American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist born March 17, 1944, in Greenwich Village, New York. Co-founding member, lead vocalist, and primary songwriter for the Lovin' Spoonful (1965-1968). Distinguished by his good-time folk-rock songwriting and autoharp playing.
Released six solo studio albums starting with John B. Sebastian (1970). Best-known solo single: "Welcome Back" (1976), the theme song from the sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter and his only #1 hit. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Lovin' Spoonful in 2000.