David Earle Johnson (April 10, 1938 - December 22, 1998) was an American percussionist, composer and music producer.

He appeared on Billy Cobham’s Total Eclipse and Voyage to Uranus (1974) by Clive Stevens [de]; Jan Hammer's The First Seven Days (1975); Lenny White's Big City and Miroslav Vitouš' Majesty Music (1977); Jaroslav Jakubovič's Checkin' In, Mark Moogy Klingman's Moogy II, the Players Association's Born to Dance, and Josh White Jr.'s self-titled album (1978).

His relationship with that label proved short-lived, however, and he began recording albums for other labels in subsequent years before his recording career slowed following his 1983 album, The Midweek Blues.

Jan Hammer produced and performed on most of these releases along with John Abercrombie, Jeremy Steig, Col. Bruce Hampton, Allen Sloan, Dan Wall, Billy McPherson (under the pseudonym Ben 'Pops' Thornton), and Gary Campbell.

Johnson tried and failed to convince American Federation of Musicians Local 802 to take up his case.