Mr. Johnson is the son of the late Austin C. Johnson, Sr. and Lelia Hunter and was educated in the New York City and Halifax County School System, attending Brick College for two years. At an early age, he began his career as a singer. The highlight of his life is when he started singing with the world famous Inkspots. After the death of his mother at 14 years old, he and his siblings traveled between New York and North Carolina spending time with their father and Aunt Eva in New York. By the age of 16 years old, he started working in order to help support his sisters. Austin has a very special relationship with his sister Dolly, who was his dancing partner at the famous Savoy Dance Hall in Harlem, New York. He would always say she was his best friend. Austin met and married Lola Johnson and has four children. One of his greatest joys was his grandchildren. It was nothing to see him with his side driver Troy and "Little Austin" or grandpa as he was affectingly known. Austin was proud of all his grandchildren: In 1978, Austin married his soul mate Lola. They shared endless hours together whether traveling to and from North Carolina to New York, beautifying their homes, going to the movies, shopping or looking at old movies on television. Austin loved to dress from head to toe, his hats was his trademark. Austin's love extended to all his family especially Ms. Lucy. He always had a funny story to tell and the children in the family could not wait to get as they called it the "smelly dollars" that he blessed with his oils. Austin was a historian and writer. He knew all the family history and just completed a book he was writing. He loved to attend the Pow-Wows and other cultural events pertaining to his ancestral roots. He was 84.