer for the Time also leads the Jellybean Johnson Experience. Plus, he played with Prince, and co-produced the hit song “Black Cat” with Janet Jackson. Now, he's the co-founder of the Minneapolis Sound Museum. "The Minneapolis sound is Prince," Johnson tells The Current's Jill Riley. "But [it's] also those of us who grew up with him and played with him and pushed him and one another to be great."

For more information about the Minneapolis Sound Museum, visit mplssoundmuseum.com.

Andre Cymone is an essential part of the story of Minneapolis music, and he continues to tour and release albums, and Andre's story is inextricably linked with the story of Prince and the Minneapolis sound. We took the opportunity to connect partially because it was the 40th anniversary of the release of "Controversy," and also because Andre Cymone is a legend. Around the release of "Controversy," Andre had just left the touring group that Prince had put together. Looking back at that time gives us a fruitful way to understand the relationship between these two Minneapolis icons.

On the 30th anniversary of Prince's "Diamonds and Pearls" album, Sean McPherson had the chance to talk to drummer Michael Bland and keyboardist Tommy Barbarella of the New Power Generation to compare notes and to share memories of recording the album, of working with Prince, and about being part of a great band and the lively Minneapolis music scene.

Taja Sevelle was one of the first artists on the Paisley Park record label. She recorded the Prince-penned "Wouldn't You Love To Love Me?" (on her self-titled 1987 release); Prince's version was on the recently released Prince 'Originals' album. Sevelle, whose birthday is today, January 7, spoke with The Current's Andrea Swensson about Prince's mentorship and his fervent belief and support in her second career: urban farming.

Matt Fink - aka Dr. Fink - was one of Prince's first keyboard players and is a member of the Revolution. In conversation with Andrea Swensson, Dr. Fink reflects on performing, recording and touring with Prince. 'He was always transforming himself into something different with every record,' Fink says. 'There was always something new and original and exploratory.'

Actor, comedian and musician Fred Armisen ('Saturday Night Live'; 'Portlandia'; 'Late Night with Seth Meyers') discovered Prince shortly after the release of '1999.' In a conversation with The Current's Andrea Swensson, Armisen talks about how he discovered Prince and became an instant fan for life. 'Prince really became my favorite artist,' Armisen says. 'I really soaked up every lyric, every little drumbeat, everything about him.'

Production/lighting designer LeRoy Bennett began working with Prince in 1980 and continued working with him until 1994. 'I was blessed that I started my life and this career with him,' says Bennett, who has gone on to work with such artists as Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande. 'Prince pushed you knowing that you were giving all that you could.' Listen to Andrea Swensson's full conversation with Bennett.

Drummer and guitarist Jellybean Johnson came up as a musician in North Minneapolis, playing with - and competing with - Prince. Johnson is a founding member of The Time, and in this conversation with The Current's Andrea Swensson, Johnson reflects on Prince's influence in shaping the iconic sound and look of bands like the Time, the Revolution, Vanity 6 and more. 

Bobby Z first met Prince in the mid-'70s when the two were teenagers, and Bobby went on to become drummer for the Revolution. In conversation with Andrea Swensson, Bobby Z offers a philosophical look at Prince's incredible life and career. "Prince was hearing all the music in his head like Beethoven or other classical musicians," Bobby Z says. "He was kind of reborn in all these characters throughout the ages." 

Prince's longtime collaborator and keyboard player, Lisa Coleman, joined Prince's band in the early 1980s and became a member of the Revolution. Coleman spoke to The Current's Andrea Swensson about her time working with Prince, both in the studio and on the road. "Hang around Prince, and stuff was going to happen," Coleman recalls. "And it did. I never met anybody that really followed through on everything they said like that." Listen to Andrea's full conversation with Lisa Coleman.