What Time Is It? RIP: Jellybean Johnson.

"What Time Is It?"
Dr. Rox Remember When?
Article #177 November 2025
By: RLSchwinden aka MrZerr0

How I found about The Time; it goes like this, Summer of 1983, I was living and working in Bemidji, MN. at the local college (and a hotel) my foreman a black gentleman had a boombox and he was always playing R&B music Cassettes while we were working, now most of this music I had never heard before, even though I was aware of some of the artists by name example Prince I had heard before, however, he was playing artists like Bar-Kays, Gap Band, O' Jays and The Time. Now at first this really wasn't my kind of music, I was somewhat familiar with it from a girl (Krispy W.) I dated a year earlier, but not to the extent of while I was working for this man. Over the next few weeks I really began to like it, so much so I told my then girlfriend "Next payday, I wanna get that "1999" record by Prince"

A couple years later I was living in Des Moines, IA. my long time buddie Eric DeW. who was a huge musical influence on me, he was really into R&B music and was in a R&B band called "4 Play", I remember they had an original song called "Show Me Your Secrets" I really liked that one. My then girlfriend (Cathy C.) and I went to go see the film "Purple Rain" in the theatre.... Totally Awesome, I loved it, I was inspired, interestingly I was more affected by The Time, I loved the music (even though it was all Prince) they had style especially Morris Day, I was really taken by his swagger, and Jesse Johnson off to the right playing and dancing in his pink suit, these guys were the coolest thing I had seen lately. So Cathy bought me "Ice Cream Castles" for Valentine's Day '85, I played it to death.

Sadly as soon as I had delved into The Time, they had broken up. It was about this same time I started working for RecordShop (Golden Valley, MN.) and low and behold Morris Day releases his 1st solo album, I was puzzled, While "Love Sign" was a great song, I felt it was lacking in the fact it wasn't all the style of The Time. And then Jesse Johnson releases his 1st solo album, I personally feel Jesse's album was a far cry better than Morris Day's. Now myself being a huge Little RIchard fan, I could not help but notice Jesse's new style was very reminiscent of Little Richard's, in a recent interview Jesse admitted as much. And Then Jesse releases his 2nd solo album, this is da bomb ... A fantastic album, one of my all time favorites ever ... including a guest appearance by another one of my favorite artists Sly Stone on "Crazay" Jesse came up with the title "Shockadelica" that a jealous Prince tried to steal.

I decided to make a show on Jesse Johnson as I love his singing and guitar playing and his style. Ironically many friends of mine knew Jesse Johnson like, Tommy S. sold him Hendrix videos, Franko T. used to jam with him on Aerosmith songs like "Back In The Saddle" and "Last Child", Trent owned his custom red Marshall Amp Stack, Mr. J. was in negotiations to buy his jeep, yet I never met him, even though I am huge fan.

The 1st time I saw the band was at Qwest (formerly Grand Slam) in MPLS. it was 19 Sept 2000, which happened to be Jereome Benton's birthday, he was sitting with a private party, and I asked security if I could go wish him a happy birthday, they let me through, he gave a a huge and a huge smile and said "Aw, thank you man". A little later I met Jellybean and Tori (Jesse's replacement on guitar) standing at the bar, I got Jellybean to sign my CD, Tori got my friend Steve M. a beer and I believe he gave me a copy of his then, new CD "Freak Juice" (as I am a non-drinker)

The 2nd time I saw the band was at MOA I believe spring of 2002 , at this show I met Monte Moore and had him sign my CD, years later (2011), I met Monte's high school friend Mike T. who was the keyboardist in my then girlfriend's band. I also ran into Jellybean and Jerome who stated "Hey, man I remember you! How you been?"

I have met 'Mint Condition' guitarist Homer O'Dell many times through my friend Franko T. I asked Homer about his thoughts on Jesse Johnson; "You know growing up where I did, here in MPLS Prince is my hero, however Jesse runs a close 2nd, being very near and dear to my heart as a player"

I have a solo band "StarChild and The MPLS Starz" in Dec 2023 we were performing at Shaw's and Jellybean was in the crowd that night. I have a photo of Jellybean and myself (as StarChild). I was so exhilarated, I told Jellybean, "You know man I have been the audience watching you many times, never in my wildest dreams would I imagine one day you would be out there watching me! So how was I ?" Jellybean just laughed and smiled. I used to see Jellybean in M.G.R. Roseville 55113 from time to time. Incredibly I bumped into Jellybean in passing on his birthday, I put together my radio show on The Time and turned it in on Thursday, unbelievably, Jellybean died the very next day

Another cool story of this band, Christopher Troy the current keyboardist for The Time was in Mr. Zer0's in June 2025, he bought a few Morris Day CDs (still in long box) and commented "Haha, this is crazy, Morris has never even made mentioned these albums to me" (photo enclosed)

I am such a huge fan of Morris and Jerome for many years in my band KISSin Time after the song "Firehouse" when I take off my fire helmet, it used to mess up my hair, so one night in St. Cloud (2016) I asked a girl in front to fix my hair, about 11 months later she became my girlfriend (A.M.) and we stole "The Mirror Skit" from the band, one show someone in the crowd even yelled out "Jerome!"

You can see KISSin Time: Alive! once again in St. Cloud, MN at The Red Carpet on 6 Dec 2025 Sat 8pm. With 'Hellion" the Judas Priest Tribute.

Here are the last 2 Episodes on The Time and Jesse Johnson.

The PsychoGello Shows:
Jesse Johnson Solo Show #324
Heart Too Hot To Hold: Feb 1985
Be Your Man: Mar 1985 (#61)
Get To Know Ya: Jan 1986
Crazay: Sep 1986 (#53)
Love Struck: April 1988 (#78)
Boys Are Back In Town: June 1990
Jump For It: March 1992

The Time Show #325
Cool: July 1981 (#90)
777-9311: Aug 1982 (#88)
The Bird; Live: 4 Oct 1983 (#36)
Jungle Love: July 1984 (#20)
Skillet: July 1990
Shake: Aug 1990

Mr. Zer0's Evolation Show: The Time: Show #45 (coming soon)
Featuring; The Time, Prince, Morris Day, Jesse Johnson, The Family, Alexander O'Neal, St. Paul (Peterson), Klymax, Janet Jackson, Sounds Of Blackness, Sinead O'Connor.

You can hear Mr. Zer0's PsychoGello Show on Radi0 WDGY 8am Sundays, Since 2017. AM740, Streaming, FM: 92.1, 103.7, 107.1. You can hear the last 90 Episodes @ www.MrZeroS.Com -Podcast. You can also hear Mr. Zer0's Evolation Show @ www.MixCloud.Com for 32 Programs as well as Hits And history with Rick B. and MrZerr0 for 17 Programs.

There you have it fans, catch me next month ... MrZerr0

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