Joey Ramone

Joey Ramone, born Jeffrey Ross Hyman (May 19, 1951 – April 15, 2001), was an American singer and musician recognized as the lead vocalist and a founding member of the punk rock band the Ramones. Hyman adopted the stage name Joey Ramone in 1974 when he and friends John Cummings, Douglas Colvin, and Thomas Erdelyi formed the Ramones in Queens, New York, pioneering a raw, high-speed style of rock music characterized by short songs, simple chord progressions, and themes of alienation and rebellion. As the band's frontman, Ramone's distinctive voice, lanky 6-foot-6 frame, and signature look—featuring long hair, leather jacket, and ripped jeans—embodied the punk aesthetic, influencing generations of musicians and helping to ignite the punk rock movement in the mid-1970s. The Ramones released 14 studio albums between 1976 and 1996, achieving cult status despite limited commercial success during their active years, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, a year after Ramone's death from lymphoma. Ramone also pursued solo work, releasing the album Don't Worry About Me posthumously in 2002, which featured covers and originals reflecting his broad musical influences from pop to doo-wop.

Jeffrey Ross Hyman, later known as Joey Ramone, was born on May 19, 1951, in the Forest Hills section of Queens, New York City, to parents Charlotte (née Mandell) and Noel Hyman. The family was Jewish, with Noel Hyman operating a trucking company and Charlotte later managing an art gallery. Hyman had a younger brother, Harvey (also known as Mitchell) Hyman, born on July 15, 1954, who would later pursue music under the name Mickey Leigh.