After spending his early years in Houston, Johnson returned to New Orleans at the age of ten settling in the Lower Ninth Ward.

[1] His early musical influences included Sugar Boy Crawford, Fats Domino and Smiley Lewis, to name a few.

[2] When he returned to New Orleans in late 1964 he found that Ruffino had died and a protracted legal fight over royalties and rights to his music, among others, had left him with virtually nothing to show for his songs.

In January 2008, he performed as a guest artist at the Inaugural Ball of Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, sharing the stage with Deacon John Moore and his band, "The Ivories".

In 2012 Johnson was proclaimed honorary "King for Life" of New Orleans' Goodchildren Social Aid & Pleasure Club.