Buster Poindexter

The Profile

Buster Poindexter is the lounge/swing persona of American singer David Johansen, launched in the mid-1980s after his tenure fronting the New York Dolls. He’s best known for the hit “Hot Hot Hot” and albums that fuse swing, R&B, and calypso with wry showman flair.

Stage name of David Johansen (New York Dolls). Active since the mid-1980s with a swing/R&B/calypsocrooner style; scored a mainstream hit with “Hot Hot Hot.” Notable albums include Buster Poindexter (1987) and Buster Goes Berserk (1989), which features a cover of “Hit The Road Jack.”

Pinhead’s review celebrates the Buster Poindexter debut as a smart, joyful fusion of swing, jazz, blues, and soul. Highlights include a searing “House Of The Rising Sun” and party-killers like “Hot Hot Hot.” It frames Johansen as the rare revivalist who channels both black and white traditions of swing. The piece also grumbles about lesser copycats and notes brief visibility via “Hit The Road Jack” on Buster Goes Berserk.