He is left-handed, but plays a right-handed instrument upside-down like players such as Otis Rush, Albert King, and Jimi Hendrix.

In 1989, he made his first tour to Japan with Valerie Wellington, and caught attention of the Japanese blues fans.

He revisited the country in 2004 as a supporting guitarist for Otis Rush who became unable to play the guitar due to the stroke he suffered earlier that year.

That year saw the release of his debut CD My Name Is Carlos Johnson recorded in Buenos Aires, Argentina from local Blues Special label.

Johnson also made an album as a duo with Branch titled Don't Mess with the Bluesmen in 2004.