Johnson began his broadcasting career as a television news anchor in Champaign, Illinois. He is known as a veteran of Chicago Broadcasting taking part in television and radio news for more than 3 decades. He entered the Chicago news business at the age of 23 in 1968, perhaps one of the most turbulent years in Chicago history with Assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. starting riots and the anti-war protests. In the late 1970s, Johnson worked as reporter at ABC 7 Chicago in addition to his work with the radio. The 1980s saw him working as a fill-in news anchor at the Steve and Garry Show with Steve Dahl and Garry Meier. Johnson then began to work for the Roe and Garry Show. He continued to work with Roe Conn as co-hosts changed throughout the years.