David Johansen

David Roger Johansen (January 9, 1950 – February 28, 2025) was an American singer, songwriter, and actor best known as lead singer of the seminal proto-punk band the New York Dolls. He was also known for his work under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter and for playing the Ghost of Christmas Past in Scrooged (1988).

Johansen was born in the New York City borough of Staten Island, to a librarian mother, Helen (Cullen), and an insurance sales representative father, Gunvold Johansen, who had previously sung opera. His mother was Irish American and his father was Norwegian American. He was one of five siblings. Johansen attended St. Peter's Boys High School, but was expelled in 1964. He finished his high school education at Port Richmond High School. After graduating, Johansen became involved with the scene at Andy Warhol's Factory. He also worked with Charles Ludlam at Ludlam's Ridiculous Theater Company, where Johansen did sound and lights.

Johansen began his career in the late 1960s as the lead singer of the Vagabond Missionaries, a local Staten Island band and later in the early 1970s as the singer/songwriter in the proto-punk band the New York Dolls. The New York Dolls were part of the Mercer Arts Center's scene, appearing on the bill at a New Year's Eve 1972 gig with Ruby and the Rednecks. They released two albums, New York Dolls (1973) and Too Much Too Soon (1974). The bulk of the material was written by Johansen and guitarist Johnny Thunders. The Dolls had a strong cult following and glowing reviews from critics such as Lester Bangs, Robert Christgau and Nick Kent, but overall garnered a divided critical reaction and did not initially find commercial success. The New York Dolls appeared on the BBC TV's live music programme The Old Grey Whistle Test, where presenter "Whispering Bob" Harris notoriously derided the band on air as "mock rock".

In 1975, Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan left the band. Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain along with Peter Jordan, Chris Robison, and Tony Machine continued playing as the New York Dolls until 1976 after which Johansen embarked on a solo career. His first two solo albums, the David Johansen and In Style, featured several enduring originals. His self-titled album peaked at number 91 in Australia in August 1978. Sylvain Sylvain frequently performed with him and his band covered many Dolls songs in concert. His live albums Live It Up and The David Johansen Group Live document Johansen's reputation as an exceptional concert performer. The studio releases Here Comes the Night (which includes a signature number, "Heart of Gold") and Sweet Revenge again showcased his strengths as a writer of new material and featured a guest appearance by jazz saxophone player Big Jay McNeely. A number of the songs on Here Comes the Night were co-written with South African musician Blondie Chaplin. In 1982 Johansen was the opening act for the Who at several U.S. East Coast concerts, including Shea Stadium in New York City and Capital Centre near Washington, D.C.

In the late 1980s, Johansen achieved moderate commercial success under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter, accompanied by the Uptown Horns, performing jump blues, traditional pop, swing, and novelty songs. He also appeared as part of the house band on the television program Saturday Night Live. As Poindexter, he scored his first hit song, "Hot Hot Hot", which, in an interview on National Public Radio's Fresh Air, he called "the bane of my life" due to its pervasive popularity. "Hot Hot Hot" was initially written and recorded by Montserratian Soca artist Arrow. As Poindexter, Johansen often appeared with his band, the Banshees of Blue. Early Poindexter releases combined an eclectic selection of covers with Johansen's own compositions. Johansen went on to issue Buster's Happy Hour, an album of songs thematically linked by their subject matter: alcohol. It was followed by Buster Poindexter's Spanish Rocket Ship, which focused on salsa and merengue music.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.