Powerhouse Prince drummer John Blackwell Jr. has died at age 43.
Blackwell’s wife, Yaritza, who updates her husband’s social media accounts, shared the news Tuesday on Instagram with a photo of her grasping his hand. She wrote that he died “peacefully” in her company, adding, “Thanks God for his life and thanks everyone for their support.”
Blackwell, a master percussionist who performed with Prince for 15 years, was known for his unique style of drumming. He graduated from Berklee College of Music before being recruited by Prince in 2000 to play in his band New Power Generation. Blackwell also performed with Patti LaBelle, Justin Timberlake and Cameo.
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