Prince passed away last year and now his drummer of many years has also passed away. John Blackwell Jr. rocked out with Prince for 15 years and was continuing to perform until being diagnosed with two brain tumors in 2016. It was at that time that surgery to remove part of his brain resulted in loss of movement in one arm.
While the story seems awfully sad, it is nice to hear that he died peacefully in his wife’s arms. She wrote on social media, “My husband incredible drummer John Blackwell Jr. passed the way peacefully in my company today. Thanks God for his life and thanks everyone for their support. Yaritza.” Blackwell Jr. was 43 years old.
Rest in peace John Blackwell Jr.
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