Jonathan Michael Richman (born May 16, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist.
In 1970, he founded the Modern Lovers, an influential proto-punk band.
Since the mid-1970s, Richman has worked either solo or with low-key, acoustic and electric, backing.
Currently, he plays only acoustic to protect his hearing.
He is known for his wide-eyed, unaffected, and childlike outlook, and music that, while rooted in rock and roll, is influenced by music from around the world.