Born in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, United States,[2] Johnson sang with his family's group until his saxophonist father bought him a soprano saxophone.
[5][6][7] An early supporter was Maxwell Davis, who hired him to take over his own parts so that he could concentrate on producing sessions for the Modern record label.
He remained a leading session player for almost twenty years, averaging two sessions a day and playing everything from movie soundtracks and Les Baxter's exotica albums, to rock and roll singles by such artists as Ricky Nelson and Bobby Vee, and R&B records by such performers as Larry Williams, Bobby Day, and Richard Berry.
He played on many of the Beach Boys’ records, and was an integral part of a number of instrumental groups that existed in name only, such as B. Bumble and the Stingers and The Marketts.
King With Carole King With Nicolette Larson With Peggy Lee With Henry Mancini With Teena Marie With The Marketts With Les McCann With Bette Midler With Liza Minnelli With Joni Mitchell With Maria Muldaur With John Neel With Aaron Neville With The Platters With Minnie Riperton With Johnny Rivers With Shorty Rogers With Linda Ronstadt With Pete Rugolo With Boz Scaggs With Lalo Schifrin With Rhoda Scott With Steely Dan With Rod Stewart With Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson With Tom Waits With Larry Williams With Deniece Williams With the Gerald Wilson Orchestra