Johnson grew up playing drums, moving to keyboard organ in his late teens. He has remarked on the cultural diversity of growing up in Houston, with people from all over the world living in the region and playing their music, as influencing his sound. Johnson is an alumnus of Texas All State Symphonic Wind Ensemble and studied orchestral percussion with instructor Jim Whitfill. Johnson met guitarist and future Khruangbin bandmate
Mark Speer in 2004 at the Red Cat Jazz Cafe in Houston. The two later worked together as hired players in
Pastor Rudy Rasmus' St. John's United Methodist Church
gospel band in the city, where Johnson played organ and Speer played guitar. Johnson has recorded five studio albums with Khruangbin:
The Universe Smiles Upon You (2015),
Con Todo el Mundo (2018),
Mordechai (2020),
Ali (with
Vieux Farka Touré; 2022), and
A LA SALA (2024). He lives in the Houston area where he was raised. ==Production==