Overview
- Johnson’s children confirmed his death at age 94 and said he died at home in Los Angeles; no cause of death has been released.
- He played the nimble tenor sax solo on Henry Mancini’s 1963 'The Pink Panther' theme, a recording that won multiple Grammys and helped make the score widely celebrated.
- Johnson was a leading Los Angeles session player tied to The Wrecking Crew and recorded TV and film themes as well as backing artists from Frank Sinatra to Barbra Streisand.
- He spent roughly 15 years in The Merv Griffin Show house band and continued performing into his 90s, most recently appearing at his retirement community.
- He was born in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, learned sax from his father, served in an Army band and studied at Westlake School of Music, and is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.