- Jazz saxophonist, he was the younger brother of pianist and singer Ray Johnson. Cousin of Renald Richard, Michael White, and Don Vappie. Uncle of Thaddeus Richard.
- Recruited by Johnny Otis and executive Dave Cavanaugh for Capitol Records in the mid-1950s, Johnson played on innumerable records by Peggy Lee, Nat "King" Cole, Glen Gray, Frank Sinatra and others. He remained a leading session player for almost twenty years.
- Became known to a wider audience for playing the main theme on the soundtrack of the 1963 film The Pink Panther. Through the late 1950s and early 1960s, he was a regular member of Henry Mancini's studio orchestra.
- Played the tenor, alto and baritone saxophone as well as various flutes and clarinets.
- He first toured with R&B singer Charles Brown in 1951.
- He and his pianist brother Ray first recorded as the Johnson Brothers in New Orleans in the late 1940s.
- Served in the United States Army.
- Joined the studio band for the Merv Griffin Show in 1970.
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