Jonathan Michael Richman was born in Natick, Massachusetts on May 16, 1951. In 1970 he founded influential proto-punk band The Modern Lovers. Since the mid-1970s, Richman has worked either solo or with low-key, generally acoustic, backing. He is known lyrically for his wide-eyed, unaffected childlike outlook, and music that, while rooted in rock and roll, often draws on influences from around the world.