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Jeffrey Hyman, born on May 19, 1951 (Although he often insisted it was 1952) and better known as Joey Ramone, was the vocalist for the legendary punk rock group The Ramones. With fellow band-mate Johnny Ramone, they were the only two who stayed with the band until retirement.
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Joey grew up in Forest Hills, Queens. His mother, Charlotte, encouraged an interest in music in both Joey and his brother Mitchell Hyman a/k/a Mickey Leigh. Joey was a fan of The Who, among other bands (particularly "oldies"). He took up drums at 14 and throughout his teen years, and was originally the drummer for the Ramones. Upon Tommy Ramone's suggestion that some particular parts of the band didn't work, he became the vocalist. Both Joey and bandmates attended Forest Hills High School.
He was said to be the "heart and soul" of The Ramones, and his favorite songs they had performed were often the ballads and love songs. The "hippie of the group", as CJ once said.
After the heyday of the Ramones in the mid-70s, they remained only an underground act throughout the 80s and 90s. Their eventual end led to Joey's brief solo career, which included his album, Don't Worry About Me.
Distinctive due to his towering height of 6' 6", un-believable skinniness, and long shock of black hair that obscured his face almost totally. Joey was known to have suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder. He never married or had children.
Joey died of lymphoma on April 15, 2001. Joey was the first punk star to die not of a drug overdose or suicide. His passing was a sad shock to many, and seemed to signal the end of a generation. Countless memorials, both by fans and the rockers he influenced, followed.
On November 30th, 2003, Joey Ramone Place was officially named a new street in New York City. It is located alongside the block where The Ramones got their start at CBGB. His birthday is annually celebrated by rock and roll nightclubs, hosted in New York City by his mother and brother.
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