A graduate of Grambling State University, in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education with emphasis on violin.  He earned his Masters Degree(1982) and PhD (1988) in Ethnomusicology from the University of Pittsburgh.

While a student at Grambling, he performed with the Grambling College Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Shreveport, Monroe, Ruston and El Dorado Symphony Orchestras.  He also developed the Methodist Student Movement Choir for campus students at Grambling, and served as the State Choir Director for the Leadership Training School of the C.M.E. Church.
Dr. Johnson has been a world traveled musician and music educator for over forty years.  His travels in music included Belgium, Senegal, Ethiopia, Mozambique, South Africa, Ghana and Canada.  As a jazz Pianist, he has performed with several internationally and world-renowned jazz artists.  He served as the School Master for the Lakeside School of Music and was an assistant professor at Write State University from 1990 to 1994. He has also been on the part time faculty of Community College of Allegheny County, University Of Pittsburgh, Carlow University, and Duquesne University.
For eight years, he has served as a U.S. Steering Committee Member for the Consortium for International Public Management, Public Policy and Development, and serves as teh Chairman for the Arts and cultural division for the conference.  He has served on several arts panels for the state arts council of Pennsylvania. he was elected Vice President of the International Community Management, and hired as a judge monitor for Billboard Magazine.
Dr Johnson writes, composes and directs music in various music mediums including jazz, blues, gospel, spirituals, and European classical music.