Early life
Dwight Johnson was born in Brooklyn, New York. His interest in drumming was triggered at the age of five when he witnessed a parade led by a marching band. While watching one of his uncles playing drums, young Dwight accidentally sat upon a drum stick, which broke off inside his bottom and had to be surgically removed. However, this experience did not deter him from wanting to play the drums.
The Johnson family moved to Newark, New Jersey, where Dwight and his high school classmates formed a rock and roll band. Upon graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force, where he played drums in the military band.
Musical career
After military service, Johnson returned to Newark, where he became part of the area's robust bebop scene. There he met jazz vibraphonist Milt Jackson, who helped Johnson develop his chops on vibes and secured his introduction to the Blue Note Records music label.
In the mid-1950s, Johnson was offered a recording contract by Blue Note Records' Alfred Lion. Johnson formed his own quartet with Jackie McLean on alto saxophone, Donald Byrd on trumpet, and Doug Watkins on bass, releasing three well-received albums. Johnson, McLean, and Watkins were featured on Jackie McLean's 4527 album for Blue Note, as were Art Blakey, Bill Barron, and Ray Bryant.
Johnson recorded the album Shades of Blue with Tina Brooks, Kenny Burrell, Curtis Fuller, Paul Chambers, and Art Taylor in September 1957. Blue Note released the album under Johnson's name, although Brooks and Burrell contributed half of the tracks. Johnson formed a quintet with Freddie Hubbard, Junior Cook, Butch Warren, and Pete La Roca in 1960, signing to Argo Records subsidiary Cadet. The group recorded one album, which went out of print shortly thereafter and, to date, has never been reissued on compact disc.
Post-Blue Note
Johnson played on saxophonist Charles Lloyd's second Blue Note album, Discovery!, alongside pianist Bill Evans and bassist Scott LaFaro, recorded in December 1963. He began freelancing around New York City, playing for different bands and working as a session musician. In 1977, an acquaintance helped him secure employment at the post office, where Johnson worked for the remainder of his life to make ends meet.
Johnson had a short recording career and left almost no information regarding his personal life. He reportedly died of complications related to diabetes and substance abuse in 1996 at the age of 59.