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David Roger Johansen (born January 9, 1950) is an American rock, protopunk, blues, and pop singer, songwriter and actor. He is best known as a member of the seminal protopunk band, The New York Dolls. He is also known for his work under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter. Johansen was born in the New York City borough of Staten Island, New York to a librarian mother and an insurance sales representative father. Johansen's family was Catholic. His mother was Irish American and his father was Norwegian American. Johansen began his career in the late 1960s as a lead singer in the local Staten... MORE

David Roger Johansen (born January 9, 1950) is an American rock, protopunk, blues, and pop singer, songwriter and actor. He is best known as a member of the seminal protopunk band, The New York Dolls. He is also known for his work under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter. Johansen was born in the New York City borough of Staten Island, New York to a librarian mother and an insurance sales representative father. Johansen's family was Catholic. His mother was Irish American and his father was Norwegian American. Johansen began his career in the late 1960s as a lead singer in the local Staten Island band the Vagabond Missionaries and later in the early 1970s as the singer/songwriter in the protopunk band the New York Dolls. The New York Dolls released two albums, the eponymous 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 were well-received critically, but failed to succeed commercially. 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 1977, after which LESS