 Johnston was born in New York City, son of a jazz drummer and a concert harpist and grandson of a concert singer.Johnston chose not to pursue a career in music, but the influence of his background can be seen in some of his titles such as "Concerto for a Girl and Convertible" and “Round about Midnight, Opus# 6.” He was educated in New York City, Washington, DC, and Richmond, Virginia.Before college, Johnston held a number of odd jobs as a florist, a policeman, and a member of the United States Air Force.