b. 9 January 1950, Staten Island, New York, USA. Johansen gained recognition in the early 70s as lead singer of the New York Dolls. A R&B/rock group taking inspiration from the likes of the Rolling Stones, the New York Dolls' street attitude and outrageous sense of dress thrust them into the glitter/glam scene, although their music had little in common with others of that nature. Johansen joined his first band, the Vagabond Missionaries, in high school. At the age of 17 he moved to Manhattan, New York, and briefly worked with a band called Fast Eddie And The Electric Japs. The New York Dolls came together in late 1971 and quickly built a devoted audience at New York clubs such as the Mercer Arts Center and Max's Kansas City. They recorded two albums for Mercury Records and held on until late 1976. After their demise they became an inspiration to numerous artists, from the newly forming punk bands such as the Sex Pistols, to Kiss, to the Smiths.

Listen to David Johansen at Finetune.

• Ain't Cha Glad
• James Alley Blues
• Old Dog Blue

• Iggy Pop
• Eric Clapton
• Elvis Costello
• Muddy Waters
• Rolling Stones
• Jackson Browne
• Jimi Hendrix
• The Doobie Brothers
• Bob Dylan
• April Wine
• Eighteenth Day Of May
• Electric Frankenstein
• Fairport Convention
• Fotheringay
• Maddy Prior
• New York Dolls
• Richard Thompson
• Steeleye Span
• The Pogues
• The Residents