Career
In 1959, local Detroit musician Joe Billingslea formed a band called "The Blenders" with fellow musicians Billy Gordon and Billy Hoggs. Shortly after the renaming, Berry Gordy signed the group on to his new recording company Motown. The group"s first hit came with the release of the single "Do You Love Maine" in 1962.
In 1964, within a matter of two weeks, Johnson along with Billingslea, Gordon, Hoggs and Contours newcomer Sylvester Potts decided to part from Motown.
Johnson began undergoing treatment for mental health in 1980. Johnson was battling from depression amongst other illnesses.
On July 11, 1981, Johnson was found dead in his Detroit home. The official cause of death was ruled to be suicide by the ingesting of rat poison and a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head