Biography
Born and schooled in the San Fernando Valley; aspired early on to a career in athletics while playing football at the high school and small college levels from 1970 to 1983. Beginning in Chatsworth pop warner leagues to Encino Crespi High, to Los Angeles Pierce and Los Angeles Valley Colleges and ending with a last-ditch tryout for USFL's Los Angeles Express in 1982, Dan began studying music during college years while simultaneously working for father Ken Johnson, (passed in 2003), a film editor and one of the first music editors ever to receive a screen credit in such a classification. Beginnning as an apprentice editor in mid-1970s, obtained associate's degree in music composition. Further trained through BMI-sponsored school for composers by accomplished composer Earle Hagen. Received first film credit at the age of 20 on TV series "Eight Is Enough"; (Earle Hagen, composer). Worked as music editor on first movie ever to use CGI graphics: "The Last Starfighter" 1984, on which he and father Ken received co-editor credits; (Craig Safan, composer). Notable film and composer highlights include the Disney/Touchstone acclaimed 6 hour miniseries "The Little House on the Prairie" in 2004, and the critically acclaimed docudrama,"Path to 9/11" in 2006. Was nominated for Emmy for Sound and Music with Emmy and Oscar-nominated composer, long-time family friend, John Cameron. The show won Emmy for Best Picture Editing. Also notable, supervised Annette O'Toole's acclaimed musical performance as "Tammy Wynette in "Stand By Your Man", (Earle Hagen, composer); also "Navy Seals", "Rocky V", "The Slugger's Wife", "Necessary Roughness" "Rookie Of The Year", "Spy Hard" and "The Adventures Of Huck Finn";"The Academy Awards",(Bill Conti, composer); "Clueless" with David Kitay, composer); "A Time For Dancing", (Laurence Rosenthal, composer); the original "Punisher" in 1989 (Dennis Dreith, composer); "The Color Purple", (Quincy Jones, composer);"Nashville", (Richard Baskin, composer); "Gran Torino", "Invictus", "Trouble With the Curve" (Lennie Niehaus, Kyle Eastwood, composers). Nominated for various Golden Reel and Emmy Awards; teamed on three Emmy-winning post production units and one Oscar-winning unit. Now owns and operates post production and music management company for motion pictures, Spirit Inspired Media of Burbank, California.
